Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJames Hastings Dictionary of the Bible: Aristarchus
Subjects in this Topic:
ARISTARCHUS.—The name of one of St. Paul’s companions in travel. He was ‘a Macedonian of Thessalonica’ (Act_19:29; Act_27:2), and a convert from Judaism (Col_4:10 f.). From Troas, Aristarchus accompanied St. Paul on his departure for Jerusalem at the close of the third missionary journey (Act_20:4); he also embarked with the Apostle on his voyage to Rome (Act_27:2). In Col_4:10 he is called St. Paul’s ‘fellow-prisoner’ (cf. Phm_1:23, where Epaphras, not Aristarchus, is styled ‘my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus’). The expression probably refers not to a spiritual captivity, but either to a short imprisonment arising out of the turmoil described in Act_19:29, or to a voluntary sharing of the Apostle’s captivity by Aristarchus and Epaphras.
J. G. Tasker.