Luke
Physician and companion of Paul, named in his letters as a fellow-labourer who remained with him in prison.
Also called Lucas.
3 passages
Greetings From Paul's Companions, the Beloved Physician
10Aristarchus is in prison with me. He says hello. So does Mark, the close relative of Barnabas. You were already told about Mark. If he comes to you, welcome him.
Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
Aristarchus was locked up with Paul. Barnabas was a kind man who traveled with Paul to teach. Mark had left Paul on an earlier trip. So Paul makes sure the church knows Mark is welcome now.
11Jesus, who is also called Justus, says hello. These men are Jewish. They are the only Jewish helpers working with me for God's kingdom. They have been a comfort to me.
And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
Jewish means born into Israel, the people God chose long ago. Most of Paul's helpers were not Jewish. These three men were.
12Epaphras says hello. He is one of your own people, and he serves Christ. He prays hard for you all the time. He asks that you stand strong and grown up, sure of all that God wants.
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Epaphras came from Colossae too. He was the one who first told that town about Jesus. The old words say he was working hard in prayer. Praying can feel like real work. Grown up here means grown up on the inside, not in age.
13I can tell you that he works very hard for you. He works hard for the people in Laodicea and Hierapolis too.
For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
Laodicea and Hierapolis are the names of two towns.
14Luke, our dear friend the doctor, says hello. Demas says hello too.
Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
A physician is a doctor. Luke traveled with Paul for years. He also wrote two books in the Bible.
Only Luke Remains With Paul in Prison
9Please try hard to come to me soon.
Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
10Demas loved this world more, so he left me. He went to the city of Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia, and Titus went to Dalmatia.
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
Thessalonica, Galatia, and Dalmatia were faraway places. There were no cars or planes. People walked or sailed in boats, and a trip could take weeks. Demas, Crescens, and Titus were friends who helped Paul teach.
11Only Luke is still here with me. Get Mark and bring him with you. He is a big help to me in my work.
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
Luke and Mark were friends who traveled with Paul. They helped him tell people about Jesus.
12I sent Tychicus to the city of Ephesus.
And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
Tychicus was another friend who helped Paul. He carried Paul's letters to churches in other towns. Ephesus was a big city by the sea.
13When you come, bring the coat I left at Troas with a man named Carpus. Bring my books too, and most of all the parchments.
The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
The coat was a big heavy cloak. People wore it in the day and slept under it at night, like a blanket. Paul was in a cold prison and wanted his back. Books then were not like ours. They were long rolls of paper called scrolls. Parchment was made from animal skin. It cost a lot and lasted much longer than paper.
Lucas Sends Greetings as Paul's Fellowlabourer
23Epaphras says hello to you. He is in prison with me because we belong to Christ Jesus.
There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
Here "salute" just means to say hello. It is not the kind of salute a soldier gives.
24Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke say hello too. They work together with me.
Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
Marcus is another way of writing the name Mark. Lucas is another way of writing the name Luke. These are older spellings of the same names.
25May the Lord Jesus Christ be kind to you all. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
"Amen" is a word said at the end of a prayer. It means "yes, let it be so."
Every passage here is the King James text. Nothing on this page retells the story; it only puts the pieces in order.