1 Corinthians 16:19-20
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It's easy to skim over, but notice how Paul highlights the church in their house. This wasn't just a couple hosting friends; it was a vital, functioning community meeting in a domestic space, showing how integral fellowship and worship were to everyday life for these early believers. Their home was a hub for Christ's mission, not just a private sanctuary.
The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is wrapping up his letter to the Corinthian church, a community he's had a complex relationship with. He's offering final instructions, encouragements, and personal greetings from key figures and churches he knows. These closing remarks serve to reinforce unity within the broader Christian movement and to offer tangible evidence of support and fellowship from trusted leaders like Aquila and Prisca, who were instrumental in spreading the gospel.
Ever wonder what early Christian gatherings looked like? They weren't in grand cathedrals, but in ordinary homes.
Paul’s letters often mention 'the church in their house.' This wasn't just a casual meeting place; it was the center of Christian life and community.
A Community Hub
Aquila and Prisca weren't just passive attendees; they were active participants, hosting and ministering.
This couple, Aquila and Prisca, are consistently shown as key partners with Paul in spreading the gospel. Their willingness to open their home was an act of deep commitment.
Ministry in Action
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Understand the original words
aspazontai · Greek Verb
The formal expression of goodwill, love, or warm regard toward others; in the New Testament, it represents the bond of unity and peace shared between believers.
Kyriō · Greek Noun
Referring to the status of a person in relation to Christ; the primary sphere of existence for the believer, signifying authority, belonging, and salvation.
adelphoi · Greek Noun
A term used to describe those who share the same spiritual Father through faith in Jesus Christ, emphasizing the familial bond of the Christian community.
philēmati hagiō · Greek Noun phrase
A cultural and religious gesture of the early church that signified reconciliation, familial affection, and purity within the community of believers.
The personal greetings in this verse reveal the deep interconnectedness of early Christian communities, with leaders like Aquila and Prisca actively hosting and nurturing believers across different cities.
c. AD 49-50
Claudius Expels Jews from Rome
Emperor Claudius ordered the expulsion of Jews from Rome, likely due to disturbances related to 'Chrestus.' Aquila and Prisca, being Jewish, were forced to leave the city.
c. AD 50-52
Paul Meets Aquila and Prisca in Corinth
Aquila and Prisca settled in Corinth, where they met the Apostle Paul. They worked together as tentmakers, and Paul likely shared his faith with them during this period.
c. AD 52-53
Paul, Aquila, and Prisca Move to Ephesus
Paul, Aquila, and Prisca traveled together from Corinth to Ephesus. Aquila and Prisca established a church in their home there, continuing their ministry.
c. AD 53-57— this verse
Aquila and Prisca's Ministry in Ephesus
During Paul's extended stay in Ephesus, Aquila and Prisca's home became a center for the burgeoning Christian community. They hosted the church and continued to be influential leaders.
c. AD 57
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians
From Ephesus, Paul penned his first letter to the church in Corinth. He addresses various issues within the community and includes greetings from believers he encountered.
c. AD 60-62
Aquila and Prisca Return to Rome
Later, Aquila and Prisca returned to Rome, where they again hosted a church in their home. Their house-church ministry spanned multiple major cities in the Roman Empire.
This passage also highlights the importance of specific individuals, Priscilla and Aquila, and mentions their house church, mirroring the greeting in 1 Corinthians 16:19.
Colossians 4:15This verse offers another example of greetings being sent to a specific church, including a mention of a house church ('Nympha and the church in her house'), reinforcing the practice of early Christian gatherings in homes.
Acts 18:2This verse introduces Priscilla and Aquila, providing context for their significant role in the early church and their relationship with Paul, which is further demonstrated by their greeting in 1 Corinthians.
Philemon 1:2Similar to 1 Corinthians 16:19, this letter includes personal greetings to specific individuals and a church that meets in a home ('the church in your house'), emphasizing the relational nature of early Christianity.
It's easy to skim over, but notice how Paul highlights the church in their house. This wasn't just a couple hosting friends; it was a vital, functioning community meeting in a domestic space, showing how integral fellowship and worship were to everyday life for these early believers. Their home was a hub for Christ's mission, not just a private sanctuary.
Paul is wrapping up his letter to the Corinthian church, a community he's had a complex relationship with. He's offering final instructions, encouragements, and personal greetings from key figures and churches he knows. These closing remarks serve to reinforce unity within the broader Christian movement and to offer tangible evidence of support and fellowship from trusted leaders like Aquila and Prisca, who were instrumental in spreading the gospel.
Paul is wrapping up his letter to the Corinthian church, a community he's had a complex relationship with. He's offering final instructions, encouragements, and personal greetings from key figures and churches he knows. These closing remarks serve to reinforce unity within the broader Christian movement and to offer tangible evidence of support and fellowship from trusted leaders like Aquila and Prisca, who were instrumental in spreading the gospel.
"The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss." — It's easy to skim over, but notice how Paul highlights the church in their house. This wasn't just a couple hosting friends; it was a vital, functioning community meeting in a domestic space, showi…
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Last reviewed October 2026
