Colossians 4:10

Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

Aristarchus - a Macedonian of Thessalonica, dragged into the theater at Ephesus during the tumult with Gaius, they being "Paul's companions in travel." He accompanied Paul to Asia (Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4; Acts 27:2), and subsequently to Rome. He was now at Rome with Paul, as he is here spoken of as Paul's "fellow-prisoner," but in Philemon 1:24, as Paul's "fellow-labourer;" and vice versa, Epaphras in Philemon 1:23, as his "fellow-prisoner," but here (Colossians 1:7) "fellow-servant." Meyer 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. [ Sunaichmalootos (G4869)] "Fellow-prisoner" is, literally, fellow-captive; one taken in warfare, Christians being "fellow-soldiers" (Philippians 2:25; Philemon 1:2) whose warfare is "the good fight of faith;" variously represented by tradition as Bishop of Apamea, Thessalonica, or one of the seventy disciples.

Marcus - John Mark (Acts 12:12; Acts 12:25), the evangelist, according to tradition.

Sister's son - rather, 'cousin' or kinsman to Barnabas:' who [ anepsios (G431)], being the better known, is introduced to designate Mark. The relationship accounts for Barnabas' selection of Mark as his companion; also for Mark's mother's house at Jerusalem being the place of resort of Christians there. The family belonged to Cyprus (Acts 4:36; Acts 13:4; Acts 13:13); this accounts for Barnabas' choice of Cyprus as the first station on their journey, and for Mark's accompanying them readily so far, it being the country of his family; and for Paul's rejecting him at the second journey for having not gone further than Perga, in Pamphylia, but thence home to his mother, Mary, at Jerusalem (Matthew 10:37), on the first journey.

Touching whom - namely, Mark.

Ye received commandments - possibly before this letter; or the "commandments" were verbal by Tychicus accompanying this letter, since the past tense was used by the ancients in relation to the time which it would be when the letter was read by the Colossians. Thus (Philemon 1:19), "I have written," for 'I write.' Paul's rejection of him on his second missionary journey, because he had turned back at Perga on the first journey (Acts 13:13; Acts 15:37), caused an alienation between himself and Barnabas. Christian love healed the breach: for here he implies his restored confidence in Mark, makes honourable allusion to Barnabas, and desires that those at Colosse, who regarded Mark in consequence of that past error with suspicion should now "receive" him with kindness. Tradition represents him as first Bishop of Alexandria, and martyred there. Colosse is only about 110 miles from Perga, and less than 20 from Pisidia, through which province Paul and Barnabas preached on their return during the same journey. Hence, though Paul had not personally visited the Colossians, they knew of Mark's past unfaithfulness, and needed this recommendation after the temporary cloud on him, so as to receive him as an evangelist. Again, in Paul's last imprisonment, he speaks highly of Mark (2 Timothy 4:11).