After Paul left Athens - the intellectual capital of Greece, he travelled east to Corinth - the trading capital of Achaia province, in the south of Greece. We do not know how he travelled; either some 60 miles overland or by sea. His ministry team of Silas and Timothy were still in Berea on the west coast of Greece (Acts 17:14-15), so he went to the Corinthian marketplace. There he found a married couple who were both working as tent makers; probably with a workshop at street level with living accommodation above.

Priscilla and Aquila were married Jewish refugees. Aquila was a Jew, originally from Pontus (a province of what is now north east Turkey south of the Black Sea). Like all Jewish boys, including Paul, he had to learn a transportable trade: his was tent-making, possibly working with leather. It seems that he had previously travelled to Rome, but Emperor Claudius persecuted the Jews forcing them to leave the city. He and his wife escaped from Italy and set up their business in the seaport of Corinth.

We do not know if they had become Christians in Rome or if they were unconverted when Paul met them. However, he found friendship with fellow tent-makers, although the trade in Paul's home area around Tarsus specialised in working with goat's hair and not leather. Perhaps the blend of skills was a business advantage to Priscilla and Aquila; anyway their work led to their friendship, mutual business and sharing accommodation. Although Paul discussed Jesus as being God's Messiah, it was mainly in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. The rest of the time he was working with his hosts, explaining the gospel to them so that they later became part of his evangelistic team (Acts 18:18-26).

Most people spend most of their waking time and make many of their friendships in the workplace. Common purpose is a good basis for relationship. Working together we get to know people well, and wise believers will want their work-friends to get to know Jesus too. A job is not just a way of making enough money: it becomes a friendship circle for sharing what matters most to us. At work we are often seen at our best and our worst. But if Christ is in us, His light will radiate out from us – inviting questions about our faith and framing the opportunities to introduce our greatest friend, Jesus. Keep watching and praying for those opportunities.