Paul.  Their home was a glad meeting-place for believers, a privilege which many

provided, as there were no recognized buildings for worship like we have today. We can

therefore understand why the home of a leader had to be such as becomes one who is a

believer and witness for Christ (I Tim. 3: 2-6).

Verse 5. Epenetus was a valued friend and was the first convert to Christ in Asia (not

Achaia A.V.).

Verse 6. Mary, who bestowed much labour, or worked hard. She was a devoted

worker who did not spare herself.  Mary was a common name, and there are six

mentioned in the N.T. We have no means of knowing who she was.

Verse 7. Andronicus and Junia. Paul's reference to them as "my kinsmen" may mean

no more than that they were Jewish Christians. They had evidently shared one of the

Apostle's frequent imprisonments, but it is impossible to say which one. They were "of

note among the apostles", which probably means they were apostles themselves and

outstanding ones among the others.

Verse 8. Amplias was an abbreviated form of Ampliatus. He was dear to the Apostle.

Verse 9. Urbanus and Stachys. Urbanus means "belonging to the city (urbs)", a

common name in Rome, whereas Stachys (literally an "ear" of grain) was uncommon.

Verse 10. Apelles had the commendation that his Christian profession had stood the

test. He was a genuine and faithful believer. Aristobulus, again, is unknown to us.

Verse 11. Herodion, my kinsman, may mean he was a relative, or no more than a

Jewish believer as in verse 7. The household of Narcissus--Calvin and others identify

him with Tiberius Claudius. Narcissus, a wealthy freedman of the Emperor Tiberius.

Verse 12. Tryphena and Tryphosa, possibly were twin sisters. Their names are

derived from the same root. They were hard workers, like Mary of verse 6. Persis

(means Persian woman) possibly a freedwoman. The name appears on Greek and Latin

Verse 13.  Rufus (meaning red, or red-haired).  Again, he was an outstanding

Christian. A Rufus is mentioned in Mark 15: 21 as one of the sons of Simon of Cyrene.

The name may be mentioned here for identification only as he has no part in Mark's

Gospel.  As to when the mother of Rufus "mothered" Paul we have no means of

knowing, but her affectionate care of him was precious to the Apostle.

Verse 14. This verse contains names of persons also unknown to us. Hermes and

Patrobas are abbreviations of longer names. Hermes was the god of good luck and this

name was very common among slaves.

Verse 15. Philologus and Julia are probably man and wife. Nereus was possibly a

freedman of Nero. Olympas is an abbreviated form of Olympiadorus.

Paul now exhorts them to greet one another with a holy kiss. This became a feature of

Christian fellowship (see I Cor. 16: 20; II Cor. 13: 12; I Thess. 5: 26; I Pet. 5: 14) and

answers to the handshake of greeting today.