Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

4:10-11 Mark the cousin of Barnabas. This is the same person as "John Mark," who accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey and suddenly departed (Acts 13:13) and over whom Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement (Acts 15:39). Paul's perspective on Mark has decidedly changed (probably corresponding to a change in Mark himself). Now Mark has been reconciled to Paul and is ministering to him and on his behalf. The five people mentioned here are the same five that Paul mentions in Philemon, with the exception of Jesus who is called Justus, about whom nothing else is known. The last three are identified as men of the circumcision, indicating that they are Jewish Christians.

4:12-13 Epaphras. See note on 1:7. Epaphras's love and prayer for the Colossians and Christians in nearby cities is an example for all believers.

4:13 in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. These were neighboring towns to Colossae in the Lycus Valley (on Laodicea, see 2:1; Rev. 3:14). Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale) boasts a large mineral spring, famous also in Paul's day. However, much of what visitors see today dates from the rebuilding and expansion that occurred under Domitian (a.d. 81-96) and later. Hierapolis was known for the worship of Apollo, Leto, and Pluto; yet inscriptions in the ancient cemetery also point to a Jewish presence.

4:14 Luke the beloved physician is the same Luke who authored Luke's Gospel and Acts (see also 2 Tim. 4:11; Philem. 24). He accompanied Paul on some of his journeys (see Introduction to Acts: Author and Title) and was apparently with Paul throughout his two-year imprisonment in Caesarea and then in his two-year Roman imprisonment. Since Luke is not identified among "the only men of the circumcision" (Col. 4:9-11), he was probably a Gentile. Lamentably, Demas later followed worldly pursuits and deserted Paul (2 Tim. 4:10).