Acts 18 2

Acts 18:2 kjv

And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

Acts 18:2 nkjv

And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them.

Acts 18:2 niv

There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them,

Acts 18:2 esv

And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,

Acts 18:2 nlt

There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome.

Acts 18 verses

Acts 18 2 Meaning

Acts 18:2 describes how Paul, upon arriving in Corinth, encountered a Jewish couple, Aquila and his wife Priscilla. They were originally from Pontus and had recently arrived in Corinth, having been compelled to leave Rome because the Roman Emperor Claudius had issued a decree commanding all Jews to depart from Rome. Paul sought them out, which providentially led to a significant ministry partnership.

Acts 18 2 Context

Acts chapter 18 begins with Paul leaving Athens and arriving in Corinth, a bustling and wealthy Roman city. His missionary strategy often involved ministering in significant urban centers. Verse 2 specifically describes his initial encounter upon arrival. The broader context of the chapter shows Paul, now in Corinth, engaging in tentmaking (v. 3) alongside Aquila and Priscilla, proclaiming the Gospel in the synagogue, facing opposition (v. 6), turning to the Gentiles (v. 6), seeing many believe (v. 8), and receiving a divine assurance to stay longer (v. 9-10). The expulsion decree by Emperor Claudius, referenced in this verse, is a crucial historical anchor for understanding the movement of these early believers and how God orchestrated divine connections through challenging circumstances. Historical accounts (e.g., Suetonius' 'Life of Claudius') attest to such an edict around 49-50 AD, likely caused by internal strife among Jewish residents in Rome concerning "Chrestus" (Christ), which would have affected Jewish believers as well.

Acts 18 2 Word analysis

• And he found: Paul’s act of discovering. This phrase suggests more than a random encounter; it can imply a divine orchestration, that Paul was providentially led to them.
• a certain Jew: Refers to Aquila. This emphasizes his Jewish ethnic and religious identity.
• named Aquila (Ἀκύλας, Akylas): A common Latin name (meaning "eagle") that was used by many Jews in the Roman Empire. His name, along with Priscilla's, indicates a Roman cultural integration even while retaining Jewish heritage.
• born in Pontus (Πόντος, Pontos): A large Roman province located in northern Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) along the Black Sea. This highlights his diaspora background, showing the vast geographical spread of Jewish communities.
• lately come from Italy: Indicates their recent migration. They were new arrivals in Corinth, similar to Paul himself. This common experience of being foreigners might have fostered a connection.
• with his wife Priscilla (Πρίσκιλλα, Priskilla): Often called Prisca, a diminutive of a Roman family name. Her name appearing often before Aquila in Acts and Paul's epistles (Rom 16:3, 2 Tim 4:19) suggests her prominent role, possibly in status, spiritual giftedness, or ministry leadership, especially considering her active teaching role (Acts 18:26).
• (because that Claudius (Κλαύδιος, Klaudios) had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:): This parenthetical explanation is critical.
  • Claudius: Roman Emperor Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (reigned 41-54 AD). His decree is well-documented in non-Biblical historical sources (Suetonius, Dio Cassius, Orosius), placing the time of this meeting around 49-50 AD.
  • commanded (διατάσσω, diatassō): Signifies an official, authoritative order or decree.
  • all Jews: The edict broadly targeted Jewish people, which would have included Jewish believers in Jesus, leading to a significant displacement of the nascent Christian community from Rome.
  • to depart from Rome (ἀπὸ τῆς Ῥώμης, apo tēs Rhōmos): To be expelled from the capital of the Roman Empire. This act was politically motivated, likely due to disturbances (according to Suetonius, at the instigation of "Chrestus" - a likely reference to Jesus Christ) caused by disputes between Jews and emerging Jewish Christians.
• and came unto them: Paul initiated contact with them. This shows Paul's active engagement and perhaps his strategic method of seeking out fellow Jewish individuals or those involved in his own trade (tentmaking, as mentioned in the next verse, Acts 18:3).

Acts 18 2 Bonus section

The mention of Priscilla often preceding Aquila in New Testament passages, especially in Acts (18:18, 18:26) and Paul's epistles (Rom 16:3; 2 Tim 4:19), is a noteworthy detail. In Roman-Jewish society, men were typically mentioned first. This could indicate several possibilities: Priscilla may have been of higher social standing, more prominent in their Christian ministry, more gifted in teaching (as seen in Acts 18:26 where she, with Aquila, explains "the way of God more accurately" to Apollos), or simply the more prominent individual within the Christian community for reasons not fully detailed. Their partnership highlights the significant role of women in early Christian ministry. The edict by Claudius was not a permanent expulsion, as Jews, including Aquila and Priscilla, are later found back in Rome (Rom 16:3), suggesting that the decree may have been rescinded or relaxed by a later emperor (Nero), or the exiles returned after a period of time, perhaps around Claudius's death in 54 AD. Their forced relocation thus became a catalyst for significant Kingdom work in Corinth, Ephesus, and eventually Rome again.

Acts 18 2 Commentary

Acts 18:2 beautifully illustrates God's sovereign providence in action amidst human and political upheaval. The seemingly adverse circumstance of Claudius's edict, which displaced Jewish people (including Aquila and Priscilla) from their homes in Rome, became the very means by which Paul gained vital partners for the advancement of the Gospel. This verse sets the stage for a crucial collaboration: Paul found not just colleagues in a shared trade, but dedicated co-laborers in Christ who would later host churches and instruct other prominent teachers like Apollos. It reminds us that God's hand directs paths and uses all circumstances, even difficult ones like forced migration and persecution, to fulfill His divine purposes, ultimately expanding the reach and influence of His Kingdom.