“Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla… Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was” (Acts 18:1,3 NLT).

PAUL’S TENTMAKER MINISTRY

When Paul met the Jewish tent-making couple, Aquila and Priscilla, in the city of Corinth, he found true partners in ministry and work. Paul often had to find work in order to support his ministry. He was a bivocational church-planter and he needed work that provided a sufficient income with flexible hours. By joining with Aquila and Priscilla he found both. In Corinth he was given the flexibility to work and preach in one of Rome’s largest and richest cities. The couple even offered him accommodations in their home.

When we think of Paul’s more famous gospel partners like Barnabas, Silas and Timothy, let us not forget his strategic partnership with Aquila and Priscilla. Christian business owners are often God’s provision for supporting and advancing the gospel. And they often become missionaries themselves, just as Aquila and Pricilla did as they followed Paul back to Ephesus and helped in the ministry there.

Paul actively shared the gospel of Jesus with people in the places where they lived, worshiped, and worked. His tent-making gave him a platform to go wherever the Lord sent him.

Are you willing to be a tentmaker for Jesus?

PRAYER: Dear Father, help us obey the command of Your Son to go and proclaim the gospel to everyone. Show us how to give ourselves totally to You, so that our education, our vocation, our resources, our personality, our entire selves are fully devoted to You and to sharing the gospel of Jesus. Use us where we live, work, and play. In Jesus’ name, amen.