Romans 16:5

the church that is in their house Their house at Rome, like their house at Corinth, (1 Corinthians 16:19,) probably contained a large room (like the "Upper Room" at Jerusalem) which was devoted to Divine worship, and used by the Christians of the neighbouring district, who thus formed a "Church," or assembly, which itself was an organic part of the main "Church at Rome." No doubt the whole Roman community had a central meeting-chamber, probably of the same kind, (indeed Aquila's may have been this central chamber,) in which e.g. this Epistle would be read. Bingham (Antiquities, Bk. VIII. ch. i.) collects the allusions to Christian places of assembly in the first century. He makes it clear that special chamberswere set apart for holy uses, but does notmake it clear that whole buildingswere, in those first days, built for, or devoted to, worship. No doubt the circumstances of society and the inexpediency of obtrudingChristian worship on the view of the heathen, made this a natural and wise practice at first. But the existence of Jewish synagogues alone would make it equally natural, in due time, to dedicate whole buildings. By the third century, at latest, this was common.

For similar allusions to church-assemblies under private roofs, see 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2, and perhaps below, Romans 16:14-15.

Epenetus Strictly, Epænetus: known only from this verse. We may suppose that he was not only the "firstling of Asia" (see below) but St Paul's ownconvert, and thus specially "well-beloved" by the Apostle. Cp. 1 Corinthians 16:15.

Achaia The better reading is Asia; i.e. Asia in the strict sense, the Roman province of which Ephesus was the capital. See Acts 19:10; Acts 19:22; Acts 19:26-27; Acts 19:31.

unto Christ i.e. as a convert toHim.