Verse 21
Timothy my fellow-worker saluteth you; and Lucian and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.
This and the next two verses contain the greetings sent by Paul's kinsfolk, his other fellow-workers, their host, and Paul's amanuensis, there being no less than eight of these. Timothy, of course, was usually with the apostle when circumstances permitted it, and a great affection existed between them. Two of Paul's epistles were addressed to him, and his name must be hailed as among the most illustrious in the Bible.
The last three names in this verse are those of Paul's kin, of whom practically nothing is known. Regarding these three, Greathouse thought:
Lucius may be the one mentioned in Acts 13:1. Jason was once Paul's host (Acts 17:5-9) in Thessalonica. "Sosipater" may be the longer form of "Sopater" mentioned in Acts 20:4.[38]
The objection of some commentators to Paul's not mentioning all of his kinsfolk in the same sentence is nullified by the fact that these three were not in Rome, but in Corinth with Paul, and were joined with Paul in sending greetings to others, including three more of the kinsfolk, who were in Rome. If this elaboration of this point seems somewhat overdone, it is to refute the insinuations which fail to take this into account. For more on this, see under Romans 16:7 and Romans 16:11.
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