EPAENETUS ĭ pe’ nə təs (̓Επαίνετος, G2045, praised). A Christian affectionately greeted (Rom 16:5) as “the first convert in Asia for Christ.”

“My beloved” indicates Paul’s warm affection for Epaenetus; “the first fruits of Asia” (ASV) marks his special distinction as the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. The TR reading “of Achaia” is poorly attested; this wrong reading was prob. derived from 1 Corinthians 16:15. Such senior Christians naturally assumed positions of leadership in the Church. That Epaenetus was an accepted leader is implied in Paul’s mention of him immediately after Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila.

It is not stated that Epaenetus was the personal convert of Paul. He may have been won by Priscilla and Aquila before Paul returned to Ephesus (Acts 18:27).

This mention of Epaenetus has been used to support the claim of an Ephesian destination for Romans 16. But the mention of more than twenty others with no known Ephesian connections blunts the claim.