Hebrews 13:24

The term "leaders" refers to local church leaders (cf. Hebrews 13:7; Hebrews 13:17). The letter probably went to one house-church. The evidence indicates that most first-century churches had more than one leader (cf. Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17; Philippians 1:1). It would be strange if the writer sent this letter to someone in a church who was not a leader.

"The multiplicity of house churches suggests why diversity, disunity, and a tendency toward independence were persistent problems in the early Church. Unity and organization became matters of urgent concern. The members of the several house churches in a particular center needed to keep in touch with one another. It was of vital importance that the greetings of the writer be conveyed to ’all the saints’ . . ." [Note: Lane, Hebrews 9-13, p. 570. Cf. F. V. Filson, "Yesterday": A Study of Hebrews in the Light of Chapter 13, p. 76.]

"Those from Italy" probably refers to Christians who had left Italy rather than to believers currently living there (cf. Acts 18:2). [Note: Westcott, pp. 451-52. Cf. Tenney, pp. 234-35.] If this is true, the writer probably wrote from somewhere other than Italy.