Verse 13. For I bear him record. Paul had had abundant opportunity to know what were his feelings in regard to these churches.

A great zeal for you. A great desire to promote your welfare.

And them that are in Laodicea. Laodicea was the capital of Phrygia, and not far from Colosse. There was a church there. See the Introduction, and See Barnes "Col 4:16".

And them in Hierapolis. This was also a city in Phrygia, and not far from Laodicea and Colosse. It was situated under a hill to the north, and had on the south a large plain about five miles over. On the south of that plain, and opposite to Hierapolis, was Laodicea, with the river Lycus running in between them, nearer to Laodicea than to Hierapolis. This place is now called by the Turks Pambuck-Kulasi, or the Cotton-Tower, on account of the white cliffs which lie round about it. It is now utterly forsaken and desolate, but the ruins are so magnificent as to show that it was once one of the most splendid cities in the East. It was celebrated for the hot springs in its vicinity; and, on account of the numerous temples erected there, it received the name of Hierapolis, or the holy city. The principal deity worshipped there was Apollo. See Travels by T. Smith, B. D.1678. Comp. See Barnes "Col 4:16".

From the allusion to it here it would seem that there were Christians there in the time of Paul, though there is no mention of a church there. It is nowhere else mentioned in the New Testament.

{} "record" "witness"