Aristarchus

Biblical Record

Aristarchus is mentioned five times, in the Acts of the Apostles and in two of the Pauline Epistles.

• The riot at Ephesus (Acts 19:29): During the uproar stirred up by the silversmith Demetrius, the crowd seized "Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel," and rushed them into the theatre. This shows that he was already traveling with Paul in Ephesus.
• The journey toward Jerusalem (Acts 20:4): "Of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus" appears in the list of those who accompanied Paul into Asia, alongside Timothy, Tychicus, and others.
• The voyage to Rome (Acts 27:2): When Paul, a prisoner being taken to Rome, boarded a ship of Adramyttium, Aristarchus was with him: "one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us."
• Colossians 4:10: Paul calls him "Aristarchus my fellowprisoner" and conveys his greetings together with those of Mark and of Jesus, who is called Justus. Aristarchus is generally understood to be included among those "of the circumcision" mentioned in 4:11; on this reading, he was a Christian of Jewish background.
• Philemon 1:24: He sends greetings as one of Paul's "fellowlabourers," together with Mark, Demas, and Luke. In the preceding verse (1:23), it is Epaphras who is called "my fellowprisoner."

Significance Within Scripture

Aristarchus stood beside Paul throughout the later part of his ministry, from his work in Ephesus through the journey to Jerusalem, his transfer to Rome as a prisoner, and his imprisonment. None of his words or deeds are recorded. Yet because his name continues to appear through dangerous riots, confinement, and a long sea voyage, he is understood as a co-worker who remained with Paul to the end. Many interpreters regard the list of companions in Acts 20:4 as representatives of various regions who traveled together to deliver the collection Paul had gathered from the Gentile churches for the church in Jerusalem.

Interpretation and Debated Questions

• The meaning of "fellowprisoner": Some interpreters hold that Aristarchus was actually imprisoned with Paul. Others suggest that he voluntarily shared Paul's confinement in order to care for him, while still others, drawing on the military connotation of the original term, read it metaphorically as describing one taken captive while fighting alongside Paul for the gospel. The fact that Philemon applies the same expression to Epaphras also figures in the discussion.
• The place of writing of the Prison Epistles: Rome is the traditional view of where Colossians and Philemon were written, but Ephesus and Caesarea have also been proposed. Accordingly, where Aristarchus was with Paul is also interpreted differently depending on how this question is answered.
• Extra-biblical tradition: In the traditions of the Eastern churches, including the Eastern Orthodox Church, he is counted among the Seventy disciples. Traditions also hold that he became bishop of Thessalonica or that he was martyred in Rome. These are later traditions not found in the biblical text.

In the Korean Church

Aristarchus is mentioned mainly in sermons or Bible studies on Paul's co-workers rather than as the focus of a sermon in his own right. In such contexts he is often presented as an example of a co-worker who, though not prominent, remained faithful to the end amid hardship. He is rarely treated on his own in Sunday school curricula.