THE WORK WILL BE OKAY, IT’S IN GOOD HANDS. 2nd Timothy 4:19 Paul knew that God's work would continue after he was gone. The people he trusted with the Gospel were always in his thoughts, even at the end of his life. Prisca and Aquila worked together not only in tent-making but also in advancing the Gospel—hosting the church in their home and offering wise counsel to Apollos. Onesiphorus and his household were well-known for their hospitality, a crucial aspect of the Lord's work.
Aquila and Priscilla were a married couple who were saved before they met Paul in Corinth. They had lived in Rome but had to leave when Claudius expelled all the Jews from the city. All Jewish boys were required to learn a trade even though they were scholars and teachers of the law. Like Paul, their trade was tentmaking, so they had quite a lot in common when they met and invited Paul to live with them.
They would have told him about the church in Rome and those who met in their homes as they served the Lord “behind the scenes.” Their hospitality, friendship, private teaching (Apollos), and personal evangelism made them important people in the work of the Lord, even though they didn’t hold public speaking roles. They were willing to risk their lives in their service to God.
At the time of the writing of 2nd Timothy, they had moved to Ephesus and were a great help in the work in that city. They were a couple who made the most of their life together by their united strengths, working together, supporting themselves and others, and being available to be where God wanted them. They knew the word of God and knew how to correct wrongs without public confrontation.
This example of a Christian couple, united in their service and work for the Lord, is important for our learning. What happens through a Christian husband and wife is far more significant than what happens between them. Effectiveness in the things of God results from a strong relationship where they read the Bible and pray aloud together. They use their home as a tool for the work of the Lord and are content with whatever role the Lord gives them to fill. The support of such couples is invaluable in the life of an assembly and in spreading the Gospel to other places. This illustrates how God works in Christian marriages when both partners are committed to the Lord and to each other.
Of particular interest in this verse is that, both here and in chapter one, the entire household of Onesiphorus was involved in supporting and comforting the apostle Paul. Onesiphorus may have been a businessman who traveled to Rome for some reason, and while there, he made a diligent effort to find out where Paul was being held prisoner. For a stranger in a foreign city to do that would have been a tremendous encouragement and comfort for Paul. That act of compassion and fellowship reflected the character of his entire household. It reminds us that what we do as parents and employers impacts our children and those who know us best.