AQUILA
(ak' wi luh) GREEK: AKYLAS
"eagle"
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Aquila, a Jew from Pontus in Asia Minor, was married to Prisca (called Priscilla in Acts 18). They had been part of the Jewish group in Rome who had come under political suspicion - probably because they were also Christians - and were expelled from the imperial capital by the emperor Claudius about A.D. 49.

Moving to Corinth, the couple met Paul. Since they, like Paul, were tent makers, the apostle lived and worked with them while he was in Corinth. They became part of his entourage and accompanied him when he left Corinth for Ephesus, where the church met in their house. Both stayed in Ephesus after Paul moved on. When another Christian missionary named Apollos came to Ephesus, it was Prisca and Aquilla who took him aside and instructed him in the gospel "more accurately" (Acts 18:26). Later they apparently returned to Rome, where Paul sent greetings to them and "the church in their house" (Rom. 16:3).

{E2 Dictionary of Biblical People}