Matthew Poole and continuators on Philippians 2:26

26 For he longed after you all , and was full of heaviness because that ye had heard that he had been sick .

He gives them the first reason of his present sending, not that Epaphroditus was unwilling to stay longer with him, but because he was greatly concerned for all of them of the Church at Philippi, who had his heart as they had Paul's, ch. 1.8. & 4.1, Rom. 1.11. Solicitous to be with them to doe their Souls good.

Especially considering their great affection to him, whom they had entrusted in this service, he was in such distress for them, that his Spirits were even ready to fail him, (as Mat. 26.37.) from Sympathy 2 Cor. 11.29.

Knowing how much the certain report of his dangerous sickness in those circumstances, when they could understand nothing of his recovery, would affect them.