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;)”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Aristarchus, Paul's fellow prisoner, sends greetings, as does Mark, Barnabas's cousin, whom they are to welcome if he comes.
What Does Colossians 4:10 Mean?
Paul continues his greetings, mentioning companions who share his hardships. Aristarchus my fellowprisoner -- a man willing to suffer alongside Paul -- sends his greeting to the Colossian church.
Then comes Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, that is, Mark, related to the well-known Barnabas. Paul adds an instruction: if he come unto you, receive him -- welcome him warmly. This brief note quietly signals reconciliation and trust, commending Mark to the church's hospitality. The greetings remind the Colossians that they belong to a wide fellowship of believers who know and care about them. For a church Paul never visited, these names made the larger body of Christ feel near and real. Even in a list of greetings, Paul is knitting churches and workers together, urging openness and welcome among those who serve the same Lord across many places.