We read in Acts 18:1-4:
“After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.”
Thus far we haven’t had any word about Silas or Timothy, who were left behind in Berea (with instructions from Paul to go back to Thessalonica to encourage and help the brand-new Christians there – 1 Thessalonians 3:1-3)
Paul had been waiting in Athens for Silas and Timothy. But obviously Silas and Timothy were delayed.
So, Paul moved on to Corinth.
Corinth was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia. (The province of Achaia included the Peloponnesian Peninsula, as well as the southern region of Greece.) Being the capital of the Roman province, there was probably a large military presence in the city, as well as a heavy military presence passing through the area.
According to mine and hubby’s tour guide in Ephesus, he presented the idea that Paul was a special type of tentmaker specifically contracted with the Roman government to make a specific type of black tent for the army.
How did our tour guide come to this conclusion??
Our tour guide was a native of Türkiye, and also a classical archaeologist with 30+ years’ experience. He explained to us (based on his extensive knowledge of history and his extensive archaeological experience) that in the region of southeastern Türkiye (where the city of Tarsus is located), a community of Jewish people settled after the diaspora.
The Anatolian Black goat is also native to this region of Türkiye. This Jewish community which had settled here became experts at weaving the fibers of the Anatolian Black goat to make high quality black tents.
Our tour guide further explained to us that a Roman emperor (apologies that I can’t remember which one) was so impressed with these black tents made by this Jewish community of tentmakers in Tarsus, that he contracted with this community to be the official tentmakers for the Roman army. As part of the emperor’s contractual agreement with this Jewish community of tentmakers, he granted them the benefit of Roman citizenship.
This is why Paul was born as a Roman citizen … because his parents were part of this Jewish community of tentmakers, contracted by the Roman emperor to make black tents for the Roman army. And because Paul was born into this family trade, he likewise automatically received Roman citizenship at birth … he was raised to learn the trade of making black tents … and he likewise carried on the profession of making black tents for the Roman army.
Hubby and I had never heard this before! This was mind blowing to us!
It makes a lot of sense.
According to Google, to this day Turkish nomads are still making black tents using the fibers of black goats. “Turkish nomadic black tents, traditionally made from goat hair, are designed for mobility and climate adaptability. The design is all about flexibility and ease of movement, allowing the tent to be assembled, disassembled, and transported quickly.”
According to nomad.tours: “The yarn is woven into fabric on a wooden, horizontal ground loom, which has four pegs driven deep into the ground. The end result is a coarse, heavy material.
“One of the main features of a black tent is its natural ventilation. When the sun hits the black roof of the tent, hot air starts to rise above the cloth and forces air to be drawn out from inside the tent. This creates a cooling wind effect during the hot days. On rainy or snowy days, the fibers absorb water and swell, making the tent waterproof. The texture of the goat hair is impenetrable to many insects.”
It is a well-known fact that Roman soldiers were required to pay for and furnish their own gear.
Therefore, if one were a Roman soldier and in need of a tent for their personal shelter … it is only logical to naturally seek out a tentmaker officially contracted with the army to produce such tents.
According to our tour guide … Paul was one of these tent makers.
And what better place to have a tent-making business than the capital city of a major Roman province.
And so, Paul arrives in Corinth, the capital of the province. He is most likely terribly discouraged, after having been severely beaten in Philippi just a few months prior. It would seem probable that he might still be dealing with some physical pain as a result of this beating. He came very close to being beaten again in Thessalonica! And had to flee town suddenly.
Paul is very worried and deeply concerned for the brand-new Christians he had just recently left behind in Thessalonica. Would their faith be strong enough to survive the suffering and persecution they were facing?? (1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:5)
It seems Paul was by himself in Athens as he waited for the arrival of Silas and Timothy … and news of how the brand-new Christians in Thessalonica were doing. So, he was probably lonely.
Paul is also struggling with doubts, and fears, and questions. In writing to the brand-new Christians in Thessalonica he says: “I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:5
And so … Paul arrives in Corinth.
In looking back on his arrival in Corinth he states: “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. … I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.” – 1 Corinthians 2:1, 3
Paul is in a low place in life, and he really needs a good friend!
Have you ever been in a low place in life … and really needed a good friend?
God provided a really good friend for Paul, when he really needed one! A couple – Aquila and Priscilla. They were Jewish and had recently been driven out of Rome by government orders. So, they’ve just come through some tough life stuff too! They are probably in a low place in life as well! They are probably struggling with some discouragement also.
Aquila and Priscilla are tentmakers, just like Paul, and perhaps they settled here in Corinth because it was the capital of the Roman province and therefore offered a good market for their products.
Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 4:11-12 – “We go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands …”
It can only be assumed then that Paul has been living and sleeping in the tents that he has made with his own hands. He is homeless. He is in rags. He is hungry and thirsty.
And he arrives in Corinth … probably in need of earning some money. Probably with hopes of a reprieve in life.
God provides a couple who are good friends to Paul. God provides a stable source of income, and business partners for Paul. God takes care of Paul … providing encouragement … providing hope.
If you are at a low place in life, God will take care of you too, just like God took care of Paul.
(This is what Paul would have seen from the city of Corinth, as he looked north-westward out across the Gulf of Corinth.)
