4:10 Aristarchus. See Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2; Philemon 24. In Colossians 4:7-17, Paul mentions more people by name than in any other epistle except in Romans 16:1-23. If any should wonder why these personal references should be included in a divinely inspired document intended by the Holy Spirit to be used in all churches of all the centuries, the intent may be to assure us that God is interested in individual believers as well as in the church as a whole. All believers have their individual names written in the Lamb’s “book of life” in heaven (Revelation 20:15). As a token and surety of this, some of these names have also been written in His book on earth.

4:10 Marcus. See also Acts 15:37; II Timothy 4:11. Evidently Mark, who had once left Paul, had also come to see him at Rome, and had at least begun to reconfirm his commitment to Christ in Paul’s judgment.