Romans 16:23

Γάϊος ὁ ξένος μου κ. ὅλης τῆς ἐκκλησίας : As the Epistle to the Romans was written from Corinth this hospitable Christian is probably the same who is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:14. Three other persons (apparently) of the same name are mentioned in Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4, and 3 John. By ὁ ξένος μου is meant that Gaius was Paul's host in Corinth; ὁ ξένος ὅλης τῆς ἐκκλησίας might either mean that the whole Christian community met in his house (cf. Romans 16:5; Romans 16:14-15), or that he made all Christians who came to Corinth welcome. Ἔραστος ὁ οἰκονόμος τῆς πόλεως. We cannot be sure that this is the Erastus of Acts 19:22; 2 Timothy 4:20 : the latter seems to have been at Paul's disposal in connection with his work. But they may be the same, and Paul may here be designating Erastus by an office which he had once held, but held no longer. The city treasurer (arcarius civitatis) would be an important person in a poor community (1 Corinthians 1:26 ff.), and he and Gaius (whose boundless hospitality implies means) are probably mentioned here as representing the Corinthian Church. Κούαρτος ὁ ἀδελφός : Quartus, known to Paul only as a Christian, had perhaps some connection with Rome which entitled him to have his salutation inserted.