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Aquila

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A first-century Jewish Christian, tentmaker, and companion of Paul mentioned in Acts and Romans, noted for his missionary collaboration.

Detailed Definition
Aquila, exiled from Rome with his wife Priscilla, hosted churches in Corinth and Ephesus and instructed Apollos. His partnership with Priscilla models mutual ministry. In poetry, Aquila represents steadfast hospitality, vocational faithfulness, and the quiet backbone of early Christian community—often paired with Priscilla as emblems of lay leadership and cross-cultural discipleship.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Aquila’s tentmaking (Acts 18) sanctifies ordinary labor; In George Herbert’s "The Elixir," Aquila’s partnership with Priscilla models mutual ministry; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Aquila’s hospitality to Paul prefigures Christian fellowship; In John Keble’s "Lyra Apostolica," Aquila represents the dignity of lay service; In Christina Rossetti’s "Advent," Aquila’s home becomes a house of God; In T.S. Eliot’s "The Rock," artisans like Aquila build the church in daily life.
Additional Notes
Aquila: Tentmaker and early Christian, husband of Priscilla; hosted churches and mentored Apollos (Acts 18; Romans 16). In poetry, Aquila symbolizes lay leadership, hospitality, and vocational faithfulness. His partnership with Priscilla models egalitarian ministry—useful in poems on collaboration, exile (expelled from Rome), or the sacredness of ordinary work. Their trade (“tentmaking”) invites metaphor for shelter and construction.
Also Known As
Aquila the Tentmaker Aquila husband of Priscilla
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