²⁴ And so do Mark,^(A) Aristarchus,^(B) Demas^(C) and Luke, my fellow workers.^(D)

¹⁰ for Demas,^(A) because he loved this world,^(B) has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.^(C) Crescens has gone to Galatia,^(D) and Titus^(E) to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke^(F) is with me.^(G) Get Mark^(H) and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

¹⁴ Our dear friend Luke,^(A) the doctor, and Demas^(B) send greetings.

¹⁰ My fellow prisoner Aristarchus^(A) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,^(B) the cousin of Barnabas.^(C) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)

²⁹ Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius^(A) and Aristarchus,^(B) Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia,^(C) and all of them rushed into the theater together.

¹² When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark,^(A) where many people had gathered and were praying.^(B)

¹ Paul, a prisoner^(A) of Christ Jesus, and Timothy^(B) our brother,^(C)

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker^(D)— ² also to Apphia our sister and Archippus^(E) our fellow soldier^(F)—and to the church that meets in your home:^(G)

³ Grace and peace to you^[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(H)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

⁴ I always thank my God^(I) as I remember you in my prayers,^{(J) 5} because I hear about your love for all his holy people^(K) and your faith in the Lord Jesus.^{(L) 6} I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. ⁷ Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,^(M) because you, brother, have refreshed^(N) the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

⁸ Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹ yet I prefer to appeal to you^(O) on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner^(P) of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰ that I appeal to you for my son^(Q) Onesimus,^[b](R) who became my son while I was in chains.^{(S) 11} Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

¹² I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. ¹³ I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains^(T) for the gospel. ¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced^(U) but would be voluntary. ¹⁵ Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— ¹⁶ no longer as a slave,^(V) but better than a slave, as a dear brother.^(W) He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner,^(X) welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸ If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.^{(Y) 19} I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand.^(Z) I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ²⁰ I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh^(AA) my heart in Christ. ²¹ Confident^(AB) of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

²² And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be^(AC) restored to you in answer to your prayers.^(AD)

²³ Epaphras,^(AE) my fellow prisoner^(AF) in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. ²⁴ And so do Mark,^(AG) Aristarchus,^(AH) Demas^(AI) and Luke, my fellow workers.^(AJ)

²⁵ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.^(AK)

² We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia,^(A) and we put out to sea. Aristarchus,^(B) a Macedonian^(C) from Thessalonica,^(D) was with us.

³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark,^(A) with them, ³⁸ but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them^(B) in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. ³⁹ They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,