Introduction

When people think about leaders in the early church, most names that come to mind are men—Peter, Paul, James, and John.

But tucked inside the pages of the New Testament is a different kind of story.

A story about a woman who didn’t just participate in the early church—she helped shape it.

Her name was Priscilla.

And if we slow down long enough to notice her, we may discover that the early church looked very different than we often assume.

---

A. Who Was Priscilla?

Priscilla appears several times in the New Testament, usually alongside her husband, Aquila.

They were Jewish believers who:

• Lived in Rome
• Were forced to leave due to persecution
• Eventually settled in cities like Corinth and Ephesus

They were tentmakers by trade, just like Paul the Apostle, which is likely how their relationship began.

But Priscilla was not just “Aquila’s wife.”

In many passages, her name appears first—something that was highly unusual in the ancient world.

That detail alone should make us pause.

---

B. A Teacher of Leaders

One of the most important moments in Priscilla’s story comes in Acts 18.

There, we meet a man named Apollos.

Apollos was:

• Educated
• Passionate
• A powerful public speaker

But his understanding of the gospel was incomplete.

So what happened next?

Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately.

Let that sink in.

A woman in the first century:

• Recognized a gap in a respected teacher’s understanding
• Took initiative
• Helped train a leader who would go on to influence many

This was not passive participation.

This was leadership.

---

C. A Church in Her Home

Priscilla and Aquila didn’t just teach—they hosted.

In several passages, we see that a church met in their home.

In the first century, churches didn’t have buildings. They met in houses.

That means hosting a church involved:

• Leadership
• Hospitality
• Influence
• Responsibility

And Priscilla was right at the center of it.

Her home wasn’t just a place to gather.

It was a hub for the growth of Christianity.

---

D. Why This Matters More Than We Think

It’s easy to read over names like Priscilla and miss the bigger picture.

But when we step back, something becomes clear:

The early church made space for women to lead, teach, and influence in ways that stood out in the ancient world.

In Roman culture:

• Women had limited public roles
• Leadership was mostly reserved for men

But in the church:

• Women taught
• Women hosted
• Women supported and shaped the mission

Priscilla is not an exception to the rule.

She is evidence of what the early church actually looked like.

---

E. A Quiet but Powerful Detail

One of the most overlooked details about Priscilla is this:

Her name often comes before her husband’s.

In a culture where men were almost always listed first, this reversal is meaningful.

It suggests:

• Respect
• Recognition
• Possibly even prominence

It’s a small detail—but it speaks loudly.

---

F. What Do We Do With This Today?

This is where the conversation gets real.

Because Priscilla’s story raises a question:

If women played this kind of role in the early church, what does that mean for the church today?

Different Christians answer that question in different ways.

A. Some Emphasize Tradition

They point to passages that seem to limit leadership roles and stress maintaining historical structure.

B. Others Emphasize Practice

They look at examples like Priscilla and see a model of shared leadership and partnership.

But no matter where someone lands, one thing is hard to ignore:

Priscilla was not silent.
She was not sidelined.
She was not invisible.

---

G. Why You Should Know Her Name

If you are trying to understand how Christianity grew in its earliest days, you cannot overlook figures like Priscilla.

She represents:

• Intelligence
• Courage
• Initiative
• Faith in action

And perhaps most importantly:

She reminds us that the story of the early church is bigger than we sometimes tell it.

---

Conclusion

Priscilla may not have written a letter like Paul.

She may not have preached to crowds like Peter.

But she did something just as important.

She invested in people.
She opened her home.
She helped shape leaders.

And through that, she helped shape the church.

The early church did not grow because a few famous men led it.
It grew because people like Priscilla lived it.

The Women Who Grew the Early Church – John Wheeler

AI in Foodservice: Smarter Than Your Best Guess – John Wheeler