After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 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, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.
The term tentmaker has long been used to describe someone who is bi-vocational, I. e., someone who does ministry as well as work at another occupation to make ends meet. Been there, done that. I have a tremendous amount of respect for those who have done that for years as they serve Jesus. The original tentmakers, as far as we know, were the apostle Paul and a husband and wife team, Aquila and Priscilla.
Aquila and Priscilla were from Pontus, a region in the northern part of Asia Minor. They had migrated to Rome, possibly in order to make tents for the Roman Army. But Claudius expelled all Jews from Rome. So they moved to Corinth and this is where Paul meets up with them.
This couple is mentioned seven times in the New Testament. Five of those seven times Priscilla is mentioned first (sort of odd for a patriarchal culture). My personal belief is that Paul listed Priscilla first because she was the primary teacher of the pair. The two times Aquila is listed first is when the couple is first introduced here and when Paul writes mentions them to timothy who was in Ephesus at the time. (Ephesus was the center of the worship of Artemis/Diana and listing a woman first might have caused trouble especially after Paul’s admonition to the Ephesian church that women should be quiet in the assembly).
Paul continued his usual practice in Corinth, going to the synagogue on the Sabbath and working during the week with the couple. Then Silas and Timothy arrived so Paul was able to devote all of his attention to the preaching of the gospel. But the familiar response from the Jews occurs once again., They reject Paul’s message about Jesus the Messiah. So Paul goes to the Gentiles.
Paul continued to preach in Corinth and many came to believe in Jesus, including Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household. I think it is safe to say that Titius Justus also became a believer. Paul continues to be true to his strategy, (starting in the synagogue), his methodology, (I became all things to all people in order to win some), and message (Jesus is the Messiah).
Many times I wonder if I am willing to follow Paul’s example. Yes, I have been a tentmaker (bi-vocational minister) and, even though I no longer pastor a church, I still see my primary purpose in life as a minister of Jesus Christ. I try to intentionally put myself in a position to become all things to all people in order to save some (although it is Christ who saves). How do you see your job? Is it a tentmaking position that provides for you to share the gospel of Jesus? This is what our lord calls us to. Will we listen?
Lord, help me to serve You faithfully today. Amen.
Until next time,
TO THE GLORY OF GOD!
Ray's Ramblings 