The Dynamic Duo -- Priscilla and Aquila Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The names Priscilla and Aquila appear in four different books in the New Testament. Name the books.

Answer: Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Timothy

The correct answer is Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians and 2 Timothy. Acts was written by Luke and the last three books were written by Paul. However, when Paul refers to the husband-wife team, it's in the "greetings" part of of the book.

2. With Priscilla's name appearing before her husband's, it is one of the few times in the Old Testament and the New Testament where a woman's name appears before a man's name.

Answer: True

It's highly unusual for a woman's name to appear before a man's name in the Bible. The fact Priscilla's name appears first strongly suggests she was dynamic and outgoing while Aquila was the "strong, silent type." Notes in the NIV Study Bible also suggest Priscilla's name may have appeared first because of her higher social standing. Nevertheless, it's important to remember that during this era, women were not even included in census figures of the day.

Some of the exceptions when a woman's name appears before the man's name in Scripture involve Mary and Joseph, as per Matthew 1:18.

In Judges 3:4, Deborah is mentioned before her husband, Lapidoth. In Esther 9:29, Esther's name appears before Mordecai's. (After all, she was the queen by this time and Mordecai was simply her cousin.) The subhead in the NIV Study Bible for Ruth, chapter 3, states "Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor."

3. In one of the four books in which Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned, Aquila's name appears before Priscilla's. What's the name of the book?

Answer: 1 Corinthians

Without reason, Paul lists Aquila's name before Priscilla's in 1 Corinthians. Their names appear listed as a couple (A and B) seven times in the New Testament (three times by Paul) and this is the only occasion where Priscilla is relegated to second place.

4. Acts 18:1-2 states Paul met Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth as they had left Italy. Why did they leave Italy and go to Corinth?

Answer: Claudius ordered all the Jews to leave Rome

Notes in the NIV Study Bible state Claudius served as Emperor of Rome from 41 to 54 AD. All Jews were ordered deported during his reign. Corinth is in Greece, about 75 kilometres southwest of Athens. Paul's books 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians are addressed to followers of Christ in Corinth.

5. Priscilla, Aquila and Paul shared a profession in common, according to Acts 18:3. What was the profession?

Answer: Tentmaker

Being tentmakers, they obviously had something in common, in addition to being believers in Jesus Christ. Notes in the NIV Study Bible suggest Priscilla and Aquila were already Christians when they met Paul. "They may have been converted in Rome by those returning from the Pentecost or by others at a later time," NIV notes state.

6. Acts 18:18 tells of Priscilla, Aquila and Paul spending some time together in Corinth. Then they set sail for Syria before eventually parting ways in a particular city. According to Acts 18:19, what was the name of the city?

Answer: Ephesus

The correct answer is Ephesus. According to notes in the NIV Study Bible, Ephesus was "the leading commercial city of Asia Minor, the capital of provincial
Asia and the warden of the temple of Artemis (Diana)." Ephesus was a coastal city in modern-day Turkey. According to Wikipedia, it was the second largest city in the Roman Empire. Notes in the NIV Study Bible say this about Priscilla and Aquila being in Ephesus: "They would give invaluable aid on Paul's return, providing advice about where and how the work there could be started."

7. Who was the worker in the early church whom Priscilla and Aquila took under their wings, making sure he had a sound knowledge of the way of God? (Acts 18:26)

Answer: Apollos

The correct answer is Apollos. Acts 18:24-26, in the NIV Bible, state: "Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately." Verses 27 to 28 state Apollos later went to Achaia and he was "a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ."

8. In Romans 16:3, Paul says Priscilla and Aquila went beyond the call of duty for him. What did they do?

Answer: Risked their lives for him

No specific details are given, but Paul states in Romans 16 that Priscilla and Aquila risked their lives for him. The statement is made as a passing reference in the chapter which contains a long list of names in Paul's personal greetings section of the book.

9. Paul extends greetings on behalf of the dynamic husband-wife team in 1 Corinthians 16:19. What did Paul say was happening on a regular basis in their house?

Answer: A church met there.

Again no specific details are given. It was common for people who were members of the early church to meet in homes. Notes in the NIV Study Bible have this to say about 1 Corinthians 16: 19: "Aquila and Priscilla had left Corinth with Paul and had gone to Ephesus (Acts 18: 18-19) Evidently they were still there and a church was meeting at their house; it now sends greetings."

10. Complete the missing word from 2 Timothy 4:19, as per the NIV -- "__________ Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus."

Answer: Greet

The correct answer is "greet". This is the last time the names Priscilla and Aquila appear in Scripture. No information is given about Onesiphorus. Similar to so many people in Paul's letters, he is seen today as one of the unsung heroes in the early church.

Source: Author Cowrofl

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Priscilla and Aquila formed a husband-wife team that labored in the early church. Their names appear only seven times in the New Testament but there's a wealth of information. How much do you know? (The NIV was used for this quiz.)

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