The roles of men and women in the New Testament

The King James Version (KJV) is mostly used in these lessons. Click here to access the KJV online.

The story of Aquila and Priscilla is commonly used to support the view that men and women can be co-teachers in the Assembly. Aquila and Priscilla took Apollos aside to teach him a more correct way of understanding:

Acts 18:24- Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 – This man had been instructed in the way of Yahuwah; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of Yahuwah, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 – So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of Elohim more accurately.

Aquila and Priscilla were a husband and wife team that ministered in various ways. They were Paul’s traveling companions (Acts 18:18) and at some point had an assembly in their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). In this instance they saw that Apollos was in need of a more accurate explanation of the way of Elohim. We need to know if there is anything in this verse which would prove that Priscilla did not walk in her role as a help-meet and support to her husband. Prominent Greek Scholar A.T. Robertson makes the following comment about the word translated “took him aside” (KJV “took him unto them”) in this scripture:

Acts 18:26- They took him unto them (proselabonto). Second aorist middle (indirect) indicative of proslambanô, old verb, to their home and heart as companion (cf. the rabbis and the ruffians in 17:5). Probably for dinner after service.

Note that it seems likely that Apollos was invited to their home. Since correcting Barnabas would take some time to do, it seems reasonable to suggest that they met for dinner. The New International Version translates verse 24 the following way:

Acts 18:26 (NIV) He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of Elohim more adequately.

In such a situation, it would only make sense that Priscilla prepared the meals and did other support duties while Aquila took on the role of teaching. They functioned together as a ministry to the saints and there is nothing here which proves that Priscilla was teaching or having authority over Apollos. Yahuwah gave special roles to the husband and wife. When both of them are walking in those roles as a ministry team it is a beautiful picture of exactly how things are supposed to be.