Albert Barnes Commentary Ephesians 2:19

"So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God," — Ephesians 2:19 (ASV)

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners. You are counted among the people of God. You are entitled to their privileges and are not to be regarded as outcasts and aliens. The meaning is that they belonged to the same community—the same family—as the people of God.

The word translated strangers—xenoi—means foreigners in a state, as opposed to citizens. The word translated foreigners—paroikoi—means guests in a private family, as opposed to the members of the family (Rosenmuller). Strangers, and those who proposed to reside for a short time in Athens, were permitted to reside in the city and pursue their business undisturbed. However, they could perform no public duty; they had no voice in public deliberations and no part in the management of the state.

They could only look on as spectators, without mingling in matters of state or interfering in any way in the affairs of government. They were bound to humbly submit to all the enactments of the citizens and observe all the laws and customs of the republic. They were not even allowed to transact any business in their own name but were bound to choose from among the citizens one to whose care they committed themselves as a patron, and whose duty it was to guard them against all injustice and wrong (Potter's Greek Antiquities 1:55).

Proselytes who joined themselves to the Jews were also called strangers in the Jewish writings. All foreigners were regarded as "strangers," and Jews only were thought to have near access to God. But now, says the apostle, this distinction is removed. The believing Gentile, as well as the Jew, has the right of citizenship in the New Jerusalem, and both alike are members of the family of God (Burder; Rosenmuller, Altes und Neues Morgenland, in loc.). The meaning here is that they had not come to sojourn merely as guests or foreigners, but were a part of the family itself, and entitled to all the privileges and hopes that others had.

But fellow-citizens with the saints. This means belonging to the same community as the people of God.

And of the household of God. This means of the same family, entitled to the same privileges, and regarded by Him as His children (Ephesians 3:15).