Hebrews 13:24

Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

This is an expression of courtesy and concern addressed to the elders of the church, or the presbyters of the congregation to which this epistle was directed. If even an apostle would not neglect such a mark of deference and respect to the elders of an established church, how much more should others be diligent to manifest every courtesy and consideration toward the elders of God's church. See the note on Hebrews 13:17.

The saints it should be noted, were not the canonized dead but the living members of the congregation; and they were to be saluted, or greeted, in the writer's name.

They of Italy are understood to be persons at that time living in Italy, from which place it is supposed Hebrews was written. This is a far more natural and logical understanding of the words than the view which makes the Italians mentioned here to be former CITIZENS of Italy, at the time of writing being residents some other place, and who wished to be remembered to the Christians in Jerusalem. These points are noted in the introduction. It is the view of this writer that the easiest understanding of the verse is best, namely, that they were Italians, living where one would expect Italians to live, namely, in Italy, perhaps in Rome; and that the writer, not an Italian, most probably Paul, residing in Italy at the time of writing, included the greetings of his fellow Christians of Italy to the saints in Jerusalem. Learned opinion may be brought forward to support this simple view, although scholars are by no means unanimous on this point. Delitzsch, as quoted by Milligan, said:

If the author was then in Italy, and at the same time was not a native of Italy, he could not have selected any more appropriate designation for the Italian Christians properly so-called.[9]