Aristarchus was a Macedonian [Eastern European] from Thessalonica (Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2),
potentially converted during the brief evangelistic campaign of Paul, Silas,
and Timothy in the year 50 (Acts 17:1-10) and among the disciples addressed in the
Thessalonian letters (1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1). He appears to have been an
ethnic Jew (Col. 4:11). He went on to travel and work with Paul in Macedonia,
Asia, and all the way to Judea (Acts 19:29; 20:4–21:15). He then accompanied
Paul and Luke from Caesarea (Acts 27:2) across the Mediterranean Sea and was
thus involved in the violent storm and subsequent shipwreck at Malta, arriving
in Rome in spring 60 (Acts 28:16).
Aristarchus was still with the apostle
when the prison letters were written (ca. spring 62), acknowledged in Col. 4:10
as Paul’s “fellow prisoner” [sunaichmálōtos]. It
is unclear whether this is to be taken literally or metaphorically. The
same description is used of Epaphras, “my
fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus” (Philem. 23), although
the qualifying phrase “in Christ Jesus” is not included in Aristarchus’ description.
Earlier, when the apostle was still a free
man, Andronicus and Junia were described as his
“fellow prisoners” (Rom. 16:7).
Aristarchus was also included
among Paul’s “fellow workers” [sunergoí] (Philem.
24),1 associated with Tychicus, Onesimus, Jesus-Justus, Epaphras,
Mark, Demas, and Luke (Col. 4:7, 9, 11, 12, 14; Philem. 23-24), as well as
Gaius of Macedonia, Sopater, Secundus, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, Tychicus, and
Trophimus (Acts 19:29; 20:4).
From the
very beginning of his Christian walk, Aristarchus knew that being a follower of
Christ, and especially a minister of the gospel, was hard (cf. Acts 17:5-10; 1
Thess. 1:6; 2:14). Nevertheless, he left his home to serve alongside the
apostle Paul and other dedicated servants to expand the borders of God’s
kingdom. According to tradition, Aristarchus died as a martyr during Emperor
Nero’s persecution (ca. 64-68). We appreciate the life he lived and the service
he rendered, and we give honor to whom honor is due.
--Kevin L.
Moore
Endnote:
1 Cf. also
Rom. 16:3, 9, 21; 2 Cor. 1:24; 8:23; Phil. 2:25; 4:3; Col. 4:11; 1 Thess. 3:23;
Philem. 1; 3 John 8.
Related
Posts: Epaphroditus, Silas/Silvanus, Titus
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