Priscilla and Aquila: Friends Who Helped
Acts 18:1-4, 18-28; Romans 16:3-5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; John 15:13-15 New Testament PrincipleFriendship
When Paul came to Corinth, he met Priscilla and Aquila, a husband and wife who had been forced to leave Rome. They were tentmakers, just like Paul, so he stayed and worked with them, and they became close friends. Later they sailed with Paul to Ephesus. There they heard a gifted teacher named Apollos, who didn't yet know the whole story about Jesus. They took him aside and kindly explained the way of God more accurately, and Apollos became a great help to the believers. Friendship means loving others at all times and helping them grow, because Jesus calls us His friends.
Friendship means loving others at all times, working side by side and helping each other grow closer to God. We can be good friends because Jesus calls us His friends and laid down His life for us.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17 BSB
Christ Connection · God’s love
Priscilla and Aquila "risked their lives" for Paul (Romans 16:4). That points us to the greatest Friend of all. Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends," and then He did it for us. Now He calls us "friends" (John 15:13-15).
John 15:13-15; Romans 16:3-4
The Big Story · Redemption
Jesus rose and sent His church into all the world. God used ordinary friends, their homes and their work to spread the good news and build His family.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: One stitch or two?
- Theo’s Workshop (build challenge): Tentmakers
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Friend tag
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
Jesus is my friend.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Friend tent, Color the tentmakers
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: with friends, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
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Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Paul met Priscilla and Aquila in the city of Corinth. They made tents just like Paul, so he worked with them and they became good friends. Later they met Apollos, a great speaker who didn't know the whole story about Jesus yet. Priscilla and Aquila kindly took him aside and taught him more. Then Apollos helped many people. Jesus calls us His friends, so we can be good friends who help each other grow.
Memory verse
“A friend loves at all times.”
Adapted from Proverbs 17:17
Start here
Do "One stitch or two?" with the paper plate and yarn. Ask, "Is it easier alone or with a friend?" Say, "Let's meet some friends who sewed tents and helped each other follow Jesus."
Bible story 6 min
Paul went to a big city named Corinth. He went to tell people about Jesus.
In Corinth, Paul met a man named Aquila and his wife, Priscilla. They had just moved there from Rome. The king of Rome had made them leave.
Priscilla and Aquila made tents. Paul made tents too! So Paul lived with them, and they all worked together. They cut cloth and sewed and sewed. They became good friends.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Friends who helped 10 min
You’ll need: Flat bedsheets
- Choose a narrator, Paul, Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos.
- Act out the skit. Priscilla and Aquila whisper and then kindly invite Apollos over.
- Switch parts so more kids get a turn.
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3rd – 4th grade
When Paul came to Corinth, he met Priscilla and Aquila, a husband and wife forced to leave Rome. They were tentmakers like Paul, so he stayed and worked with them, and they became close friends and partners in telling people about Jesus. Later, in Ephesus, they heard Apollos, a gifted teacher who knew only part of the story. They took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately, and he became a great help to the believers. Friendship means loving others at all times and helping them grow, because Jesus calls us His friends.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: What good friends do, Friend tag
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, with friends, at home
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Forced out of Rome by Claudius, Priscilla and Aquila met Paul in Corinth. As fellow tentmakers they worked side by side, opened their home, traveled with Paul and later risked their lives for him. In Ephesus they heard Apollos, an eloquent teacher who knew only John's baptism, and instead of correcting him publicly, they took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately. Apollos went on to strengthen the church. Christian friendship works together, helps each other grow and reflects Jesus, who calls us friends and laid down His life for us.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: A friendship built around Jesus, Friends who help me grow
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: with friends, online and on screens, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Friendship
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Big Feelings: Taking Them to GodBig Feelings: Loneliness2 Timothy 4:9-22; Acts 15:36-40; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Hebrews 13:5Near the end of his life, Paul was in a cold prison in Rome. Many friends had gone away. He wrote to Timothy, "Come quickly! Only Luke is with me. Bring my cloak. And bring Mark." Long before, Paul and Mark had split up. Now Paul wanted him back. Paul wrote, "Everyone deserted me. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me." Loneliness is a big feeling we can take to God. He is always with us, and He made us for friendship, so we reach out to others too.New TestamentFriendship
Kings and ProphetsDavid and Jonathan1 Samuel 18:1-4; 1 Samuel 19:1-7; 1 Samuel 20:1-42Jonathan, the king's son, became David's loyal friend, gave up his own claim to the throne, and protected David from King Saul, pointing to Jesus, the Friend who laid down His life for us.Old TestamentFriendship
With Building BricksThe Friends Who Opened the RoofMark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26; Galatians 6:2Four friends couldn't get their paralyzed friend to Jesus, so they opened the roof and lowered him down. Jesus forgave his sins and then healed him. Real friends carry each other to Jesus, because Jesus carries our biggest burden.New TestamentFriendship
Seeing God's WorldReal Friends in a Screen WorldDaniel 3:1-30; Daniel 2:17-18; Hebrews 10:24-25When King Nebuchadnezzar ordered everyone to bow to a giant gold statue, three friends stood together and trusted God. God was with them in the fiery furnace and brought them out without even the smell of smoke. Real friends help each other stand for God, and screens can't replace them.Old TestamentFriendship