Philemon 23-25. Paul concludes his letter to Philemon with a short list of associates who were probably well-known by the believers in Colossae, or at least by Philemon himself.
- Epaphras had been a messenger for Paul, bringing his letters to Colossae, and bringing news about them to Paul. He was probably the founder of the churches in Colossae, and since Paul called him a “fellow prisoner,” he may have been arrested for his efforts.
- Aristarchus and Demas are companions of Paul, and fellow workers.
- Mark and Luke are most known today for the fact that the Holy Spirit prompted them to write histories of the life of Christ and the spread of the gospel in the early church.
You can tell a lot about a person by considering who his friends are. Philemon kept good company. These were people who were serious about their faith, and were willing to suffer for the proclamation of the gospel.
LORD, give us friends who are committed to you, and to your church. May we honor you by what we know, and by who we know.
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