Col 4:10-11 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 10. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner ] Concerning Aristarchus, see ; and see the note on this latter place. Aristarchus and Epaphras are mentioned as saluters in this epistle, and in that to Philemon written at the same time; but here he is said to be a prisoner , and Epaphras not. In that to Philemon, Epaphras is called a prisoner , and Aristarchus not. One of them is wrong, though it is uncertain which; unless both were prisoners. See Wall's Crit. Notes. As Aristarchus had been a zealous and affectionate adherent to St. Paul, and followed him in all his journeys, ministering to him in prison, and assisting him in preaching the Gospel in Rome, he might have been imprisoned on this account. We need not suppose that both he and Epaphras were imprisoned at the same time; about the same time they might be imprisoned, but it might be so ordered by the providence of God that when Aristarchus was imprisoned Epaphras was at liberty, and while Epaphras was in prison Aristarchus was at liberty. This is a very possible and easily to be conceived case. Marcus ] See the account of this person, . Though there had been some difference between the apostle and this Mark , yet from this, and , we find that they were fully reconciled, and that Mark was very useful to St. Paul in the work of the ministry. Touching whom ye received commandments ] What these were we cannot tell; it was some private communication which had been previously sent to the Colossian Church.

‏ Colossians 4:10-11

Verse 10. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner] Concerning Aristarchus, see Ac 19:29; 20:4; 27:2; and see the note on this latter place. Aristarchus and Epaphras are mentioned as saluters in this epistle, and in that to Philemon written at the same time; but here he is said to be a prisoner, and Epaphras not. In that to Philemon, Epaphras is called a prisoner, and Aristarchus not. One of them is wrong, though it is uncertain which; unless both were prisoners. See Wall's Crit. Notes. As Aristarchus had been a zealous and affectionate adherent to St. Paul, and followed him in all his journeys, ministering to him in prison, and assisting him in preaching the Gospel in Rome, he might have been imprisoned on this account. We need not suppose that both he and Epaphras were imprisoned at the same time; about the same time they might be imprisoned, but it might be so ordered by the providence of God that when Aristarchus was imprisoned Epaphras was at liberty, and while Epaphras was in prison Aristarchus was at liberty. This is a very possible and easily to be conceived case.

Marcus] See the account of this person, Ac 15:39. Though there had been some difference between the apostle and this Mark, yet from this, and 2Ti 4:11, we find that they were fully reconciled, and that Mark was very useful to St. Paul in the work of the ministry.

Touching whom ye received commandments] What these were we cannot tell; it was some private communication which had been previously sent to the Colossian Church.

Verse 11. Jesus, which is called Justus] Jesus, Joshua, or Jehoshua, was his name among his countrymen the Jews; Justus was the name which he bore among the Greeks and Romans.

These only] That is, only Aristarchuss Marcus, and Jesus Justus, who were formerly Jews or proselytes; for οιοντεςεκ περιτομης, they were of the circumcision, and assisted the apostle in preaching the Gospel. There were others who did preach Christianity, but they did it from envy and strife, in order to add affliction to the apostle's bonds. It is evident, therefore, that St. Peter was not now at Rome, else he certainly would have been mentioned in this list; for we cannot suppose that he was in the list of those who preached Christ in an exceptionable way, and from impure and unholy motives: indeed, there is no evidence that St. Peter ever saw Rome. And as it cannot be proved that he ever was bishop or pope of that city, the keystone of the triumphal arch of the pope of Rome is pulled out; this building, therefore, of his supremacy, cannot stand.