Romans 16:7

“Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, etc..] 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 <450903>Romans 9:3); and especially for such as were partakers of the grace of God, as these his kinsmen were. These were their Gentile names, the one Greek, the other Latin; but both were Jews. Grotius thinks that their Jewish names were, the one Masinissa,…”

“Andronicus and Junia--or, as it might be, "Junias," a contracted form of "Junianus"; in this case, it is a man's name. But if, as is more probable, the word be, as in our version, "Junia," the person meant was no doubt either the wife or the sister of Andronicus. my kinsmen--or, "relatives." and my fellow prisoners--on what occasion, it is impossible to say, as the apostle elsewhere tells us that he was "in prisons more frequent" (Co2 11:23). which are of note among the apostles--Those who think the word "apostle" is used in a lax sense, in the Acts and Epistles, take this to mean "noted apostles" [CHRYSOSTOM, LUTHER, CALVIN, BENGEL, OLSHAUSEN, THOLUCK, ALFORD, JOWETT]; others, who are not…”

“My kinsmen - In Romans 9:3, the apostle calls “all” the Jews “his kinsmen,” and it has been doubted whether he means anything more here than that they were “fellow Jews.” But as many others who were Jews are mentioned here without this appellation, and as he especially designates these persons, and Herodian Romans 16:11, it seems probable that they were remote relatives of the apostle. My fellow-prisoners - Paul was often in prison; and it is probable that on some of those occasions they had been confined with him; compare 2 Corinthians 11:23, “In prisons more frequent.” Who are of note - The word translated “of note” ἐπίσημοι episēmoi, denotes properly those who are “marked,” designated,…”

“Who are of note among the apostles - They seem to have been some of the most early converts. Fellowprisoners - For the gospel's sake. Romans 16:9”

“16:7 In Greek, the name Junia could refer to a man named Junias or to a woman named Junia. Most interpreters understand Junia as a feminine name. This section pairs masculine and feminine names to refer to husband-and-wife teams, so Junia was probably a woman. • who were in prison with me: When this occurred is uncertain. According to Acts, Paul had been imprisoned overnight in Philippi (Acts 16:19-28); after Romans was written, he would later be imprisoned for two years in Caesarea (Acts 24:27) and for two years in Rome (Acts 28:30-31). Paul was undoubtedly imprisoned on occasions not mentioned in Acts (see 2 Cor 11:23). • highly respected among the apostles: This phrase probably indicates…”

“kinsmen: Rom 16:11, Rom 16:21, fellow prisoners, Co2 11:23; Col 4:10; Plm 1:23; Rev 1:9 who: Gal 2:2, Gal 2:6 were: Rom 8:1; Isa 45:17, Isa 45:25; Joh 6:56, Joh 14:20, Joh 15:2; Co1 1:30; Co2 5:17, Co2 5:21; Gal 1:22, Gal 5:6, Gal 6:15; Eph 2:10; Jo1 4:13, Jo1 5:20 Romans 16:8”