2 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.

For a few years, they preached the gospel to none but Jews; so that for that space, the ecclesia in that city was composed solely of the circumcised. It is not surprising, therefore, that the pagans should make no distinction between the Ecclesia and the Synagogue.

They regarded them all as Jews; so that, when Claudius commanded all Jews to depart from Rome [Acts 18:2], Aquila and Priscilla, though Christians, had to leave. But, before the publication of this edict, Peter had opened the door of faith to Gentiles, as recorded in Acts 10 and 11.

The of this soon reached Rome, and the Mouth of Deity was opened there to the same effect. Pagans were invited to "the obedience of faith for His name," that they might become "the tabernacle of the Deity, and dwellers in the heaven," together with the saints already separated from the Synagogue.

But for this extension of the Ecclesia, the edict of Claudius would have left none of the saints in Rome. It expelled all natural Jews, without regard to their belief; so that, in this crisis, the Ecclesia there would become in appearance entirely Gentile. But, when the edict became obsolete, the Jewish members would many of them return; nevertheless, the Jewish influence in the Ecclesia would predominate no more.

Eureka 13.13.

3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

They were a company of Christadelphians, Christou adelphoi, or Brethren of Christ, who believed into him through the word of Peter and the Eleven (John 17:20). This was the day of small things, which they did not despise. They had no temple, cathedral, or synagogue in which they could meet on their return, A.D. 33. Even seventeen years after they met in the house of Priscilla and Aquila, two Jews, who made tents for a living, Acts 18:2; Rom. 16:5.

Eureka 13.13.

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

Power being in the hands of their enemies the Christians of the Hebrew nation still continued to observe the seventh day according to the custom. Hence we find the apostles frequenting the synagogues on the sabbath days and reasoning with the people out of the Scriptures (Acts 27:2, 17; 18:4; 19:8).

To have done otherwise would have been to create an unnecessary prejudice, and to let slip one of the best opportunities of introducing the gospel to the attention of the Jewish public. They did not forsake the synagogues until they were expelled. While they frequented these, however, on the seventh day, they assembled themselves together with the disciples whose assemblies constituted the ecclesias of the saints and of God.

... On what day, then, did the ecclesias of the saints meet to exhort one another so as to provoke to love and to good works? Certainly, not on the seventh day, for then the apostles were in the synagogues. What day then more appropriate than the Lord's day, or first day of the week?

Now it cannot be affirmed that the saints were commanded to meet on this day, because there is no testimony to that effect in the New Testament. But, it is beyond dispute, that they did assemble themselves together on the first day of the week, and the most reasonable inference is that they did so in obedience to the instruction of the apostles from whose teaching they derived all their faith and practice, which constituted them the disciples of Jesus.

Elpis Israel 1.2.

8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

According to the constitution of the human intellect, the knowledge of truth must precede the belief of it...

...Now, to these baptized believers he writes, and tells them that

"God made Jesus, who knew not sin, to be sin (that is, sinful flesh) for them, that they might be constituted God's righteousness in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21)

; so that, being introduced into Him (for an individual cannot be in a federal person unless introduced into Him) the crucified and resurrected Jesus became

"the Lord their righteousness" (Jer. 23:6);

as it is written,

"of Him, Corinthians, are ye IN Christ Jesus, who of God is constituted for us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:30).

So that, whosoever is in Him, is said to be "complete in Him;" in whom he is circumcised "in putting off THE BODY OF THE SINS of the flesh;" that is, all past sins; being buried with Christ in the baptism, in which also he rises with Him through the belief of the power of God evinced in raising Him from the dead (Col. 2:10-12).

Now, because the unconstituted, or unrighteous, cannot inherit the kingdom of God, the law is revealed which says, "ye must be born again;" for, says the King,

"except a man be born again he cannot behold the kingdom of God."

This saying is unintelligible to men whose thinking is guided by the flesh. They cannot comprehend "how these things can be:" and, though they profess to be "teachers of Israel," "Masters of Art," and "Bachelors," and "Doctors of Divinity," and of "Canon and Civil Law," they are as mystified upon the subject of "the new birth," as Nicodemus himself.

But to those who understand "the word of the kingdom" these "heavenly things" are distinguished by the obviousness and simplicity of truth. To be born again, as the Lord Jesus expounds it, is to be "born of water and the spirit:" as it is written,

"except a man be born out of water and of spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:3-10)

This is surely very explicit, and very intelligible; who can misunderstand it, unless it be against his will to receive it?

Elpis Israel 1.4.

21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

...the clear and healthy and saving example of Paul.

His recognition of God even in common things, is constant and natural. He is, in fact, a good example of what James means when he refers deprecatingly to those who say,

"Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain."

Says James (4:14),

"Ye know not what shall be on the morrow . . . Ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that."

Seasons 1.70.

25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

Apollos knew only the baptism of John;"

This is all Apollos knew of baptism, or of that "Way of God" John the Baptizer preached. Apollos was an Alexandrine, or Egyptian Jew, eloquent, and mighty in the prophetic scriptures, fervent in spirit, and a diligent teacher of what he knew. But he knew nothing about Jesus.

His teaching, therefore, was all to prove that the time had come for Messiah to be manifested to Israel, and that Jews ought to repent, and be baptized, that he might acknowledge them when he appeared. John taught this until Jesus was baptized; and Apollos only knew John's teaching.

But Aquila and Priscilla, two Christians, who knew John's baptism and that of the Apostles too, heard him in the synagogue. They saw that he was just the man for the whole truth, so they invited him home with them; and

"expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly,"

or more accurately. Yes, says our friend, "more perfectly, yet he was not required to be baptized." Now to this we say, that our friend has not a shadow of proof to justify such a conclusion; on the contrary, the context proves the opposite, as we shall see.

After Apollos had left Ephesus, Paul arrived there, and found twelve men in precisely Apollos' former condition, knowing only the baptism of John. But Paul taught them the way of God more accurately; for he showed them that the Messiah whose coming John announced, had appeared, and that Jesus was he.

When these disciples of Apollos heard this, they accepted Jesus. Paul had

"expounded the way of God more perfectly;"

but was this exposition regarded as complete without rebaptism? The very reverse; for it is testified, that when they heard Paul's exposition

"they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus;"

and thus knew the accurate way of God in practice as well as in theory. Will our friend say, that it was necessary for these twelve cases, identical with that of Apollos, to be rebaptized, but not for him? There is no respect of persons in regard to God's way; hence, what is indispensably necessary for one is indispensable for all.

In those days, precept and practice went together. Repentance and remission of sins were ordered to be announced in the Name of Jesus; and apart from that name, no man, however eloquent or mighty in the scriptures, or fervent in spirit, could obtain them.

Baptism alone can unite an enlightened believer to the name. It is instituted for that purpose; and cannot be omitted, if Apollos, or any other man, would obtain the things it communicates.

Peter commanded the persons of the Centurion's family "to be baptized in the name of the Lord." Upon what ground could Apollos claim exemption from obedience to the same? Upon none. We conclude, then, that Apollos in being taught the way of God more accurately was rebaptized, even as the twelve—Acts 19.

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, July 1858

26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

[did more exactly expound to him the way of God - YLT]

Sisters of the New Testament

Priscilla

She is brought before us in a threefold character. The first work which is mentioned in connection with her is the more perfect instruction of Apollos in Scripture truth (Acts 18:26). A man of Apollos' type, who was already founded on a strong Scriptural basis, would not be one to yield readily to another's opinions. Priscilla would have to prove her position up to the hilt. This brings out Priscilla's ability in the capacity of an expert handler of the sword of the spirit.

A careless Bible-neglecting sister could not have taken part in such a work. If we would be Priscillas we must be careful to keep our memories well stored with Bible truths, and be diligent in making use of these truths whenever we have opportunity.

The second feature in Priscillas character is her great courage. Paul speaks of her as having (in conjunction with her husband) laid down her neck for his sake (Rom. 16:3, 4). Priscilla had evidently rendered Paul service when to do so was to risk her own life. She could hardly have been prompted to this merely by friendship.

The disciples loved Christ, but forsook him when brought face to face with impending death. Priscilla must have been inspired by a strong sense of duty. Those who have been placed in danger of losing their lives could most fully estimate Priscillas courage, nevertheless the instincts of self-preservation, common to the human family, will aid us in realising, to an extent, what it must have cost Priscilla to have thus jeopardised her life.

The bravest and hardiest give way when it comes to a question of life and death, especially if the threatened death be ignominious. The secret of Priscilla's bravery must be sought, not in mere animal courage, but in that courage of which faith is the basis. All the courageous acts of Bible heroes have been the outcome of faith (Heb. xi). Priscilla evidently placed implicit confidence in the promise: "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" so that she could

"boldly say the Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

If it were God's will that she should escape, no man could hurt her. If it were God's will that she should die, then let man do his worst. Thus must she have reasoned. God in His mercy has not called us to serve Him in times of persecution such as those in which Priscilla lived. Nevertheless there are many duties in the discharge of which we stand in apprehension of bodily hurt. We can only fulfil these duties by displaying similar courage (though not perhaps in the same degree) to that displayed by Priscilla.

...God does not expect His children to court unnecessary danger—to take an unsafe road when they could choose a safe one—to leave their doors open when they could shut and lock them; but when they have to face unavoidable danger, He would have them do their duty, leaving the consequences in His hands.

The third feature in Priscilla's character comes out in the phrase, twice repeated,

"the ecclesia that is in their (Priscilla and Aquila's) house" (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:19).

This reveals Priscilla's steady, persevering fidelity to the service of the truth. We know—seeing that none are yet perfect—that for a community of believers to meet or dwell in Priscilla's house would mean some inconvenience and much to bear with. Priscilla evidently fortified herself for the strain.

Let us strive to cultivate Priscilla's forbearance and steadfastness. Let us not be turned from work in which we might engage by difficulties great or small. Let us think less of serving ourselves and more of serving the truth, and whether we are called on to lend our hands, our voices, our feet, or our houses, let us do it joyfully—bountifully—not in a grudging, half-hearted way.

The Christadelphian, Dec 1889