The Roman church: Jews and Gentiles, Claudius's expulsion, and Prisca and Aquila

Says Paul counts his readers among the nations: ἐν οἷς ἐστε καὶ ὑμεῖς (en hois este kai hymeis, "among whom you also are," Rom 1:5–6), and he hopes for a harvest among them "just as I have had among the other Gentiles" (1:13). He greets Prisca and Aquila, his co-workers, and the church in their house (16:3–5), and names Jewish kinsmen such as Andronicus, Junia, and Herodion (16:7, 11). Acts says Aquila and Priscilla had come from Italy "because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome" (Acts 18:2).

Suetonius writes: "Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he expelled them from Rome" (Claud. 25.4, trans. Rolfe). Dio Cassius says Claudius did not expel the Jews, who were too numerous, but forbade them to hold meetings (60.6.6, among events of AD 41). Orosius (fifth century) dates the expulsion to Claudius's ninth year (AD 49) and cites Josephus for it (Hist. 7.6.15), but no such passage survives in Josephus.

Uncertain "Chrestus" is often taken as a garbled Christus, which would mean the unrest arose over preaching about Jesus in the synagogues. That is possible, not proven. Whether Dio and Suetonius describe one measure or two, and the year 49, are also open.

Implies If Jewish believers left Rome and returned after Claudius died in 54 (Prisca and Aquila are back by Rom 16:3), a church that was mostly Gentile for a time would explain why Paul addresses Gentiles directly and urges mutual welcome (14:1–15:13).