Census of Believers Mentioned in Romans 16

(Romans 16) General listing:

1. Phoebe

female - deacon - probably a business woman - has social position, independence - was a great help to Paul and others - is entrusted to take the letter from Paul to Rome - from Corinth.

2. Priscilla and Aquilla

Prisca (Priscilla) - female - wife of Aquila - was involved with Paul in ministry and with husband in teaching ministry - church meets in her home - of six times the two are mentioned, Priscilla is mentioned 3 times first. Acts 18:2,18,26; Romans 16:3, 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19

Acts 18:1-3— After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

Acts 18:18—And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

Acts 18:26 — And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

Romans 16:3— Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

1 Corinthians 16:19—19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

2 Timothy 4:19 — 19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

Aquila - male - husband of Prisca - they were originally from Rome - (Acts 18) then driven out by the Emperor Claudius (52 A.D.) and traveled to Corinth where they made tents with Paul. Then they went to Ephesus then Corinth then Rome.

4. Epaenetus - male - Paul’s first Asian convert

Achaia -- Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia

Romans 15:26 — For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem

Paul ministered in Achaia in Acts 18; Paul mentions Achai in Acts 19:21 (Macedonia and Achaia, (writes Romans from Corinth) then Jerusalem, then Rome) and their offering for the saints at Jerusalem.

"First Fruits of Achaia" (compare Romans 16:5 and 1 Corinthians 16:15)

(Acts 18, Paul's 3rd Missionary Journey)

1 Corinthians 16:15 — I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

"Macedonia and Achaia"

It was then one of the two provinces (Macedonia being the other) into which Rome divided Greece when it fell under their dominion.

5. Mary - female - hard worker
6. Andronicus - Greek - may have been part of Greek Jewish community in Jerusalem (Acts 6) - was an early convert to Christianity - was imprisoned with Paul - was a missionary
7. Junias - female - probably the wife of Andronicus - see above.
8. Ampliatus - male - beloved in the Lord
9. Urbanus - male - a fellow worker in Christ
10. Stachys - male - beloved
11. Apelles - male - approved in Christ - someone who matured
12. Aristobulus

• male - greetings to an unknown number of those who are in Aristobulus’ household. Note that Aristobulus is not greeted. Does this mean that he is not a Christian? He is probably not greeted because he is dead. Possible that he was the grandson of Herod the Great - the brother of Agrippa I. He may have lived in Rome as a private person and was a friend of the Emperor Claudius. He may have died in 45 or 48 A.D. A more remote possibility is that he is the son of Herod of Chalcis and ruler of Armenia Minor - who may or may not have been a part of this household in Rome. It is possible that this household, after the death of Aristobulus, had connections with the imperial household of Rome and was still known by his name.

13. Herodian - male - probably a slave or a freedman of the Herod family - Jewish.
14. Narcissus - male - not greeted - but his household is greeted.
15. Tryphaena - female - twin sister of Tryphosa? Name means “dainty” - a worker
16. Tryphosa - female - twin sister of Tryphaena? Name means “delicate” - a worker
17. Persis - female - meaning “Persian woman” - a typical Greek slave name - she is beloved and a hard worker.
18. Rufus

male - son of Simon the Cyrene who carried the cross of Jesus and later trusted in Him as his savior. Was the brother of Alexander (Mark 15:21). An outstanding Christian.

Mark 15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. Romans 16:13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

19. Rufus’ mother - female - unnamed - was like a mother to Paul
20. Asyncritus - male - Greek
21. Phlegon - male - Greek
22. Hermes - male - Greek
23. Patrobas - male - Greek
24. Hermas - male - Greek Numbers 20 to 24 may have lived together with a number of other brethren. They were probably freed slaves.
25. Philologus - male - “lover of the word” - is probably the husband of Julia and so they are coupled together.
26. Julia - female - common slave name particularly in the imperial household.
27. Nereus - male - possibly the chamberlain of Flavia Domitila (Cranfield)
28. Nereus’ sister - female - unnamed. It has been suggested that Nereus and his sister were children of Philologus and Julia. Romans 16 - Those Listed There… Page 2
29. Olympas - male - and an unknown number of saints with them.
30. Timothy - male
31. Lucius - male
32. Jason - male - possibly the same Jason who hosted Paul on his visit to Thessalonica (Acts 17:5,6,7,9)
33. Sosipater - male - a fellow Jew along with Paul
34. Tertius - male - wrote the letter as Paul dictated - was privileged to be able to add his own “two cents worth” - probably a former slave. Note the Latin: Primas, Secundus, Tertius, Quartus - as slave names (who bothered naming slaves). The brother of Quartus
35. Gaius - male - in whose house the gathered to write this letter.
36. Erastus - male - treasurer of Corinth - there is a Latin inscription on a marble paving block in Corinth which reads “Erastus, commissioner for public works, laid this pavement at his own expense.”
37. Quartus - male - brother of Tertius - see above.

In addition to the named/unnamed above there are 6 groups mentioned:

1. The church in Priscilla and Aquila’s home
2. The household of Aristobulus
3. The household of Narcissus
4. The brethren with the 5 Greek guys
5. The saints with Philologus and company
6. The whole church in Corinth

Counts of those mentioned:

• Number of women: 9
• Number of men: 28
• Number of people in Rome: 29 / male = 20 / female = 9
• Number of married couples in Rome: 3
• Number of dead people: 1