An old saying goes, “Coincidences are miracles when God wants to remain anonymous.” Paul left Athens and traveled south to Corinth in order to plant a congregation in that city. While in Corinth Paul “just happened” to meet a Jew named Aquila. Aquila and his wife Priscilla had “just happened” to arrive in Corinth from Rome because of the edicts of Claudius. Aquila and Priscilla “just happened” to be in the same trade as Paul—tentmakers. The couple “just happened” to give Paul the companionship and support he needed as he began to witness and debate in and around the synagogue. Later Aquila and Priscilla “just happened” to become important members of the Corinthian congregation.

God is at work in our lives and in our world, but often we don’t recognize God’s movement. We look for great miracles such as curing stage four cancer, money for a late mortgage payment magically appearing just in the nick of time and walking away from a horrific car accident without a scratch. God certainly does work in these ways, but more often God works in the coincidences and happenstances of life. With the eyes of faith we can stand in awe as we catch glimpses of the Spirit moving in the little things and we can be encouraged in our walk of faith.

Acts 18:1-4

After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers. Every sabbath he would argue in the synagogue and would try to convince Jews and Greeks.