Looking for Paul's Family

The references:

Acts 23:16                   Paul’s sister’s son learned of the plot of the Jews to assassinate Paul

Romans 16:4               Andronicus and Junias, kinsmen of Paul, converted before him

Romans 16:13             Rufus, kinsman, “and his mother and mine”

The story that emerges:

The other night Constance and I watched an Agatha Christie movie, “A Murder is Announced.” We figured out who the culprit was (Spoiler alert -- the butler did not do it.) but could not put the pieces together. All came to light at the end when Miss Marple disclosed family connections that had been hidden from all.

Similarly, in investigating the family of Paul, we are only told Paul had a sister and a nephew. No one tells us who they were or any other related details. So, acknowledging the tentativeness of any conclusion, here is what we can put on the table.

Acts 23:16 gives the only factual piece in digging out Paul’s family. The context was Paul’s arrest and imminent transfer to Caesarea where he would stand trial. Jews had conspired to ambush the caravan and kill him. Luke records that the son of Paul’s sister learned of the plan and told Paul. “Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he entered the barracks and went and told Paul” (Acts 23:16). Paul, then, asked that the Roman centurion to hear the nephew’s report. He did and the guard for Paul’s transfer was hugely increased.

Our question is who was this nephew, and who was his mother? And are there other kinsmen that we can find? While there are no further details about sister and nephew, there are two references to possible relatives in the final chapter of Romans. 

The first to examine is Rufus. Paul writes, “Greet Rufus, chosen of the Lord; also, his mother and mine” (Romans 16:13). The last phrase could also be translated, “who has been a mother to me, too.” That is probably the more accurate rendering. In the travels of Paul, he was frequently the guest in homes of friends. The mother of Rufus could have been the hostess on many occasions.

We will revisit Rufus on another profile, since there is a likely connection with the man who carried the cross for Jesus. Stay tuned.

The other reference mentions the couple Andronicus and Junias. There is a stronger case them to be related to Paul. “Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles and were in Christ before me” (Romans 16:7).

The Greek work that Paul uses for his relation with them and Rufus – sunggeneis, of the same origin – could mean “the same by faith” or “the same by birth.” In the context of Rufus, “the same faith” seems better. With Andronicus and Junias it could be the latter.

By them being “in Christ before Paul” raises the possibility of several years of previous acquaintance. In fact, this could have been his sister and her husband living in Jerusalem. It would be plausible that Paul had relatives there with whom he lived while a student and later at the time of Stephen’s execution. If Junias was Paul’s sister and was living in Jerusalem, her son might well have also been a follower of Jesus and keen advocate for the ministry of his uncle. 

An interesting sidelight is how Paul singles the two of them out as “outstanding among the apostles.” This could be taken in a variety of ways. One way is to recognize the husband and wife as apostles who showed impressive ministry. They would be included among those whom Paul mentions in 1 Cor. 15:7: “Then He appeared to James and then to all the apostles.”  This would elevate them to be among the apostles appointed by the post-resurrected Christ. 

We can depart from this to another family question, one that carries more interest. That would be the question if Paul were ever married. Was there a Mrs. Paul? On this point both Paul in his correspondence and Luke in his narrative are silent. There are many explorations taken, each one yielding alternative conclusions. On this too, we must live with unanswered questions and tantalizing ambiguity. 

We have no Agatha Christie to bring pat answers to these inquiries. When we are in heaven, we won’t find a bench to sit and clarify all this with Paul. The most we might hope for is a sighting of their family picnic. We can look closely there for who might have been his wife or his nephew. But even that won’t help since no one wears name tags in heaven. But you already knew that.