After thinking about the matter [for awhile], he decided to go to the house of Mary, mother of John Mark, where a large gathering [of Christians] was praying.
Philemon 1:24 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) along with [John] Mark [Note: This shows that Mark was now back in the good graces of Paul. See Acts 15:36-40], Aristarchus, Demas [Note: This man later deserted Paul. See II Tim. 4:10] and Luke, who are [also] my fellow-workers. [Note: These men, unlike Epaphras who was imprisoned with Paul, were free to minister for Christ there in Rome]. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition And [from] Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. American Standard Version (1901) and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers. Common English Bible as well as my coworkers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke. Catholic Public Domain Version and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my helpers. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke my fellow labourers. |
After thinking about the matter [for awhile], he decided to go to the house of Mary, mother of John Mark, where a large gathering [of Christians] was praying.
Barnabas and Saul returned [to Antioch] from Jerusalem after they had fulfilled their mission [i.e., of taking the contribution for the famine-stricken people of Judea. See 11:27-30]. They took John Mark [back to Antioch with them].
Now Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos and arrived at Perga [a town in the province] of Pamphylia. [It was here that] John Mark left the party [of evangelists and attendants] and returned to [his home in] Jerusalem. [See 12:12].
The city became full of confusion; they grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s Macedonian traveling companions, and everyone together rushed into the amphitheater.
We boarded a ship [originating] from Adramyttium which was ready to sail [from here in Caesarea], heading out to sea for parts of the coast of [the province of] Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, went with us.
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow-worker on your behalf. As for our brothers [i.e., those who will accompany him], they are the messengers of the churches and an honor to Christ.
But I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, and your messenger [to me] and minister to my needs.
Yes, and I am asking you also, [my] faithful partner [Note: This person is unknown, but may have been one of Paul’s preacher companions], help those women, for they have worked hard with me in [spreading] the Gospel, along with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life. [See Rev. 3:5; Heb. 12:23].
Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner, sends you his greetings, along with Barnabas’ cousin [John] Mark. [See Acts 12:12]. (You have received instructions to welcome Mark if he comes to you).
Luke, my dearly loved physician, and Demas [See II Tim. 4:10] send you their greetings.
Your sister [church] here in Babylon, [also] chosen [by God], as you have been, sends her greetings along with my [spiritual] son Mark.
Therefore, we should show hospitality to such men, so that we can be fellow-workers [with them] in [the cause of] the truth.