Aristarchus

Ἀρίσταρχος/air-ih-STAR-kus/

“Best ruler”

Summary

A Thessalonian Christian who was a faithful companion of Paul, sharing in his labors, sufferings, and imprisonment.

☩Companion of Paul

Aristarchus was a native of Thessalonica who became a faithful companion of the apostle Paul. He first appears in Acts when he was seized along with Gaius during the riot stirred up by the silversmiths at Ephesus. He accompanied Paul from Greece through Macedonia and to Jerusalem with the collection for the saints.

Key verses:Acts 19:29Acts 20:4

☩Journey to Rome

Aristarchus accompanied Paul on the voyage to Rome when the apostle was sent as a prisoner. He shared Paul's imprisonment there, as Paul calls him 'my fellow prisoner' in his letter to the Colossians.

Key verses:Acts 27:2Colossians 4:10Philemon 24

☩Tradition

According to tradition, Aristarchus was martyred during the persecution under Nero. The Greek Church represents him as bishop of Apamea in Phrygia, while Roman martyrologies make him bishop of Thessalonica.

Related Verses5 mentions

Acts· 3 verses

19:29 20:4 27:2

Colossians· 1 verse

4:10

Philemon· 1 verse

1:24

References

1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Aristarchus," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
2.James Orr (ed.), "Aristarchus," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
3.George Morrish, "Aristarchus," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Aristarchus," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).