Colossians 4:10

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Colossians 4:10 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner saluteth you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (touching whom ye received commandments; if he come unto you, receive him),” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner saluteth you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (touching whom ye received commandments; if he come unto you, receive him),
Colossians 4:10 — American Standard Version

Context — Colossians 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
10Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner saluteth you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (touching whom ye received commandments; if he come unto you, receive him),

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, etc.] This man was a man of Macedonia, and a Thessalonian; (<441929>Acts 19:29 20:4) which hinders not but that he might be of the circumcision, or a Jew, as is suggested in the following verse; for he might be born at Thessalonica, and yet be of Jewish parents; nor is his Greek name any objection to it, for the Jews themselves say, that the greatest part of the Israelites that were out of the land, their names are as the names of strangers f60: he was a constant companion of the apostle, and one of his fellow labourers, as in (<570124>Philemon 1:24) and now a prisoner with him at Rome; and who having some knowledge of the members of the church at…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Aristarchus--a Macedonian of Thessalonica (Act 27:2), who was dragged into the theater at Ephesus, during the tumult with Gaius, they being "Paul's companions in travel." He accompanied Paul to Asia (Act 20:4), and subsequently (Act 27:2) to Rome. He was now at Rome with Paul (compare Plm 1:23-24). As he is here spoken of as Paul's "fellow prisoner," but in Plm 1:24 as Paul's "fellow laborer"; and vice versa, Epaphras in Plm 1:23, as his "fellow prisoner," but here (Col 1:7) "fellow servant," MEYER in ALFORD, conjectures that Paul's friends voluntarily shared his imprisonment by turns, Aristarchus being his fellow prisoner when he wrote to the Colossians, Epaphras when he wrote to Philemon.…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner - Aristarchus was of Thessalonica, and is mentioned in Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4, as Paul’s companion in his travels. In Acts 27:2, it is said that he accompanied him in his voyage to Rome, and from the passage before us it appears that he was there imprisoned with him. As he held the same sentiments as Paul, and was united with him in his travels and labors, it was natural that he should be treated in the same manner. He, together with Gaius, had been seized in the tumult at Ephesus and treated with violence, but he adhered to the apostle in all his troubles, and attended him all his perils. Nothing further is certainly known of him, though “the Greeks say that he…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Aristarchus my fellowprisoner - Such was Epaphras likewise for a time, Plm 1:23. Ye have received directions - Namely, by Tychicus, bringing this letter. The ancients adapted their language to the time of reading the letter; not, as we do, to the time when it was written. It is not improbable, they might have scrupled to receive him, without this fresh direction, after he had left St. Paul, and "departed from the work." Colossians 4:11”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:10-14 Of the six people named, five are also mentioned in Phlm 1:23-24. 4:10 Aristarchus was a common name, but he was probably the same man from Thessalonica (Acts 19:29; 20:4) who accompanied Paul on his voyage to Rome (Acts 27:2). Acts does not suggest that Aristarchus was also under arrest, so perhaps he was in prison with Paul voluntarily, sharing his confinement in order to encourage him and assist him in ministry. • Mark, Barnabas’s cousin, had gone with Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey but had left them before the journey was finished (Acts 13:13). That desertion led to a split between Paul and Barnabas as the second journey was about to begin (Acts 15:37-40).…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Aristarchus: Act 19:29, Act 20:4, Act 27:2; Plm 1:24 saluteth: Rom 16:21-23 and Marcus: Act 12:12, Act 13:5, Act 13:13, Act 15:37-39; Ti2 4:11; Pe1 5:13 receive: Rom 16:2; Jo2 1:8, Jo2 1:9 Colossians 4:11”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification