Five more believers in Jesus are mentioned in Paul’s closing remarks: Stephanas and his household, Fortunatus, Achaicus, Aquila, and Priscilla. Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus delivered the letter containing the Corinthian congregation’s questions to Paul (17, 7:1). Stephanas is Greek. Fortunatus is Latin. Achaicus is Latinized Greek. Aquila and Priscilla were a Messianic Jewish couple who at one time lived in Corinth, Greece (then called Achaia). They moved to Ephesus and maintained a house church there (19), where Paul was currently located.
The household of Stephanas were the first converts in what is modern-day Greece, then called Achaia (15). Acts records that the first converts in Greece were at Athens, Greece. Athens is around 42 miles (68 km) east of Corinth, Greece (Acts 17:34). Athens is on the route of Paul’s letter requesting the financial gift collection for the impoverished Jerusalem believers. So, the letter arrived at Athens first, where Stephanas lived, and then went to Corinth. The Corinthian reply retraced the trip through Athens back to Paul in Ephesus.
Apostle Paul says that Stephanas’ household is devoted to the service of the saints, and those at Corinth should submit to them. It seems that many in the Corinthian congregation who were proud of their gift of knowledge looked down on Stephanas and his household. Such a shame, but this is still common in congregations today. Flashy, proud perishiners look down on humble servants.
Paul purposely mentioned Aqula and Priscilla. Most likely, they were still respected by the Corinthian congregation because they housed the beginning of the Corinthian congregation, just like they were still doing in Ephesus, and just like Stephanas’ household was doing in Athens. As Paul told them, “God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.” (12:24b-25)
