Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 16:5

"and [salute] the church that is in their house. Salute Epaenetus my beloved, who is the first-fruits of Asia unto Christ." — Romans 16:5 (ASV)

The church that is in their house. Aquila and Priscilla are mentioned (Acts 18:26) as having received Apollos into their family to instruct him more perfectly. The church in their house is also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16:19. This may mean either the church that was accustomed to assemble for worship at their hospitable mansion, or it may mean their own family with their guests, regarded as a church.

In those times, Christians had no houses erected for public worship and were therefore compelled to meet in their private dwellings.

Salute. This is the same word previously translated as "greet."

Who is the firstfruits. One who first embraced Christianity under my preaching in Achaia. The first-fruits were a small part of the harvest, which was first gathered and offered to the Lord (Exodus 22:29; Exodus 23:10; Leviticus 2:12; Deuteronomy 18:4).

In allusion to this, Paul calls Epenetus the first fruits of the great spiritual harvest which had been gathered in Achaia.

Achaia. See Barnes on Romans 15:26.

This name and those that follow are chiefly Greek, but we know little about the persons mentioned, except what is recorded here.