2 Timothy 4:11

Λουκᾶς : Nothing can be more natural than that “the beloved physician” and historian should feel that he of all men was in his place beside St. Paul when the end was to nearly approaching. The μόνος is relative to fellow-labourers in the gospel. St. Paul had many friends in Rome (2 Timothy 4:21).

Μᾶρκον : St. Paul was now completely reconciled to John Mark who had, before Colossians 4:10 was written, vindicated and justified the risk Barnabas had run in giving him a chance of recovering his character (see Acts 13:13; Acts 15:38). ἀναλαβών : assume (Vulg.). Take up on your way. Assumere is also the Latin in Acts 20:14; Acts 23:31, but suscipere in Acts 20:13. It is implied that Mark was somewhere on the line of route between Ephesus and Rome; but we do not know the precise place.

ἄγε μετὰ σεαυτοῦ : This phrase is illustrated from the papyri by Moulton and Milligan, Expositor, vii., 4:57.

εὔχρηστος εἰς διακονίαν : As Mark was the ἑρμηνευτής of St. Peter, rendering his Aramaic into Greek, so he may have helped St. Paul by a knowledge of Latin. διακονία, however, does not necessarily include preaching. It is characteristic of St. Paul that he should not regard “the ministry which he had received from the Lord Jesus” as “accomplished” so long as he had breath to “testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).