1st century
Apostle Philemon
A Christian of Colossae and disciple of the Apostle Paul, to whom the Epistle to Philemon is addressed, and who according to tradition was martyred together with his wife Apphia.
Biography
Philemon and his wife Apphia were wealthy Christians of Colossae known for their charity; they came to believe in Christ through the Apostle Paul, who in his Epistle to Philemon expresses gratitude for Philemon's love and good works.
Their household also included Archippus, possibly a relative or son of theirs, and Onesimus, a runaway slave of Philemon who met Paul in Rome and was baptised a Christian; Paul sent him back, asking Philemon to receive him no longer as a slave but as a brother.
According to tradition, all of them were martyred at Colossae for spreading the Gospel, during the first persecution under Nero.