Who was Aquila in the bible?

Aquila was a Jew who, with his wife Priscilla (also called Prisca), is shown in the New Testament as closely associated with Paul and active in teaching and supporting local assemblies. His Greek name is Ἀκύλας (Akylas), likely a form of the Latin word for “eagle.”

Aquila in Scripture

Aquila first appears when Paul came to Corinth after leaving Athens. The narrative introduces him with origin and circumstances, and immediately places him in close contact with Paul:

“He found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, who had recently come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. He came to them,” (Acts 18:2, WEB)

The chapter then explains why Paul stayed with them: they shared a livelihood. Aquila and Priscilla are identified as tent makers, and Paul lived and worked with them:

“and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers.” (Acts 18:3, WEB)

While Paul remained in Corinth, his synagogue activity and message are described, setting the scene for Aquila’s early association with Paul during an intense period of teaching and conflict. Paul “reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath” (Acts 18:4), testified that “Jesus was the Christ” (Acts 18:5), and when opposed declared, “From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!” (Acts 18:6). The chapter also reports growth among the Corinthians and a divine encouragement to Paul:

“The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, ‘Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.’” (Acts 18:9–10, WEB)

Paul stayed “a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them” (Acts 18:11). The same chapter recounts a legal confrontation before Gallio, after which Paul continued on and then departed with Aquila and Priscilla. Aquila is named as part of Paul’s traveling company as Paul sailed toward Syria:

“Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of the brothers, and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila.” (Acts 18:18, WEB)

In that same verse, an action of Paul is reported alongside their departure: “He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow” (Acts 18:18). The narrative continues to Ephesus and notes a separation of roles: Paul left them there while he entered the synagogue to reason with the Jews:

“He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.” (Acts 18:19, WEB)

Acts 18 later returns to Ephesus with the arrival of Apollos, described as “mighty in the Scriptures” and teaching “accurately the things concerning Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:24–25). Aquila and Priscilla appear as discerning listeners who respond by private instruction, clarifying the message more fully:

“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside, and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” (Acts 18:26, WEB)

Outside Acts, Aquila is mentioned in Paul’s letters as a recognized coworker and as part of household-based assembly life. In Romans, Paul sends greetings that define Aquila’s role in explicitly Christian terms:

“Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 16:3, WEB)

In 1 Corinthians, Aquila and Priscilla are shown greeting the recipients, and their home is identified as a meeting place for an assembly:

“The assemblies of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord, together with the assembly that is in their house.” (1 Corinthians 16:19, WEB)

Finally, in 2 Timothy, Aquila is again paired with Prisca in greetings, indicating their continuing place among Paul’s known companions and contacts:

“Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.” (2 Timothy 4:19, WEB)

Name and Meaning

The name is written in Greek as Ἀκύλας (transliteration: Akylas; pronunciation: ak-oo’-las). It is probably a Greek form of the Latin aquila, meaning “an eagle.”

Observation

Across these passages, Aquila is consistently presented in tandem with Priscilla/Prisca—working with Paul as a fellow tent maker (Acts 18:3), traveling with him (Acts 18:18), strengthening understanding through careful instruction (Acts 18:26), and participating in the life of “the assembly that is in their house” (1 Corinthians 16:19).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Aquila mean?

The name Aquila means “eagle.”

How many times does Aquila appear in the Bible?

Aquila appears 6 times.

Who was Aquila?

Aquila is described as “a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race,” who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (Acts 18:2).

What did Priscilla and Aquila do when they heard someone speaking in the synagogue?

They “took him aside, and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26).

Explore Further

If you found this page about Aquila interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.

Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).