Achaia Asia Assembly Beloved Christ Church Convert Dear Earliest Epaenetus Epae'netus Epenetus First-fruit Firstfruits First-fruits Friend Fruit Fruits Greet Greetings Kind Likewise Love Meets Province Salute Well-beloved
16:5 Likewise [greet] the {b} church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the {c} firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
(b) The company of the faithful, for in so great a city as that was, there were different companies.
(c) For he was the first of Achaia that believed in Christ: and this type of speech is an allusion to the ceremonies of the law.
16:5 Likewise [greet] the church that is in their house. As the early Christians had no houses of worship, they met in the homes of prominent brethren. In the large cities there would be several such groups. One of these in Rome met in the house of Priscilla and Aquila.
Epaenetus. He is not mentioned elsewhere.
Who is the firstfruits of Achaia. Asia, as in the Revised Version, is the true reading. The family of Stephanas were the first converts of Achaia (1Co 16:15).
16:5 Salute the church that is in their house - Aquila had been driven from Rome in the reign of Claudius, but was now returned, and performed the same part there which Caius did at Corinth, Rom 16:23. Where any Christian had a large house, there they all assembled together though as yet the Christians at Rome had neither bishops nor deacons. So far were they from any shadow of papal power. Nay, there does not appear to have been then in the whole city any more than one of these domestic churches. Otherwise there can be no doubt but St. Paul would have saluted them also. Epenetus - Although the apostle had never been at Rome, yet had he many acquaintance there. But here is no mention of Linus or Cemens; whence it appears, they did not come to Rome till after this. The firstfruits of Asia - The first convert in the proconsular Asia.
16:1-16 Paul recommends Phebe to the Christians at Rome. It becomes Christians to help one another in their affairs, especially strangers; we know not what help we may need ourselves. Paul asks help for one that had been helpful to many; he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Though the care of all the churches came upon him daily, yet he could remember many persons, and send salutations to each, with particular characters of them, and express concern for them. Lest any should feel themselves hurt, as if Paul had forgotten them, he sends his remembrances to the rest, as brethren and saints, though not named. He adds, in the close, a general salutation to them all, in the name of the churches of Christ.
Achaia Asia Assembly Beloved Christ Church Convert Dear Earliest First Firstfruits First-Fruits Friend Fruit Fruits Greet Greetings House Kind Likewise Meets Province Salute Well-Beloved Word
Achaia Asia Assembly Beloved Christ Church Convert Dear Earliest First Firstfruits First-Fruits Friend Fruit Fruits Greet Greetings House Kind Likewise Meets Province Salute Well-Beloved Word
