In this passage Paul commends and gives greetings to at least 27 people, many of whom are now known only to God. The one thing they all had in common was being faithful in what many consider the little, or lesser, things. Without them, however, the gospel may have not known the impact it had within the Roman empire.

If we sit at the feet and catch the spirit of Him who takes good care that no cup of cold water given in His name misses its reward, we discover that, to Jesus, the players of small parts - the Second Fiddles - are precious beyond price.