Aristarchus
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Topical Encyclopedia
Aristarchus is a notable figure in the New Testament, recognized for his role as a companion and fellow worker of the Apostle Paul. His name, of Greek origin, means "best ruler" or "best leader," which is fitting given his contributions to the early Christian church.

Biblical References:

1. Acts 19:29 · Aristarchus first appears in the account of the riot in Ephesus. The text states, "Soon the whole city was in an uproar. They seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater." This passage highlights Aristarchus's close association with Paul and his involvement in the missionary activities that often led to opposition and danger.

2. Acts 20:4 · Aristarchus is mentioned as one of Paul's companions on his journey through Macedonia and Greece. "He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia." This indicates his continued commitment to the mission and his role as a trusted member of Paul's team.

3. Acts 27:2 · Aristarchus is noted as being with Paul on his voyage to Rome. "We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us." His presence on this perilous journey underscores his loyalty and dedication to Paul and the gospel.

4. Colossians 4:10 · In Paul's letter to the Colossians, Aristarchus is referred to as a fellow prisoner. "My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas." This suggests that Aristarchus shared in Paul's sufferings and imprisonment, further illustrating his steadfastness in the face of adversity.

5. Philemon 1:24 · Aristarchus is listed among Paul's fellow workers. "And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers." This brief mention affirms his active participation in the ministry and his close association with other prominent figures in the early church.

Role and Significance:

Aristarchus is depicted as a faithful and courageous companion of Paul, participating in missionary journeys and enduring hardships for the sake of the gospel. His presence during significant events, such as the Ephesian riot and Paul's journey to Rome, highlights his unwavering support and commitment to the apostolic mission. As a Macedonian from Thessalonica, Aristarchus represents the spread of Christianity beyond Jewish communities, illustrating the diverse and expanding nature of the early church.

His mention as a "fellow prisoner" and "fellow worker" in Paul's epistles indicates a deep bond with the Apostle and a shared dedication to the work of the ministry. Aristarchus's life and service exemplify the qualities of loyalty, perseverance, and faithfulness, making him a model for Christian discipleship and partnership in the gospel.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Aristarchus

the best prince

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Aristarchus

(the best ruler), a Thessalonian, (Acts 20:4; 27:2) who accompanied St. Paul on his third missionary journey. (Acts 19:29) He was with the apostle on his return to Asia, (Acts 20:4) and again, Acts 27:2 On his voyage to Rome. We trace him afterwards as St. Paul's fellow prisoner in (Colossians 4:10) and Phle 1:24 Tradition makes him bishop of Apamea.

ATS Bible Dictionary
Aristarchus

A native of Thessalonica, a faithful fellow-laborer with Paul, Acts 20:4 27:2 Phm 1:24. His life was endangered in the riot at Ephesus, excited by the silversmiths, Acts 19:29; but having escaped, he continued with Paul, and was a prisoner with him at Rome, Colossians 4:10.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Best ruler, native of Thessalonica (Acts 20:4), a companion of Paul (Acts 19:29; 27:2). He was Paul's "fellow-prisoner" at Rome (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ARISTARCHUS

ar-is-tar'-kus (Aristarchos, "best ruler"): He was one of those faithful companions of the apostle Paul who shared with him his labors and sufferings. He is suddenly mentioned along with Gaius as having been seized by the excited Ephesians during the riot stirred up by the silversmiths (Acts 19:29). They are designated "men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel." We learn later that he was a native of Thessalonica (Acts 20:4; Acts 27:2). They were probably seized to extract from them information about their leader Paul, but when they could tell nothing, and since they were Greeks, nothing further was done to them.

When Aristarchus attached himself to Paul we do not know, but he seems ever after the Ephesian uproar to have remained in Paul's company. He was one of those who accompanied Paul from Greece via Macedonia (Acts 20:4). Having preceded Paul to Troas, where they waited for him, they traveled with him to Palestine. He is next mentioned as accompanying Paul to Rome (Acts 27:2). There he attended Paul and shared his imprisonment. He is mentioned in two of the letters of the Roman captivity, in the Epistle to the church at Colossians 4:10, and in the Epistle to Phm (Philemon 1:24), in both of which he sends greetings. In the former Paul calls him "my fellow-prisoner." According to tradition he was martyred during the persecution of Nero.

S. F. Hunter

Greek
708. Aristarchos -- "best leader," Aristarchus, a Christian of ...
... 707, 708. Aristarchos. 709 . "best leader," Aristarchus, a Christian of
Thessalonica. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Aristarchos Phonetic ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/708.htm - 6k
Library

The Voyage and Shipwreck
... And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts
of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.". ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 42 the voyage and.htm

Acts xxvi. 30-32
... And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts
of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily liii acts xxvi 30-32.htm

Hence Neither is it Lawful to Accuse those who have Left All...
... For at Ephesus also they seized Gaius and Aristarchus instead of Paul, and rushed
to the theatre, these being Paul's companions in travel [2331] and he wishing ...
/.../peter/the writings of peter of alexandria/canon xiii hence neither is.htm

Acts XXVII
... (2) And embarking on a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, intending to sail to
places along the coast of Asia, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxvii.htm

The Philosophy of the Christians More Ancient than that of the ...
... and Cham??leon the Peripatetics; afterwards by the grammarians, Zenodotus, Aristophanes,
Callimachus, Crates, Eratosthenes, Aristarchus, and Apollodorus. ...
/.../tatian/tatians address to the greeks/chapter xxxi the philosophy of the.htm

Days of Toil and Trial
... Failing to find the object of their wrath, the mob seized "Gaius and Aristarchus,
men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel," and with these "they rushed ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 28 days of toil.htm

The Same Hippolytus on the Seventy Apostles.
... 63. Evodus, bishop of Antioch. 64. Aristarchus, bishop of Apamea. 65. ... 67.
Philemon, bishop of Gaza. 68, 69. Aristarchus and Pudes. 70. ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/the same hippolytus on the.htm

The Fight with Wild Beasts at Ephesus
... And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus,
men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the fight with wild beasts.htm

Acts xx. 1
... "And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians,
Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xliii acts xx 1.htm

The Hexapla, and the Hexaplaric and Other Recensions of the ...
... The Aristarcheia semata took their name from the prince of Alexandrian grammarians,
Aristarchus, who flourished in the reign of Philopator (AD222"205, and ...
/.../chapter iii the hexapla and.htm

Thesaurus
Aristarchus (6 Occurrences)
...ARISTARCHUS. ... When Aristarchus attached himself to Paul we do not know, but he seems
ever after the Ephesian uproar to have remained in Paul's company. ...
/a/aristarchus.htm - 10k

Aristar'chus (6 Occurrences)
Aristar'chus. Aristarchus, Aristar'chus. Aristobulus . Multi-Version
Concordance Aristar'chus (6 Occurrences). Acts 19:29 and the ...
/a/aristar'chus.htm - 8k

Trophimus (3 Occurrences)
... The eight were Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus, both from Thessalonica,
Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus, both "Asians," and lastly ...
/t/trophimus.htm - 15k

Justus (3 Occurrences)
... ho legomenos Ioustos, "Jesus that is called Justus," Colossians 4:11): 1. A Jew
by Birth: One of three friends of Paul-the others being Aristarchus and Mark ...
/j/justus.htm - 12k

Gaius (5 Occurrences)
... During a heathen outbreak against Paul at Ephesus the mob seized Gaius and Aristarchus
because they could not find Paul, and rushed with them into the theatre. ...
/g/gaius.htm - 10k

Accompanied (43 Occurrences)
... Acts 20:4 These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and
Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and ...
/a/accompanied.htm - 19k

Thessalonica (8 Occurrences)
... of proselytes and Greeks, together with many women of high social standing (Acts
17:4). Among these converts were in all probability Aristarchus and Secundus ...
/t/thessalonica.htm - 25k

Navigate (2 Occurrences)
... Acts 27:2 And going on board a ship of Adramyttium about to navigate by the places
along Asia, we set sail, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being ...
/n/navigate.htm - 7k

Launched (5 Occurrences)
... Acts 27:2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail
by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being ...
/l/launched.htm - 8k

Lanched (5 Occurrences)
... Acts 27:2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we lanched, meaning to sail by
the coasts of Asia, one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with ...
/l/lanched.htm - 7k

Resources
What happened on Paul's third missionary journey? | GotQuestions.org

What happened between Paul's third and fourth missionary journeys? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Demetrius in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Aristarchus (6 Occurrences)

Acts 19:29
The whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Acts 20:4
These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Acts 27:2
Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea; Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Acts 27:2
Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea; Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Colossians 4:10
Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, "if he comes to you, receive him"),
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Philemon 1:24
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Aristarchus

Aristarchus: A Companion of Paul

Related Terms

Aristarchus (6 Occurrences)

Aristobulus (1 Occurrence)

Arising
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