Der Aufenthalt von Priska und Aquila in Ephesus und die juristischen Rahmenbedingungen ihrer Rückkehr nach Rom

The Book of Acts mentions a decree by Claudius which was instrumental in bringing Prisca and Aquila to Corinth (Acts 18,2) both of whom are greeted at the end of the letter to the Romans (Rom 16,3). It is commonly held that Prisca and Aquila could return to Rome only after Claudius had died and many of his decrees had been abolished. However, common legal practice in Rome seems to make it possible-if not even probable-that the decree mentioned in Acts was not acted on after order had been restored to the Jewish community in Rome. Thus, an earlier return is possible. In addition, Aquila is not greeted by Paul as a fellow of the same kin.This raises the question whether the greetings in the letter to the Romans can be used to deduce the composition of the Christian community in Rome with regard to the percentage of Jewish and Gentile members.