EXTRACTS

The first time they are spoken of is in chapter 18 of the Acts. It says that a certain Jew named Aquila, of Pontus by race, had recently come from Italy. It speaks of his origin and religion, and says that he had just come from Italy, all that before mentioning Priscilla, which shows that God had from the outset given Aquila his own distinction. One might say that Aquila was a traveller. Persons who travel simply for the purpose of visiting sites do not help the assembly; but those who have the assembly in view are very useful. It says in the prophet Daniel, “Many shall run to and fro”. And there is not a period in the history of the world when there has been more running to and fro than now; but, blessed be God! there are some among His own who travel under His hand, and He encourages them. I speak of that, because Aquila originated from Pontus, very much east

of Corinth, and on the other hand it says that he had quite recently come from Italy, very much to the west of Corinth. He was a man qualified under the hand of God to have a universal outlook. Priscilla, his wife, was with him. It does not say to what race she belonged, because the woman is identified with the man, as it says in 1 Corinthians 11, “the woman is of the man”. There is something else that is said of them; that is that they were tent-makers by trade. They were both engaged in pursuing a single object. Apparently the wife did not leave her husband to earn their living alone; she worked with him. We have therefore here, in the man and his wife, a remarkable combination suitable to the assembly; and the Spirit of God tells us that Paul found them there, at Corinth; he abode with them and wrought with them. They are thus together in very simple circumstances, for when we are put together as Christians, it is not with a view to our advancing our social position. They worked in a humble way in the town of Corinth.

J. Taylor (N.S. Vol. 38, pp.66, 67)

We have to come to it, to get as it were beyond commandments, and yet not beyond them, for principles always stand. It is more important really to retain the principles than the persons with whom we are linked. John would stress persons; and they are all great persons—a hundred and fifty-three great fishes. But without minimising the value of the saints, the principles come first morally, and if we put the person’s before the principles, we shall probably lose both. We may keep the persons, but we will keep them to their loss and ours too. The levitical family of Gershon had to do with the curtains of the tabernacle and such features, which would mean the principles governing us; whereas Merari had to do with the boards and the pillars and such things, which refer to persons.

J. Taylor (N.S. Vol. 38, pp.116)

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