He again testifies his gratitude, in recording the kindness of Mary to him. Nor is there any doubt but that he commemorates these praises, in order to recommend those whom he praised to the Romans. [1]

Footnotes

1 - It is said of Mary, that she "labored much," eis hemas, towards us, or among us; "inter nos -- among us," Beza; "pro nobis -- for us," Grotius. The reading eis humas, towards you, has many MSS. in its favor, and also en humin, among you. -- Ed.

Who bestowed much labour on us - Who labored much for us. Nothing more is known of her but this honorable mention of her name. It is probable that these persons were formerly residents in Greece, and that the apostle had there become acquainted with them, but that they had now removed to Rome.

Greet Mary, who bestowed much labor on us - Who this Mary was, or what the labor was which she bestowed upon the apostles, we know not. Her works, though hidden from man, are with God; and her name is recorded with honor in this book of life.

Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. Some copies read, "you"; and so do the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions: and indeed it seems most likely that the persons on whom this good woman bestowed so much labour, and to whom she was so very serviceable, were the saints at Rome, where she lived, rather than the apostle and his companions; not but that she might have been in some parts where she had met with him, and his friends, and had been very indefatigable in assisting and supplying them, in a very generous and liberal manner, with all the necessaries of life; and was exceeding useful in encouraging the ministers of the Gospel, and in promoting the interest of Christ. Her name Mary is the same with Miriam in Hebrew; whether she was of Jewish extract is not certain, and who she was is not known: some have conjectured her to be the same that Ignatius wrote an epistle to; not Mary of Castabilis, but of Naples, who was at Rome in the time of Linus, the Latin version reads "Cletus", and of Clement, on whom he bestows very great characters; calling her most faithful, worthy of God, and a bearer of Christ, and in all things wise (m): and in another letter (n) of his he represents her as exceeding learned, an exemplar of godly women, and having a church in her house. But both these epistles are thought, by learned men, to be falsely ascribed to him, and so not to be depended on.
(m) Ignat. Epist. ad Mariam, p. 69, 70. (n) lb. ad Heronem, p. 97. Ed. Voss.

Greet--or "salute"
Mary, who bestowed much labour on us--labor, no doubt, of a womanly kind.

Greet Mary. A large number of those named were personal acquaintances of Paul; some had rendered him special service; many were, no doubt, his own converts. Of most of them we know nothing, save that he places them in this honorable roll.
Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen. Countrymen.
My fellow-prisoners. When confined with Paul, we do not know.
Of note among the apostles. Well and favorably known to the apostles.
Salute them who are of the household of Aristobulus. Aristobulus was either dead, or not a believer. The household is, perhaps, his slaves. Great Romans had hundreds of slaves, usually white, many of them cultured. Thousands of the early Christians were gathered from these.
The household of Narcissus. At the time Paul wrote, a favorite of Nero, named Narcissus, was all powerful in Rome. He probably meant a number of his servants having accepted Christ.
TryphÃ&brvbr;na, Tryphosa, . . . Persis. These are the names of women. From the fact stated of them, they were probably deaconesses.
Salute Rufus. Some have supposed this to be the Rufus named in Mark 15:21. His father was of Cyrene. Paul had certainly met his mother elsewhere, for he not only greets her, but says she had been a mother to him.
Hermas. Supposed by some to have been the author of an early Christian writing, called "The Shepherd of Hermas," which still remains.
And all the saints which are with them. Probably another household church, which met with those just named.
Salute one another with a holy kiss. The kiss is still a common salutation in the East, and was in New Testament times. See Luke 7:45; also 2-Samuel 20:9, and 1-Peter 5:14 The custom is still preserved in the Greek churches.