John Calvin Commentary Acts 18:2

"And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: and he came unto them;" — Acts 18:2 (ASV)

A Jew called Aquila. This was no small trial, in that Paul found no one in Corinth to lodge him except Aquila, who had been twice exiled. For, having been born in Pontus, he forsook his country and sailed over the sea so that he might live in Rome. He was compelled to depart from there again by the command of Claudius Caesar.

Although the advantages of the city were such, the abundance so great, the location so pleasant, and there were also so many Jews there, yet Paul found no more suitable host than a man who had been banished from his own country, and also from another land. If we compare the great fruit which followed immediately from his preaching with such a humble beginning, the power of the Spirit of God will appear more plainly.

We may also see how the Lord, by his unique plan, turns those things to his glory and the salvation of the godly which seem contrary to the flesh and unhappy. Nothing is more miserable than exile, according to the perception of the flesh. But it was far better for Aquila to be Paul’s companion than to be in the highest office either at Rome or in his country.

Therefore, this happy calamity of Aquila teaches us that the Lord often provides better for us when he sharply punishes us than if he were to treat us most gently; and that when he tosses us to and fro in most extreme exile, he does so to bring us to the heavenly rest.

All Jews to depart from Rome. The condition of that nation was then very miserable, so that it is a wonder that they did not almost all abandon the worship of God. But this is a greater wonder: that the religion in which they had been brought up prevailed against Caesar’s tyranny, and that as soon as Christ, the Sun of righteousness, arose, few were turned to him.

Nevertheless, I do not doubt that the Lord allowed them to pass through many troubles, so that they might more willingly, indeed, more greedily receive the grace of redemption offered to them. But most of them became unresponsive in their misery, and few submitted themselves to be taught when the Lord punished them, as Aquila and Priscilla did.

Yet, if Suetonius speaks the truth, they were expelled through hatred of the name of Christ; and so this calamity might have further provoked and angered a great many, because they were wrongfully accused on account of that religion which they detested.