- Mary of Rome: (16:6): Paul greets that Mary has laboured hard for the church. We do not much about this woman. She was the only one having Jewish name among all the 20-saints for whom Paul had sent greetings. It is quite likely that she had adopted a Jewish name at her conversion and baptism It shows the Christian bond existing in the church. But if she was a Jewess, it was a great quality that she had worked for the up-liftment of the church in Rome.
- Persis: (16:12b): She is another Roman lady who also worked hard for the church in the same way as Mary. Nothing has been told about this lady except that she laboured hard. It appeared that both these two ladies (both Mary and Persis) were evangelists who exerted their influence to spread the Gospel and also helped Paul in every way to make Christ known. Paul commends both the ladies for their unstinted service.
- Andronicus and Junias: (16:7): Andronicus and Junias could be husband and wife or brother and sister. They could be Paul’s distant relatives or probably tribal connection. They were in prison along with Paul. Paul commended them as outstanding among apostles which was in general sense. They were not in the original apostles but in broader sense were reputed and of different ranks of believers, just as Barnabas, Silas and others were called apostles (Acts.14:14). They came to Christ before Paul got converted, so they must have been believers for about 25-years. Probably they got converted in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and it was quite possible that Gospel was brought to Rome by this couple.
- Ampliatus: (16:8): He was a friend of Paul and genuine Christian. He was a Latin Roman Christian. Ampliatus means enlarged. Some say that he was Bishop of Odyssus. This name was found common among slaves of Rome. the Roman church had no discrimination for of slave and free men or rich and poor. But whoever he was, Paul had a great respect and affection for him. He was numbered among the saints of Rome.
A tomb in the catacomb belonging to Flavia Domitilla, the niece of Roman Emperor Domitian dating from the first or early second century was found with the inscription of Ampliat (the singular form of Ampliatus, which suggests that he might have been a slave). The ornaments on the tomb suggests that he would have been an important individual in the early church. Because he was buried in Flavia’s cemetery, we judge that they were personally acquainted. There was no tomb in the catacomb that equalled the beauty of its adornments. History says that Flavia the niece of Emperor Domitian became a Christian. The symbolic illustrations of the tomb of Ampliatus gives us that he was the teacher of Flavia.
- Urbanus: He was a fellow worker in Christ with Paul. Again Urbanus was a common slave name. A list of imperial freedmen inscription having both Ampliatus and Urbanus was found which was dated to 115 AD. It is very much interesting and coincidence that Paul referred both the names in his greetings and both these names found in juxtaposition engraved in a rock. It was true that Paul had many Roman friends who were slaves just like Onesimus in the letter to Philemon. Traditions says that Urbanus was a Bishop of Bryzantium, and others say that he was one of the pastors of the Roman church. But Urbanus had connections with high imperial community who later became a Bishop and pastor. Whatever it may be, he was very dear to Paul because of his zeal to spread the Gospel. His name became a synonym that many Popes have named themselves as Urbanus.
- Stachys: Stachys was Greek name. According to Roman martyrology, he was ordained Bishop of Bryzantine church. The name Stachys has been found in inscriptions connected with the imperial household. Whatever it may be, he was very dear to Paul because of his faith in Christ. When Paul sent greetings to Ampliatus, Urbanus and Stachys, it appears that Ampliatus and Urbanus were formerly slaves. It is quite evident from the life of Paul that he was friend to slaves as well as high imperial community. He was at ease while dealing with both opposite communities. This is what every Christian must learn to deal every community without any discrimination.
- Apelles: (16:10a): Apelles was Christian in Roman church. The name was quite common. The apostle calls him the one approved through testing. It is the test of the reality and strength of his faith and he was an approved Christian. Many people do not stand approved by God. It is useless to get approval from men. Apelles was a tried and approved Christian and was honoured by Paul. It is believed that Apelles later became the bishop of Smyrna.
- House hold of Aristobulus: He was perhaps the grandson of Herod the great. It appears that he was not converted, but his household including his wife, servants or his slaves may have been converted. He was dead at the time of Paul’s writing. But whatever it may be his family was referred by the apostle. Spurgeon writes of the unconverted people who live with believers in their houses.
“Where are you, Aristobulus? That is not your name, perhaps, but your character is the same as that of this unregenerate Roman, whose family knew the Lord. I might speak in God’s name good words and comfortable words to your wife and to your children, but I could not so speak to you, Aristobulus! The Lord sends a message of grace to your dear child, to your beloved wife, but not to you; for you have not given your heart to him.” (Spurgeon)