Romans 16:3

They, he says, helped me in word and teaching and shared with me labors and dangers. Some supposed that these co-workers were Paul's helpers in tent-making (Acts 18:3).

Then he recommends other persons connected with him to be greeted, saying: greet Prisca and Aquila, who was her husband, but he mentions her first, perhaps because of the greater devotion of her faith, my helpers in Christ, i.e., in preaching the faith of Christ. …

It is a singular honor which he ascribes here to Prisca and Aquila, especially with regard to a woman. The modesty of the holy man does on this account more clearly shine forth; for he disdained not to have a woman as his associate in the work of the Lord; nor was he ashamed to confess this. She was the wife of Aquila, and Luke calls her Priscilla.

He calls them his helpers in Christ Jesus, by private instructions and converse furthering the success of Paul's public preaching, one instance of which we have in their instructing Apollos, Acts xviii. Those are helpers to faithful ministers that lay out themselves in their families and among their neighbours to do good to souls.

Greet Priscilla and Aquila,.... The former of these, who was a woman, and the wife of the latter, is in some copies called Prisca; and so the Vulgate Latin here reads it, as she is also called in 2Ti 4:19. Her being named before her husband, is without design, for sometimes he is put before her, as in Act 18:

Salute Priscilla--The true reading here is "Prisca" (as in 2Ti 4:19), a contracted form of Priscilla, as "Silas" of "Silvanus." and Aquila my helpers--The wife is here named before the husband (as in Ac 18:18, and Ro 16:26, according to the true reading; also in 2Ti 4:19), probably as being the more prominent and helpful to the Church.

THIS chapter contains Paul's loving salutation to the various Christians dwelling at Rome. Remember that it is an Inspired passage. Although it consists of Christian courtesies addressed to different individuals, yet it was written by an Apostle and written not as an ordinary letter but as a part of the Inspired volume. Therefore there must be valuable matter in it and though, when we read it, it may appear to be uninstructive, there must be edifying matter beneath the surface because all Scripture is given by Inspiration and is meant to benefit us in one way or another.

THIS chapter contains Paul's loving salutation to the various Christians dwelling at Rome. Remember that it is an Inspired passage. Although it consists of Christian courtesies addressed to different individuals, yet it was written by an Apostle and written not as an ordinary letter but as a part of the Inspired volume. Therefore there must be valuable matter in it and though, when we read it, it may appear to be uninstructive, there must be edifying matter beneath the surface because all Scripture is given by Inspiration and is meant to benefit us in one way or another. It shows to us one thing, at any rate, that Paul was of a most affectionate disposition and that God did not select as the Apostle of the Gentiles a man of a coarse, unfeeling, selfish turn of mind. His memory, as well as his heart, must have been in good condition to remember so large a number of names and these were but a few of his many beloved Brethren and spiritual children all over the world whom he mentions by name in his other Epistles. His warm heart, I doubt not, quickened his memory and secured to his remembrance the form, condition, history, character and name of each one of his friends. He loved them too well to forget them! Christians should love one another and should bear one another's names upon their hearts, even as the great High Priest wears the names of all His saints upon His jeweled breastplate. A Christian, because of the love he bears to others, is ever anxious to please by courtesy and desires—never to pain by rudeness. Grace makes the servant of God to be, in the highest sense, a true gentleman. If we learn nothing more from this passage than the duty of acting lovingly and courteously, one to the other, we shall be all the better for it, for there is none too much tender consideration and gentle speech among professors at this time. I.

Greet Priscilla and Aquila - This pious couple had been obliged to leave Rome, on the edict of Claudius, see Act 18:2, and take refuge in Greece. It is likely that they returned to Rome at the death of Claudius, or whenever the decree was annulled. It seems they had greatly contributed to assist the apostle in his important labors. Instead of Priscilla, the principal MSS. and versions have Prisca, which most critics suppose to be the genuine reading.