Stephanas and his household belonged to a small group of Corinthians who had been baptized by Paul himself (1 Corinthians 1:14–16). Here Paul refers to them as the first converts in Achaia.
Literally he writes that they are firstfruits of Achaia.
The image of firstfruits
was also used in 1 Corinthians 15:20 and 1 Corinthians 15:23. There, as here, it indicated a promising beginning that was given by God and that signified that more was on the way.
In the absence of formally appointed elders (see comments under 1 Corinthians 5:3), the household of Stephanas have devoted (or appointed
) themselves as leaders in the church. Paul describes their leadership in a positive way, as service of the saints
(saints
being a description of all the church members).
15 Encore une recommandation que je vous adresse, frères. Vous savez que la famille de Stéphanas est les prémices de l'Achaïe, et qu'elle s'est dévouée au service des saints.