[Acts 18:3] And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. In Judaism it was not considered proper for a scribe or a rabbi to receive payment for his teaching, so many of them practiced a trade in addition to their study and teaching of the Law. Paul's tentmaking was an important part of his ministry. Though he recognized his right to be supported by those he ministered to (1 Corinthians 9:7-14), he voluntarily supported himself on the mission field so that no one could accuse him of seeking converts for the sake of enriching himself (1 Corinthians 9:15-18). In the modern missions movement, people call any work that a missionary does to support himself on the mission field tentmaking. Tents are made of strips of heavy materials just over a yard wide. Woven of goat or camel hair and hemp like fiber, the material is usually made by women during spare time in their household routines. The raw materials are corded and then spun by means of a spindle. The cord thus spun is as thick as the heavy wrapping cord we use for tying parcels for shipment. It is wound into huge balls as it is spun. The weaving is done in a very crud manner outside the tent, without the aid of a loom, though by a loom like process. A kind of shuttle affair is passed back and forth, alternating between the cords that have been strung out as the warp of the material. When woven, the tent strips are about a quarter of an inch thick. The tent is then actually “made” by sewing these strips together, producing the family residence. The tents are rectangular or oblong, never round or square. They vary in size according to the wealth of the man and the size of his family. There is usually a separating partition in the center to divide the space into “kitchen” and “living room” areas, the former generally serving as the women’s compartment and the latter as the place for the men. This partition is formed either by suspending rugs or extra tent fabric, or more commonly, by stacking up the family supplies of grain and other produce, rugs, bundles of clothing ect. Either carpets or straw mats are spread on the dirt floor for the people to sit on. In the dry weather the tents let through a great deal of sunlight, particularly when the materials are new, so during the first rain of the season, leakage is profuse. But as soon as the rains soak the material, it tightens up and the tent becomes virtually waterproof. They add appropriate accessories as ten ropes, poles and pegs. It is the duty of each woman to weave one new strip of material for her tent annually. Then, during the dry season, with the aid of a professional tentmaker and the male members of her household, she opens the tent in the center, sews in the new strip, and discards the oldest strip at the outside edge. In this way she always keeps a roof over her family. Paul had been designed originally for a lawyer, and had been brought up at the feet of Gamaliel. But it was a regular custom among the Jews to train up their sons to some useful employment, that they might have the means of an honest livelihood. Paul made it a point of conscience to work at that which he had probably been bred to, partly that he might not be burdensome to the churches, and partly that his motives as a minister of the Messiah might not be liable to misconstruction. Cloth tents supplied by the goats of the missionary’s native province, and hence, as sold in the markets of the Levant, called cilicium. In eastern countries, where there was much travel, where there were no inns, and where many were shepherds, such a business might be useful, and a profitable source of living. It appears that the missionary had his lodging with Aquila and his wife Priscilla (from these Latin names one would conclude that they had resided so long in Rome as to lose their Jewish family names); and probably a portion of the profits of the business, after his board was deducted. It was evidently no reproach for a man, at that time, to unite public teaching with an honest useful trade. Even though they were trained up to the liberal sciences, yet they deemed a handicraft trade, or some honorable occupation, an indispensable part of education. The wise generally practice some of the arts, lest they should be dependent on the charity of others." The wisdom of this is obvious; and it is equally plain that a custom of this kind now might preserve the health and lives of many professional men and women, and save from ignoble dependence or vice, in future years, many who are trained up in the lap of indulgence and wealth. This is more to Paul’s praise who did not ask for supplies than to theirs who did not supply him unasked. He supported his own missions, never asking for a hand out. See how industrious Paul was, and how willing to take pains. He that had so much excellent work to do with his mind, yet, when there was occasion, did not think it below him to work with his hands. Even those that are redeemed from the curse of the law are not exempt from that sentence: In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat bread. Paul therefore maintained himself with his own labor that he might not make the gospel of the Messiah burdensome. He took ‘gifts’ offered but he never asked for it or tried to manipulate to get a hand out. And why should it be so now??
Paul The Tentmaker
[Acts 18:3] And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. In Judaism it was not considered proper for a scribe or a rabbi to receive payment for his teaching, so many of them practiced a trade in addition to their study and teaching of the Law. Paul's tentmaking was an important part of his ministry. Though he recognized his right to be supported by those he ministered to (1 Corinthians 9:7-14), he voluntarily supported himself on the mission field so that no one could accuse him of seeking converts for the sake of enriching himself (1 Corinthians 9:15-18). In the modern missions movement, people call any work that a missionary does to support himself on the mission field tentmaking. Tents are made of strips of heavy materials just over a yard wide. Woven of goat or camel hair and hemp like fiber, the material is usually made by women during spare time in their household routines. The raw materials are corded and then spun by means of a spindle. The cord thus spun is as thick as the heavy wrapping cord we use for tying parcels for shipment. It is wound into huge balls as it is spun. The weaving is done in a very crud manner outside the tent, without the aid of a loom, though by a loom like process. A kind of shuttle affair is passed back and forth, alternating between the cords that have been strung out as the warp of the material. When woven, the tent strips are about a quarter of an inch thick. The tent is then actually “made” by sewing these strips together, producing the family residence. The tents are rectangular or oblong, never round or square. They vary in size according to the wealth of the man and the size of his family. There is usually a separating partition in the center to divide the space into “kitchen” and “living room” areas, the former generally serving as the women’s compartment and the latter as the place for the men. This partition is formed either by suspending rugs or extra tent fabric, or more commonly, by stacking up the family supplies of grain and other produce, rugs, bundles of clothing ect. Either carpets or straw mats are spread on the dirt floor for the people to sit on. In the dry weather the tents let through a great deal of sunlight, particularly when the materials are new, so during the first rain of the season, leakage is profuse. But as soon as the rains soak the material, it tightens up and the tent becomes virtually waterproof. They add appropriate accessories as ten ropes, poles and pegs. It is the duty of each woman to weave one new strip of material for her tent annually. Then, during the dry season, with the aid of a professional tentmaker and the male members of her household, she opens the tent in the center, sews in the new strip, and discards the oldest strip at the outside edge. In this way she always keeps a roof over her family. Paul had been designed originally for a lawyer, and had been brought up at the feet of Gamaliel. But it was a regular custom among the Jews to train up their sons to some useful employment, that they might have the means of an honest livelihood. Paul made it a point of conscience to work at that which he had probably been bred to, partly that he might not be burdensome to the churches, and partly that his motives as a minister of the Messiah might not be liable to misconstruction. Cloth tents supplied by the goats of the missionary’s native province, and hence, as sold in the markets of the Levant, called cilicium. In eastern countries, where there was much travel, where there were no inns, and where many were shepherds, such a business might be useful, and a profitable source of living. It appears that the missionary had his lodging with Aquila and his wife Priscilla (from these Latin names one would conclude that they had resided so long in Rome as to lose their Jewish family names); and probably a portion of the profits of the business, after his board was deducted. It was evidently no reproach for a man, at that time, to unite public teaching with an honest useful trade. Even though they were trained up to the liberal sciences, yet they deemed a handicraft trade, or some honorable occupation, an indispensable part of education. The wise generally practice some of the arts, lest they should be dependent on the charity of others." The wisdom of this is obvious; and it is equally plain that a custom of this kind now might preserve the health and lives of many professional men and women, and save from ignoble dependence or vice, in future years, many who are trained up in the lap of indulgence and wealth. This is more to Paul’s praise who did not ask for supplies than to theirs who did not supply him unasked. He supported his own missions, never asking for a hand out. See how industrious Paul was, and how willing to take pains. He that had so much excellent work to do with his mind, yet, when there was occasion, did not think it below him to work with his hands. Even those that are redeemed from the curse of the law are not exempt from that sentence: In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat bread. Paul therefore maintained himself with his own labor that he might not make the gospel of the Messiah burdensome. He took ‘gifts’ offered but he never asked for it or tried to manipulate to get a hand out. And why should it be so now??
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