Aquila (I)

Acts xxvii. 2 &c.I. AQUILA, a native of Pontus in Asia Minor, was converted by S. Paul, together with his Wife Priscilla to the Christian Religion. As Aquila was by trade a tent-maker, as well as S. Paul, the Apostle lodged with him at Corinth. Aquila came thither not long before from Italy, being obliged to leave Rome upon the Edict which the Emperor Claudius had published, banishing all the Jews from that City¹. S. Paul afterwards quitted Aquila’s house, and abode with Justus near the Jewish Synagogue at Corinth, probably because Aquila was a converted Jew, and Justus was a convert from Paganism; that so the Gentiles might come and hear him with more liberty. When the Apostle left Corinth, Aquila and Priscilla acompanied him as far as Ephesus, where he left them to confirm that Church by their instructions and example, while he pursued his journey to Jerusalem. They did him very great services in this City, so far as to expose their own lives to preserve his. They were returned Rom. xvi. 4.to Rome, when S. Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans, wherein he salutes them with great encomiums. Lastly they were come back to Ephesus again when S. Paul wrote his second epistle to Timothy, wherein he desires him to salute them in 2 Tim. iv. 19.his name. What became of them from this time to that of their death is not distinctly known. The Greeks give Aquila the title of Bishop and Apostle, and perform their grand office in honour of him upon the 12th of July. The Festival of Aquila and Priscilla is set down in the Calendar upon the eighth of the same month.

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