Romans 16:7

Andronîcus and Junia Or, perhaps, Juntas, i.e. Junianus (in a contracted form, as Lucasfor Lucanus, Silasfor Silvanus, &c.). There is no various reading, but the Gr. accusative may belong to either Junia(feminine) or Junias(masculine). It is impossible to decide, but perhaps the following expressions favour the view that we have here two Christian men.

my kinsmen Of course in a literal sense, which alone can be distinctivehere. Their names are Greek and Latin (respectively); but this was continually the case with Jews, (cp. Paulus, Crispus, Apollos, &c.). They were, we may assume, Benjamites at least, if not near relatives of St Paul's. Of his "kinsmen" we elsewhere (outside this chapter) hear only where his nephewis mentioned, Acts 23:16.

fellowprisoners Strictly, fellowprisoners-of-war. Same word as Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:23. The word indicates that these Christians had once been in prison with St Paul (a glorious reminiscence) in the course of the warfareof Christian duty and suffering.

See 2 Corinthians 6:5; 2 Corinthians 11:23, for hints of the many (to us) unknown imprisonments of the Apostle. The last passage is specially instructive as proving that the Acts is a narrative of selectiononly.

of note among the apostles The words may mean either (1) "distinguished Apostles," or (2) "well known to, and honoured by, the Apostles." If (1) is right, the word "Apostle" is used (as in the Gr. of 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25;) in its literal and wider sense of a messenger, and here probably (if so) a messenger of the Gospel, a missionary. The context, however, in 2 Corinthians 8 and Philippians 2, is of a kind which explains, and so justifies, such a reference more distinctly than the context here. We may suppose that St Paul would more naturally have written here, had (1) been his meaning, "of note among the apostles of the churches." We incline, then, to the explanation (2): these two Christians, possibly because of special deeds of love and help to others of the Apostles besides St Paul, were particularly honoured by the apostolic body.

in Christ before me A beautiful and affecting tribute to these his "senior saints."