你有多少朋友？
罗马书十六章1至12节
1我对你们举荐我们的姊妹非比，她是坚革哩教会中的女执事。
2请你们为主接待她，合乎圣徒的体统。她在何事上要你们帮助，你们就帮助她，因她素来帮助许多人，也帮助了我。
3问百基拉和亚居拉安。他们在基督耶稣里与我同工，
4也为我的命将自己的颈项置之度外。不但我感谢他们，就是外邦的众教会也感谢他们。
5又问在他们家中的教会安。问我所亲爱的以拜尼土安，他在亚西亚是归基督初结的果子。
6又问马利亚安，她为你们多受劳苦。
7又问我亲属与我一同坐监的安多尼古和犹尼亚安，他们在使徒中是有名望的，也是比我先在基督里。
8又问我在主里面所亲爱的暗伯利安。
9又问在基督里与我们同工的耳巴奴并我所亲爱的士大古安。
10又问在基督里经过试验的亚比利安。问亚利多布家里的人安。
11又问我亲属希罗天安。问拿其数家在主里的人安。
12又问为主劳苦的土非拿氏和土富撒氏安。问可亲爱为主多受劳苦的彼息氏安。
信息分享
保罗一定是善于结交朋友的。在他的书信中，他提到的朋友超过一百个。今天的经文正是一例。
经文中出现很多陌生的名字，让我们仔细看看保罗提到各人的时候说些甚么。非比是坚革哩教会的执事，曾经给保罗极大的帮助。他将罗马书的手稿交给她保存，所以，将来在天上，我们必须感谢她妥善保存这书信，让我们这些后辈受益无穷。
百基拉和亚居拉何时为了保罗，连自己的性命也置诸度外呢？他们在罗马的家究竟有多大，竟是信徒的聚会地点呢？罗马还有其他教会吗？
原来以拜尼土就是第一个信主的亚洲人（5节）！真是一个珍贵的纪录啊！保罗的亲属（7节）为他进入神的国而不断祷告吗？
保罗列出好几个人，说他们为基督和教会劳苦作工（6至12节）。土非拿和土富撒很可能是孪生姊妹，我们只知道她俩为主作工。相信当时一定有很多妇女默默无闻地参与教会的服侍。每间教会都该为她们的忠心事奉而感谢神，她们在世的时候未必获到表扬，但将来在天上必得赏赐。
保罗称赞这些妇女为主「劳苦」作工，让我们知道她们不是偶尔服侍，而是长期付出并忠心耿耿地事奉。这样的服侍正是神所祝福的。
牢记经文：「你们的劳苦在主里面不是徒然的。」（林前十五58）
HOW MANY FRIENDS DO YOU HAVE?
Romans 16: 1-12
1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.
Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia[a] to Christ.
6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us.
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.
9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.
10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.
11 Greet Herodion, my countryman.[b] Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.
Message
Paul must have had a remarkable gift of friendship. He mentioned well over 100 friends in his epistles. What we have here today is a sample.
Our reading is a long list of difficult names but look closely at what Paul said about each couple or person. Phoebe was a deaconess in the church at Cenchrea and had been a great help to Paul. He entrusted the manuscript of the epistle to her safe keeping. What a lot we owe her. It will be wonderful to see her and thank her in heaven.
When did Priscilla and Aquila risk their lives for Paul? How big was their home in Rome where the church met? Were there other churches in Rome, too?
Here is the name (v.5) of the first convert in Asia! What a record! Did Paul's relatives (v.7) pray him into the kingdom?
There are several whom Paul said that they had worked hard for the sake of Christ and the church. (vv.6, 12). Tryphena and Tryphosa were possibly twin sisters. The only record we have concerning them is their work for Christ. There must be thousands like them, women who had served Christ in their local church, unnoticed by the world. All our churches should thank God for their faithfulness. They may not have been recognized on earth but they will be greatly rewarded in Heaven.
The words “work hard” which Paul used concerning these women are very interesting for they tell us a great deal about their service. The picture given to us is one of extreme prolonged effort, not just a few minutes’ work here and there. Sacrificial and faithful service is the kind God blesses.
A VERSE TO REMEMBER: “Your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)