Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
Parallel translations
- WEB who for my life, laid down their own necks; to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the assemblies of the Gentiles.
- BSB who have risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
- NKJV who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
- NASB who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles;
- NLT In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They risked their own lives for Paul, earning the thanks of all the Gentile churches. Their courageous love served the whole church.
Overview
Prisca and Aquila 'laid down their own necks' for Paul, risking death on his behalf in some unnamed crisis. Not only Paul but all the Gentile congregations were grateful for them. Their self-sacrificing devotion exemplifies the love that marks true believers, echoing the pattern of Christ who laid down His life. Such costly faithfulness commended them to the whole church.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 1 Jn 3:16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
- Phil 2:30Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
- 1 Cor 7:17But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
- Josh 10:24And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
- 1 Th 2:14For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
- John 15:13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
- 2 Sam 22:41Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
- Acts 16:5And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
- Mic 2:3Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.
- 1 Cor 16:1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
- Acts 15:41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
- Rom 5:7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
- Rev 1:4John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 16:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.