There is not much left of ancient Rome. Most of what used to be ancient Rome has been buried underneath 2000 years’ worth of subsequent history, or else dismantled for newer building projects over the centuries.
Those things which have survived give us a glimpse of ancient Rome’s most famous people and the great things they accomplished with their lives.
Such as: the Arch of Titus.
This giant monument memorializes the great triumph of Titus over the Jews. Carved into the arch are reliefs of Titus being crowned by the goddess Victory …
… along with soldiers carrying the booty and treasures from his sacking of the temple in Jerusalem in AD 70.
Another surviving monument from ancient Rome is the Arch of Septimius Severus.
Carved into this arch are reliefs of the conquering of peoples, as well as soldiers marching them, as slaves, back to Rome for the victory parade.
Famous names from ancient Rome. And the famous deeds they accomplished.
When we come to the final closing of Paul’s letter to the early Christians living in ancient Rome, we see a list of people mentioned. The Holy Spirit (who was telling Paul what to write) chose on purpose to include the names of these people.
These are famous names of ancient Rome!
These people were included by God in His Word!
Who were they?? What did they do that was so great and fantastic??
How come after 2,000 years their names are still being read in Bibles all over the world?? Their names are being read in thousands of different languages which the Bible has been translated into.
The vast majority of famous and influential people of ancient Rome have been forgotten, their memory buried in the layers of history … and yet these names remain. These names are remembered. Why??
Because they were faithful to God. That’s why.
These were just normal ordinary people. Like you and me. They didn’t rule empires. They didn’t conquer nations. They lived normal ordinary lives serving God faithfully.
Let’s take a look at these famous people of ancient Rome.
“Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.” (Romans 16:5) Whoa! Epenetus was the very first person to believe in Jesus Christ in all of Asia minor. That’s amazing!
“Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.” (Romans 16:6)
Who was Mary? What was she like? Did she live on a street like this? Did she have kids who hopped back and forth on the crosswalk stepping stones, just like these kids? We don’t know.
Mary is commended because she worked very hard for the early church in ancient Rome. What did she do?? We don’t know. But obviously she loved people well. She served people well.
Mary is just a normal ordinary person like you and me. But she served God faithfully. She loved others well. And God saw! Her “unknown” accomplishments are greater than all the accomplishments carved into relief on the surviving arches standing in Rome today.
“Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord.” (Romans 16:8)
Perhaps Ampliatus went to a bakery just like this one to get his bread each week. He probably saw the slaves turning the grindstone (the bottom-half remains of which you can see in the center of the photo) And just like you and I go into MOD pizza and see our pizza cooking in the arched pizza oven, perhaps Ampliatus saw his bread being baked in the arched oven (which you can see in the background)
Ampliatus was just a normal ordinary person like you and me. But he served God faithfully. And God saw! And we know his name today – 2,000 years later.
“Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.” (Romans 16:9)
Perhaps Urbanus and Stachys walked down the busy crowded ancient streets of Rome just like this. Perhaps they stopped at a public fountain like this (the square basin you can see in the center of the photo). Perhaps they drove a cart delivering goods … and perhaps their horse or donkey stopped for a drink at a public fountain like this.
Urbanus and Stachys were just normal ordinary people like you and me. They worked normal ordinary jobs like you and me. They faced their share of normal ordinary problems like you and me. But they were faithful to God … day in and day out! And God saw! And their names are recorded for us to read about them today.
“Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ.” (Romans 16:10)
What kind of trial had Apelles gone through? How had he been tested and approved in Christ?? Had he lost much because of this testing? We don’t know. All we know is that Apelles was faithful … and God saw! And Apelles’ faithfulness is remembered today.
“Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.” (Romans 16:10)
Aristobulus sounds like he must have been someone important and wealthy, since his entire household was sent a greeting. Perhaps Aristobulus had a sign like this indicating his home: Domus Aristobulus.
Perhaps Aristobulus had a fancy atrium inside the entrance to his home like this; with a reflecting pool like this; and fancy brickwork designs on his walls. Perhaps he had manicured gardens in the back.
I would guess if it was a wealthy home, Aristobulus might have had slaves and servants as part of his household. Had his slaves and servants come to faith in Jesus also? I would guess so, since Paul sends greetings to his entire household. Could this have been a small house church? Maybe.
“Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them.” (Romans 16:14)
Could this also have been a small house church in Rome? Paul does not specify this grouping as being a small house church. The only house church he specifies is the one meeting in the home of Aquila and Priscilla. But here he lists the names of five (I’m guessing the house church leaders) and then he greets “the brothers with them.” This wording makes me think this might have been a small house church. That’s just my personal opinion.
Whatever the case, these Jesus-followers living in ancient Rome probably lived down a street just like this. They worked normal jobs just like we do today. And they were faithful to Jesus Christ! And they are remembered still today.
“Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them.” (Romans 16:15)
My guess, based on this grouping of people, is that this might have been yet another small house church. The wording “all the saints with them” certainly sounds like a house church.
If there were many Christians in Rome at the time, there would have been no way for everyone to meet at the home of Aquila and Priscilla. The city of ancient Rome was undoubtedly large. Therefore, it makes logical sense that there would have been multiple small house churches throughout the city … as believers in Jesus met together to discuss the Scriptures and to learn how to live holy lives.
I’m guessing that Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas might have been the leaders of this small house church. Perhaps they met in a small home like this one here.
These people here at the end of the book of Romans are famous names of ancient Rome!
Whoever you are, wherever you live … God sees you. God sees your faithfulness! God sees the love you show towards others. God sees your service for other people.
And God is pleased with your faithfulness for him … just like God was pleased with these faithful Jesus-followers living in ancient Rome.
