154 HOR^ PAULINA. 



been made out of the epistle, why the journey of Arista rchus 

 to Rome should be recorded, and not that of Marcus aad 

 Justus, if the groundwork of the narrative was the appear- 

 ance of Aristarchus' name in the epistle, seems to be una- 

 countable. 



"Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas." Does not this hint 

 account for Barnabas' adherence to Mark in the contest that 

 arose with our apostle concerning him ? "And some days 

 after, Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our 

 brethren in every city Avhere we have preached the w^ord of 

 the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined 

 to take ivith them John, ivhose surname ivas Mark. But 

 Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed 

 from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the 

 work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that 

 they departed asunder one from the other : and so Barnabas 

 took Mark and sailed unto Cyprus." The history, which 

 records the dispute, has not preserved the circumstance of 

 Mark's relationship to Barnabas. It is nowhere noticed but 

 in the text before us. As far, therefore, as it apphes, the 

 application is certainly undesigned. 



" Sister's son to Barnabas." This woman, the mother 

 of Mark, and the sister of Barnabas, was, as might be ex- 

 pected, a person of some eminence among the Christians oJ 

 Jerusalem. It so happens that we hear of her in the his- 

 tory. When Peter was delivered from prison, " he came to 

 the house of Mary the mother of John, tvhose surname was 

 Mark ; where many w^re gathered together praying." Acts 

 12 : 12. There is somewhat of coincidence in this — some- 

 what bespeaking real transactions among real persons. 



III. The following coincidence, though it bear the ap- 

 pearance of great nicety and refinement, ought not, perhaps, 

 to be deemed imaginary. In the salutations with which 

 this, like most of St. Paul's epistles, concludes, we have 

 ** Aristarchus and Marcus, and Jesus, which is called Justus, 

 W'W are of the circumcision.'" Chap. 4 : 10, 1 1 . Then I'ol 



