Lives of Scripture

Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was one of Paul's traveling companions during his third missionary journey (Acts 20:4; 27:2). He was swept up in the violent riot at Ephesus, where silversmiths angry that Paul's preaching threatened their trade in idols of Artemis stirred the whole city into confusion; the mob seized Aristarchus and Gaius, another of Paul's companions, and dragged them into the theater, though Paul himself was kept from entering by the disciples and even by sympathetic city officials (Acts 19:23-31). Aristarchus continued with Paul afterward, traveling with him from Greece toward Jerusalem (Acts 20:4) and later sailing with him as a prisoner bound for Rome (Acts 27:2), sharing in the danger of that voyage, including the shipwreck at Malta. Paul's letters confirm the closeness of this partnership: writing from prison, he calls Aristarchus his "fellow prisoner" who sends greetings to the Colossians (Colossians 4:10) and lists him among his "fellow workers" in the short letter to Philemon (Philemon 1:24). Scripture records no specific words from Aristarchus, but his repeated, risk-taking presence at Paul's side -- through a riot, a long journey, a shipwreck, and imprisonment -- speaks for itself.