Salvationists in Scripture: Priscilla and Aquila 

by Colonel Richard Munn

Within the pages of the greatest story ever told, we find a cast of larger-than-life characters from diverse regions and times. Some of them embody “Salvationism.” That is, the story of their lives and their values represent the essence of Salvation Army word and deed. We might playfully say that they are “Salvationists in Scripture.” Over the course of 2026, we’ll look at 10 people in the Bible who exude Salvationist attributes, from Amos to Andrew, Luke to Lydia, and Micah to Mary. Come back each month as we build our Salvation Army Scripture Hall of Fame.

Salvationists in Scripture

4. Priscilla and Aquila: Corps Officer Couple

Priscilla and Aquila stand as the archetypal New Testament dual clergy couple. As such, we might say they represent that most foundational Salvation Army officer appointment: the corps officer couple.

To begin, they are always mentioned as a pair, with no biblical reference to either one individually. This communicates much about their force as a couple, and their own relationship. Secondly, in four of their six references, Priscilla is mentioned first. Priscilla may have been the stronger character.

They have a sense of mission that entails relocation for the gospel, and they use their home as a place of ministry, both as a venue of hospitality and a house of worship. They work closely with the Apostle Paul who calls them “fellow workers” (Romans 16:3). They also intervene and invest in a rising preacher star of the time.

“[Apollos] 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 God more adequately.” —Acts 18:26 

Priscilla and Aquila are in the background of the New Testament story, and yet their influence is significant.

Across the Salvation Army world, the corps officer married couple is the most frequent officer appointment. It is a unique and much-loved force for good in our movement.

It is interesting to note that in the robust arena of small-business free enterprise, collaborative couples — husbands and wives heading entrepreneurships together — are noted as having a competitive edge. How delightful to think of this in terms of Salvation Army front-line mission effectiveness.

A fundamental egalitarian theological premise is that God’s original design is for men and women to share work equally. Priscilla and Aquila provide the biblical model for corps officer couples. They are vocational partners and partners in spirit. “They represent the best of the early church,” writes Dan Gentry Kent in the Priscilla Papers.

Ah, Salvation Army. Who would ever have guessed? You have been onto something hip for quite a while.

Don’t miss Salvationists in Scripture: Luke.