Romans Chapter 16 Vs. 10

 

Personal Greetings

Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household. Rom 16:10

Salute Apelles approved... Just the fact that Apelles was approved of Christ tells us that he was probably one of the 70 sent out to minister by Jesus. Some historians believe he was the bishop at Smyrna.

Salute them which... Aristobulus is another that is only mentioned here in the Bible, but seems to have been in the early converts to Christianity. His name means counselor.

Since his household is mentioned, probably some in his house received the Lord as Savior.

As Paul does not greet him personally, some think he was probably not a believer.

Historians say that he was a brother to Barnabas. One noted biblical scholar believers that he was the brother of Herod Agrippa I and the grandson of Herod the Great.

Paul said Apelles was tested and approved (ton dokimon, “the one approved through testing”; cf. the same word trans. “approved,” Rom. 14:18; the related infinitive dokimazein is trans. “to test and approve,” Rom. 12:2). Without naming other individuals Paul sent greetings to those who belong to the household of Aristobulus, perhaps a grandson of Herod the Great. A household may have included family members and servants. (However, the Gr. simply has “those out of, belonging to Aristobulus”; cf. Rom. 16:11).