Name & Reference

M¹

F²

Jewish Descent³

Gentile⁴

Notes

Phoebe

Sometimes spelled "Phebe"

16:1

F

Some Jews had Greek names, which she may have, but it is doubtful. G

Her name = bright, radiant or pure, is derived from pagan mythology. She was a fellow believer, a sister in the Lord, and a servant (or deaconess - Gk. diakonos). She was actively involved in the ministry of the church at Cenchreae.⁵ This need not imply an "office", but for sure women were a vital part of the NT church.

Priscilla or Prisca

Aquila 16:3-5a

See also Acts 18:2, 18, 26; 1Cor.16:19; 1Tim.4:19

F

J

Husband & wife. The two of them taught Apollos (Acts 18:24-26). They traveled much and were tent makers. The saints assembled in their home in Ephesus and now in Rome.

"And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome.) And he went to see them," Acts 18:2. This was around 42 A. D., Claudius died in 54 A.D.

M

Epenetus / Epaenetus 16:5b

M

G

The first of many converts. See Acts 19:10, 18-20 - 1^st of many who knew conversion "unto Christ"!

Mary (Miriam) 16:6 One of 6 Mary's in NT

F

J

There is some question to this

Possibly informed of her labor by Aquila & Priscilla who were from Rome.

Acts 18:1,2; Rom.1:8 cf. 16:19

Andronicus &

Junias / Junia 16:7

Gender is in dispute could have been husband and wife, those to whom Paul was writing would have known but there is no way we can know for sure.

M

J

The two of them were converted before Paul. "kinsmen" = Jews / maybe of the tribe of Benjaman

If "apostles" is taken to apply to them instead of "the" apostles, it would be as Christians involved in itinerant work as evangelists or envoys (most likely they were known among the apostles in Jerusalem). The significant point is that they were "in Christ". They were "imprisoned" either like or with Paul.

M

or

F

?

J

Ampliatus or Amplias 16:8

M

G

Most likely a slave, perhaps a freedman. The name was common and is found on an inscription connected with the imperial household. Ampliatus is contracted from the Latin ampliatus meaning "enlarge"

Urbanus & Stachys 16:9

M

G

Latin name, he was perhaps Roman but a slave or freedman. "our" instead of "my" helper "in Christ"⁶.

M

G

He was a Greek. Name not common among the Greeks, perhaps a slave. "my beloved"

Apelles 16:10

10b Aristobulus⁷

M

G

(a slave)

Normally a name used by Greeks but some Jews used it. He was noted for being faithful in trail - See also Jam.1:2; 1Pet.3:10-17.

Herodion & Narcissus 16:11

M

J

It was common for slaves of the Herods to have their name or a derivative of it. He was probably a freed slave, may have even been from the house of Aristobulus.

M

G

Some in his household were saved but not necessarily him. Narcissus may have been the famous freedman Tiberius Claudius Narcissus. (They of Caesar's household are greeted in the same way in Phil.4:22)

Tryphena

Tryphosa

Persis - 16:12

(See also Col.4:14 "the beloved")

F

G

Three women who worked hard in the Lord.

Tryphena = luxurious and Tryphosa = luxuriating were perhaps sisters or twins, were upper class or servants in the imperial household. Persis = Persian lady or women, may have been elderly.

F

G

F

G

Rufus and his mother 16:13

M

F

J ?

Greeks and Jews used this name.

Jewish - Simeon

If the same as mentioned in Mk.15:21 he may have been a Jew since many lived in Cyrene. He and his mother may have known Paul from Antioch. Rufus's mother cared for Paul in a motherly way. Rufus was elect / chosen to salvation and service, as all Christians are.

Asyncritus

Phlegon

Hermes

Patrobas

Hermas

and brethren 16:14

M

G

Most likely were Gentiles, slaves or freedmen we do not know, all of the same house church, no hierarchy, no "head" of this church.⁸

The "brothers who are with them" is not to be understood as males only, both can be included in this word. May have been Jews and Gentiles.⁹

M

G

M

G

M

G

M

G

M

F

?

?

Philologus

Julia

Nereus

his sister

Olympas

"all the saints with them" 16:15

M

G

Philologus = lover of the Word and Julia were probably husband and wife. These were common slave names. Nereus and his sister were perhaps the children of the two previous names.

The dignity of all who are in Christ is that they are "saints". (It is reasonable to expect that Jews and Gentiles assembled together in Rome.)

F

G

M

G

F

G

M

G

M

F

?

G ?

Timothy / Timotheus

Lucius

Jason

Sosipater / Sopater 16:21

M

J

Greetings sent from these brothers and servants in the Lord

Had a Jewish mother (and was therefore Jewish) and a Greek father. Timothy is the most often mentioned fellow-worker of Paul. This Lucius is not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture. He and the two mentioned with him were fellow-countrymen of Paul. Jason had given hospitality to Paul in Thessalonica - Acts 17:5-9. Sosipater is mentioned in Acts 20:4 as Sopater of Berea.

M

J

M

J

M

J

Tertius

M

?

?

Possibly a Roman Christian, he was the scribe for this letter of Paul.

Gaius, "the whole church"

Erastus

Quartus

M

G

This Gaius was host to Paul during his second trip to Corinth. Erastus was of the upper class in the city of Corinth and is most likely the same as that on an inscription found on a stone pavement near the large theater. See also 2Tim.4:20 & Acts 19:21-22. Little to nothing is known about Quartus.

M

G

M

J ?

?