Charles Ellicott Commentary Colossians 4:11

"and Jesus that is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these only [are my] fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfort unto me." — Colossians 4:11 (ASV)

Jesus, who is called Justus.—The surname “Justus” is found in Acts 1:23; Acts 18:7; we learn from tradition that by it, or by its equivalent, St. James, “the Lord’s brother,” was known. In this case, it is curious that one who bore our Lord’s name should also have been known by a surname that was His distinctive title, the Just One. (and compare to Luke 23:47.) Of this Justus, there is no other mention, not even in the Epistle to Philemon, in which all the other names reappear.

Who are of the circumcision. These only...—The juxtaposition of the two statements seems to indicate—what is in itself likely—that the brethren who kept their distance from St. Paul in strife and envy, and whose conduct produced that sense of isolation about which he speaks so movingly in Philippians 2:20, were of the circumcision. Out of them, only Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus were true fellow-workers, and as such a comfort to the apostolic laborer.