' you owe whatever in my letter serves to refi'esh you.' Others think that the apostle refers to the effect of the return of these brethren to Corinth, and the assurances they would carry with them of the apostle's love. Or, Paul may mean, that what re- freshed him, must also gratify them. They would rejoice in his joy. However understood, it is one of the examples of urbanity with which this apostle's writings abound. There- fore acknowledge them, that are such^ i. e. recognize and ap- preciate them properly.
19. The churclies of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Asia here means proconsular Asia, of which Ephesus was the capital, and which included the seven apocalyptic churches. To salute^ in a general sense, is to wish safety to ; in a Chris- tian sense, it is to wish salvation to any one. This was in- cluded in the Hebrew formula of salutation, " Peace be with you," which passed into the service of Christians. To salute any one in the Lord^ is to salute him as a Christian and in a Christian manner. It is to salute him because he is in the Lord, and in a way acceptable to the Lord. Aquila and Priscilla, when driven from Rome, as mentioned in Acts 1 8, 2, settled in Corinth. They accompanied the apostle to Ephesus, and remained there. Acts 18, 18. The church which is in their house^ i. e. the company of Christians which meet in their house. As the same expression is used Rom. 16, 5, in connec- tion with their names, it is probable that both at Rome and Ephesus, they opened their house as a regular place of meet- ing for Christians. Their occupation as tent-makers probably required spacious apartments, suited for the purpose of such
20. All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with a holy kiss.
As all the hrethren in this verse are distinguished from the church in the houSe of Aquila and Priscilla, mentioned in v. 19, it may be inferred that only a portion, and probably a small portion of the Christians of Ephesus were accustomed to meet in that place. The apostle exhorts them to greet one another with a holy kiss, Rom. 16, 16. 2 Cor. 13, 12. 1 Thess. 5, 26.