Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),
10. Fellow-prisoner. From this it appears that there were others that were associated with Paul, “D’autres furent mis prisonniers auec sainct Paul;” — “Some others were made prisoners along with St. Paul.” after he was brought to Rome. It is also probable that his enemies exerted themselves, in the outset, to deter all pious persons from giving him help, by threatening them with the like...
Tychicus carries this letter so he can tell them Paul's full condition by word of mouth, which matters more to them than mere writing. Paul calls him a beloved brother and faithful minister, mark that a great apostle owns a faithful minister as brother, for faithfulness itself is lovely and commands affection.
AI summary
Commenting on Colossians 4:7-18
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you,.... This man was a man of Macedonia, and a Thessalonian; Act 19:29 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...