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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Colossians 4:10 - 4:10
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Aristarchus (Aristarchos). He was from Thessalonica and accompanied Paul to Jerusalem with the collection (Act 19:29; Act 20:4) and started with Paul to Rome (Act 27:2; Phm 1:24). Whether he has been with Paul all the time in Rome we do not know, but he is here now.
My fellow-prisoner (ho sunaichmalōtos mou). One of Paul’s compounds, found elsewhere only in Lucian. Paul uses it of Epaphras in Phm 1:23, but whether of actual voluntary imprisonment or of spiritual imprisonment like sunstratiōtes (fellow-soldier) in Phi 2:25; Phm 1:2 we do not know. Abbott argues for a literal imprisonment and it is possible that some of Paul’s Corinthians-workers (suṅergoi) voluntarily shared imprisonment with him by turns.
Mark (Markos). Once rejected by Paul for his defection in the work (Act 15:36-39), but now cordially commended because he had made good again.
The cousin of Barnabas (ho anepsios Barnabā). It was used for “nephew” very late, clearly “cousin” here and common so in the papyri. This kinship explains the interest of Barnabas in Mark (Act 12:25; Act 13:5; Act 15:36-39).
If he come unto you, receive him (ean elthēi pros humas dexasthe auton). This third class conditional sentence (ean and second aorist active subjunctive of erchomai) gives the substance of the commands (entolas) about Mark already sent, how we do not know. But Paul’s commendation of Mark is hearty and unreserved as he does later in 2Ti 4:11. The verb dechomai is the usual one for hospitable reception (Mat 10:14; Joh 4:45) like prosdechomai (Phi 2:29) and hupodechomai (Luk 10:38).