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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 16:4

Who for my life laid down their necks ,.... That is, exposed themselves to great danger to save the apostle's life: the allusion is to the manner of executions by beheading, and to one person's laying down his head, and offering his neck to the executioner the room of another: this we are not to suppose was literally done; but the design of the expression is, that in some shape or another they risked their own lives for the apostle's; which might be done either at the insurrection in Corinth... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 16:5

Likewise greet the church that is in their house ,.... Which was either their own family, which might be somewhat large, and consisting entirely or chiefly of religious persons; for when they were in other places they had a church in their house as well as Rome; see 1 Corinthians 16:19 ; or the saints at Rome, who used to meet privately at their house, and pray and sing praises together, speak to one another of the things of God, and build up one another in their most faith; and from their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 16:6

Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. Some copies read, "you"; and so do the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions: and indeed it seems most likely that the persons on whom this good woman bestowed so much labour, and to whom she was so very serviceable, were the saints at Rome, where she lived, rather than the apostle and his companions; not but that she might have been in some parts where she had met with him, and his friends, and had been very indefatigable in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 16:7

Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen ,.... According to the flesh, being perhaps not only of the same nation, Jews, but also of the same tribe, the tribe of Benjamin, and even of the same family, and might be nearly allied in blood. And though the apostle did not value himself upon his carnal descent, yet he had a very great value and affection for his relations after the flesh, even though they were only of the same nation; see Romans 9:3 ; and especially for such as were partakers of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 16:8

Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. This was a Roman name; the Vulgate Latin reads "Ampliatus", and so do the Alexandrian copy, and the Ethiopic version: some call him "Amphias", and "Amphiatus", and say, but whether on good authority I will not affirm, that this man was bishop of Odyssus; but be he who he will, the apostle had a singular affection for him; and that not upon any external account, as natural relation, riches, honour, learning, &c.; but for the Lord's sake, and as he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 16:9

Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ ,.... This also was a Roman name, and which many of the popes of Rome have since taken to themselves; he is said to be one of the seventy disciples, and to be a bishop in Macedonia; See Gill on Luke 10:1 ; which is not very probable: others have conjectured him to be one of the pastors of the church of Rome, which is more likely; and if he was, but few of his successors have deserved the character given of him, an "helper in Christ"; in spreading the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 16:10

Salute Apelles approved in Christ ,.... Origen was in doubt whether this was not the same person with Apollos the Alexandrian Jew, whom Aquila and Priscilla met with at Ephesus; but had he been intended, the apostle would doubtless have said more of him, he being so eminent and remarkable a preacher of the Gospel; though indeed the character here given is very considerable; besides, Apollos did not live at Rome, though it was not impossible he might be there at this time. The name seems to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 16:11

Salute Herodion my kinsman ,.... According to the flesh, being of the same nation, a Jew; or of the same tribe, the tribe of Benjamin; or of the same family, and nearly allied in blood to him: though the name is of Attic, or Parthic original, and seems to be a derivative of Herod; this man is reckoned among the seventy disciples, and said to be bishop of Tarsus: See Gill on Luke 10:1 . Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord ; some have thought, that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 16:12

Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord ,.... These two were women, and are said to be noble women of Iconium, whom the apostle converted there, and afterwards went to Rome the names are Greek F20 Vid. Gutherleth. Animadv. Philolog. in Inscript. Smyrn. p. 115, &c.; , though they might be Jewish women, since Tryphon is the name of a man among the Jews. Trypho, the famous Jew, with whom Justin Martyr had his dialogue, is well known, and perhaps is the same with R.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 16:13

Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord ,.... This was a Roman name; frequent mention is made Jewish writings F21 T. Hieros. Taanioth, fol. 69. 2. T. Bab. Nedar. fol. 50. 2. Avoda Zara, fol. 20. 1. & Sanhedrin, fol. 65. 2. Juchasin, fol. 36. 2. of one Turnus Rufus, a Roman officer, that destroyed the temple, and ploughed up the city of Jerusalem; the name was in use among the Cyrenians, for one of the sons of Simon of Cyrene, whom the Jews compelled to carry the cross of Christ, was so... read more

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