εἰσερχόμενοι εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν. ‘When ye are entering into the house,’ i.e. the house of him who is indicated as ‘worthy.’ The injunction to remain in the same house was, perhaps, partly to avoid feasting from house to house, partly for the sake of secrecy—a necessary precaution in after times. Such ‘worthy’ hosts of the Church afterwards were Lydia at Philippi (‘If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there,’ Acts 16:15), Jason at Thessalonica, Gaius perhaps at Derbe, see Romans 16:23. This kind of general hospitality is still recognised as a duty in the East, where indeed it may be regarded as a necessity.

ἀσπάσασθε. ‘Salute it,’ saying ‘Peace (εἰρήνη) be unto you’ (Shalom l’cha), the usual salutation at this day. This of course explains εἰρήνη in the next verse. The ordinary and conventional salutation acquires a sacred depth of meaning on the lips of Christ, Luke 24:36 and John 14:27.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising

Old Testament