Tentmakers

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 18:1-4

TO CHEW ON: "And because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.” Acts 18:3

What do you want to be when you grow up – a musician? a pilot? a cook? an artist? a road builder? Could you do these things – and be a missionary too?

Paul would say “yes.” He was a missionary, but when he needed money for rent and food he also had a job. He made tents. When the church in Corinth was small and there weren’t enough people to pay the salary of a full-time missionary pastor, Paul worked with his friends Priscilla and Aquilla at tent-making during the day. In his time off he worked for the church.

"Paul worked as a tentmaker" Illustration by Annie Vallotton from the Good News Bible
© American Bible Society 1976, 1992, used with permission.

We still use the word “tentmaker” to describe people who do a second job to support themselves while they work for God. These modern tentmakers don’t literally make tents. They do many jobs, from teaching English to nursing to engineering. They can often get into countries where pastors and missionaries aren’t allowed. Sometimes they work in places where the local people can’t afford to pay full-time workers.

No matter what our job is, we can also be a missionary and tell people about Jesus.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to be a missionary no matter what job I do. Amen

MORE: Bible Jobs.
Do you know what jobs these Bible characters did? Match each Bible character with the job they did.


1. Lydia (Acts 16:14) __________
2. Simon (Peter) (Mark 1:16) __________
3. Joseph (Genesis 41:39-40) __________
4. Luke (Colossians 4:14) __________
5. Matthew (Matthew 9:9) __________
6. David (1 Samuel 16:11-13) __________
7. Deborah (Judges 4:4,5) __________
8. Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:11) __________



A. Doctor
B. Drink server (cup-bearer)
C. Administrator (the one in charge)
D. Tax collector
E. Fisherman
F. Cloth dealer
G. Shepherd
H. Prophet and Judge

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.