Day 339: Priscilla and Aquila

Acts 18:1-11 The Christians at Corinth received two of Paul’s Epistles, which are inspired and, therefore, are included in the canon of Scripture. Corinth was a major port city with a populace steeped in idolatry and perverse immorality. The pogrom of Jews in Rome took place around AD 50, and, consequently, some Jews resettled in Corinth, creating a substantial Jewish community. The Jews, as monotheists, were arguably closer to understanding the Gospels than the Gentiles of Corinth; however, it was among the Gentiles that Paul had his greatest success. Nevertheless, he managed to baptize the leader of the synagogue together with his household. (CCC 4, 597, 1252, 1655)


Ch 18:12-17 Gallio, unlike Pilate, successfully refused to judge a case that pertained strictly to a matter of religion. Sosthenes evidently was favorably inclined toward Paul and was abused by the stalwart Jews for this attitude. 


Ch 18:18-23 Paul later would write a New Testament epistle to the community he founded in Ephesus. 


He had a vow: In the Book of Numbers, Nazirites were men who consecrated themselves to God for a period of time by allowing their hair to grow long and abstaining from alcoholic beverages (cf. Nm 6:5). Shaving one’s head indicated the satisfaction of the vow. “A vow, that is, a deliberate and free promise made to God about a possible and better good, must be fulfilled by reason of the virtue of religion” (CIC 1191 S1). (CCC 2102)


Ch 18:24-28 Apollos was a well-educated man, a convert from Judaism instructed in the Christian Faith by a couple, Aquila and Priscilla. (CCC 1229-1230)


1 Corinthians 16:1-24 During his years of ministry, we know of two times Paul took up a collection and delivered it to the Church in Jerusalem, whose members were suffering from the effects of famine. The first came from the Church at Antioch, which he delivered about AD 46; the second came from a number of early Church communities, which was delivered about AD 57. Following the example of Christ, Christians have always shared their gifts and resources with those in need and in support of the Church. The collection taken up during the Mass is well within this spirit. The Corporal Works of Mercy outline the practice of charity that should be exercised toward those in need (cf. CCC 2447). (CCC 752, 823-826, 1269, 1351, 2849)

(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)


Corinth: Counter Cult, Countercultural 


Paul’s Prophetic Collection for Jerusalem 

(*Walking With God: A Journey Through The Bible by Tim Gray and Jeff Cavins)



Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven we give you praise and glory. We thank you so much. Thank you for your Word. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us. And thank you, Lord God, for all these people. We keep hearing these stories of these men and women who spread your Word, these stories of these men and women who laid down their lives, these stories of these men and women who were willing to expose themselves to argumentation, and to derision, and to being mocked, and to being killed for the opportunity to share your goodness, your truth, your love, your hope to the world. Lord, help us to be these kinds of people. Help us to be this kind of men and women. Help us to belong to you more and more fully every day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”