Romans 16:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What the Apostle said of Phoebe, he also says of Priscilla. Of the former he said, "She has been a helper of many, and of myself also" (Rom 16:2). Of the latter he says, "Not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles."

So that no one might think this was flattery, he brings forward other witnesses, more numerous than women. "And the church in their house." They were so virtuous that they turned their house into a church. All their household became believers, and their house was open to every stranger.

The Apostle was not accustomed to call houses churches without reason. He did so only where there was great piety and a special fear of God had been established. Therefore he also said to the Corinthians, "Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, with the church in their house" (1 Cor 16:19). He wrote likewise of Onesimus, saying, "Paul... to Philemon... and to the beloved Apphia... and to the church in your house" (Phlm 1:1-2).

Certainly one may be worthy of admiration and noble even in married life. Aquila and Priscilla lived in marriage and shone greatly, though their trade was humble. They made tents, yet virtue covered everything and showed them brighter than the sun.

Neither their craft nor the marriage bond harmed them. They showed the love Christ required when He said, "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (Jn 15:13). They fulfilled the mark of Christ's disciple, took up the cross, and followed Christ.

If they did this for Paul, they showed still greater courage for Christ. Let both rich and poor hear this. If those who lived by manual labor and ran a workshop showed such generosity that they became useful to many churches, what excuse will the wealthy have, who despise the poor?

They did not spare their blood in order to please God. Yet you hoard even a few coins, often despising your own soul. Perhaps they were zealous toward the teacher, but not toward the disciples? This cannot be said. The Apostle says that the churches of the Gentiles thanked them.

Though they were Jews, they believed so sincerely that they served the Gentiles with all zeal. Women should be such as these. They should adorn themselves not with braided hair, gold, or costly clothing, but with good works (1 Tim 2:9-10).

Tell me, what queen is so famous and so praised as this wife of a tentmaker? She is on everyone's lips, and will remain so, not for ten or twenty years, but until the coming of Christ. Moreover, all praise her for what adorns her more than a royal diadem.

What is greater than this? What can equal being a helper of Paul and saving the teacher of the world at one's own peril? Consider how many queens there have been, and their names have been given over to oblivion. Yet the name of the tentmaker's wife and of her husband is carried everywhere.

As far as the sun illumines the earth, so far her glory encircles the world. Persians, Scythians, Thracians, and those who dwell at the ends of the earth glorify and bless the pious life of this woman.

What wealth, how many diadems and royal purple robes, would you gladly give merely to receive such a testimony about yourself? Nor can it be said that, while they faced dangers and did not spare their possessions, they neglected the preaching. For this reason the Apostle calls them fellow workers and helpers.

The vessel of election is not ashamed to call a woman his fellow worker. He even boasts of it, because he does not look at nature, but crowns the good will. What can equal such an adornment?

Where now is your wealth, squandered everywhere? What are garments worth? Where is vain glory? Look more closely at this woman's adornment. It does not clothe the body, but adorns the soul. It is never put away or stored in a chest, but is laid up in heaven.

Look at their labor in preaching, their martyr's crown, their generosity with possessions, their love for Paul, and their zeal for Christ. Compare yourself with this. Compare your anxiety for money, your attachment to harlots, and your quarrels over a scrap of hay. Then you will see who they were, and who you are.

Or rather, do not merely compare yourself. Emulate the woman. Lay aside your burden of grass, that is, your costly garments. Take up the heavenly adornment, and learn from Priscilla and Aquila how they became such people.

How did this happen? For two years they kept Paul in their house. What could those two years not have produced in their souls? You will say, "What am I to do? I do not have Paul." If you wish, you have more than they did.

It was not the sight of Paul's face, but his words, that made them such. Therefore, if you wish, Paul, Peter, John, and the whole choir of prophets and apostles are ready to converse with you continually. Take the books of these blessed men. Occupy yourself constantly with their writings, and they can make you like the tentmaker's wife.

Why speak of Paul? If you wish, you will have in your own home the Master of Paul Himself, and He will speak with you through Paul's tongue. There is also another way to receive the Lord into your home: receive the saints and serve those who believe in Him.

Then, even after they depart, many memorials of piety will remain with you. The table at which the saint ate, the chair on which he sat, and the bed on which he lay can bring compunction to the one who received him, even after he has gone.

With what compunction, do you think, did the Shunammite woman enter the upper room where Elisha had stayed? With what feelings did she look at the table and the bed where that holy man had slept? With what pious thoughts was she then filled?

If this had not been so, and if she had not received great benefit from it, she would not have brought her dead son into that room. After much time has passed, we go to places where Paul lived, was bound, sat, and spoke. We are given wings in thought.

From the visible places we are carried to the image of that very time. What, then, naturally happened in the souls of those who reverently received him in their own house, when the events were still very fresh?

Knowing this, let us receive the saints, so that our house may shine and be cleansed of thorns. Let our dwelling become a harbor. Let us receive them and wash their feet.

You are not better, more noble, or richer than Sarah, even if you were a queen. She had 318 servants, at a time when possessing even two servants was considered wealth. And why speak of 318 servants? In the seed and in the promises she possessed the whole world.

She had as her husband the friend of God, and as her protector God Himself. This is greater than any kingdom. Yet with such distinction and glory, she herself prepared the dough, performed all the household tasks, and served the guests like a slave.

You are not more noble than Abraham. Yet after his renowned deeds, victories, and the honor shown him by the king of Egypt, he performed the work of servants. After he had driven back the Persian kings and raised for himself splendid memorials, he did the tasks of servants.

Do not look at the saints who come to you as poor in appearance, often destitute and clothed in rags. Remember what Christ said: "As you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to Me" (Mt 25:40). And again: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for their angels in heaven always behold the face of My Father in heaven" (Mt 18:10).

Receive with zeal those who bring you countless blessings through their greetings of peace. Together with Sarah, call Rebecca to mind. She cast off all pride, drew water herself, gave drink to the stranger, and invited him into her house. Therefore she received great rewards for her hospitality.

But you, if you wish, will receive still greater rewards. God will give you not only a son, but heaven itself, the heavenly blessings, deliverance from Gehenna, and forgiveness of sins. Great indeed, very great, is the fruit of hospitality.

So Jethro, though a foreigner, was counted worthy to have as son-in-law the man who commanded the sea with such authority. His daughters caught such good prey in their net for him.

Consider these things and set before your mind the courage and piety of those women. Strive to trample down earthly pride, ornate clothing, costly gold ornaments, and perfumes. Put away softness, luxury, and measured steps. Turn all your care to the soul, and kindle in your heart desire for heavenly things.

If this love takes hold of you, you will see the uncleanness and vileness of present things. You yourself will laugh at what now astonishes you. A woman adorned with spiritual perfections should not seek after such ridiculous things.

Therefore cast off everything that merchants' wives, dancers, and musicians regard as a great honor. Adorn yourself with piety, hospitality, care for the saints, compunction, and frequent prayers. This is better than golden garments. It is more precious than costly stones and bracelets.

This makes you honorable before men and brings you a great reward from God. This is the adornment of the Church, that of the theater. This is worthy of heaven, that of horses and mules. Dead bodies are also clothed in such ornaments, but this adornment shines only in a good soul, where Christ dwells.

Let us acquire such adornment for ourselves, so that we too may be glorified everywhere and may please Christ unto the ages of ages. Amen.

“The Apostle sets forth still another praiseworthy virtue of theirs, greeting also their house church. This word shows the excellence of their piety. Evidently they trained all their household in lofty virtue and zealously performed the divine services in their home,” says blessed Theodoret.

Saint Chrysostom says: “They were so virtuous that they turned their house into a church. All their household became faithful, and their house was open to all strangers.

The Apostle is not accustomed to call houses churches indiscriminately, unless exemplary piety is found in them and a special fear of God is rooted there.

Therefore, when writing about Onesimus, see Phlm 1:10-18, he says, ‘Paul to Philemon and to Apphia, the beloved, and to their house church,’ cf. Phlm 1:1-2.

For even in married life one can be worthy of admiration and noble. Behold, Aquila and Priscilla lived in marriage and shone forth greatly, though their trade was humble.

They made tents, yet virtue covered everything and showed them brighter than the sun. Neither craft nor marriage harmed them. On the contrary, they revealed in themselves the love Christ required.

He said, ‘Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,’ cf. Jn 15:13.

They fulfilled what serves as the mark of Christ’s disciple. They took up the cross and followed Christ. Those who did this for Paul thereby showed still more such courage for Christ the Lord.”

Concerning the later life of Aquila and Priscilla, Saint Dimitry of Rostov says this. Saint Paul appointed Aquila bishop and sent him back to Asia Minor to spread the Gospel.

Arriving there with his spouse, Aquila greatly helped Saint Timothy in Ephesus. When Saint Paul wrote the Second Epistle to Timothy, he greeted them, saying, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila,” 2 Tim 4:19.

Preaching Christ in Asia, Achaia, and Heraclea, Aquila brought a very great multitude of human souls to salvation. He turned them from idolatrous frenzy to the knowledge of God and baptized them.

He passed through various other lands, preaching the Kingdom of God, and somewhere was killed by unbelievers. His memory is July 14, or July 27. He is an Apostle of the Seventy.