aristarchus Summary and Overview

best ruler, native of Thessalonica (Acts 20:4), a companion of Paul (Acts 19:29; 27:2). He was Paul's "fellow-prisoner" at Rome (Col. 4:10; Philemon 1:24).

(the best ruler), a Thessalonian, #Ac 20:4; 27:2| who accompanied St. Paul on his third missionary journey. #Ac 19:29| He was with the apostle on his return to Asia, #Ac 20:4| and again, Acts 27:2 on his voyage to Rome. We trace him afterwards as St. Paul's fellow prisoner in #Col 4:10| and Phle 1:24 Tradition makes him bishop of Apamea.

ARISTAR'CHUS (best ruler), a Macedonian of Thessalonica who accompanied Paul upon his third missionary journey. Acts 20:4; Acts 27:2. He was nearly killed in the tumult which Demetrius excited in Ephesus, Acts 19:29, and it is said that he was finally beheaded in Rome. Paul alludes to him both as his fellow-laborer and fellow-prisoner. Col 4:10; Phile 24.

Aristarchus: of Thessalonica. Paul's companion on his third missionary tour, and dragged into the theater with Gains by the mob at Ephesus; he accompanied Paul to Asia, afterward to Rome (Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4; Acts 27:2). Paul calls him "my fellow prisoner" (lit. fellow captive, namely, in the Christian warfare), "my fellow laborer," in his epistles from Rome (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24). Epaphras similarly (Philemon 1:23; Colossians 1:7) is called "my fellow prisoner," "our fellow servant." Paul's two friends possibly shared his imprisonment by turns, Aristarchus being his fellow prisoner when he wrote to the Colossians, Epaphras when he wrote to Philemon. Bishop of Apamaea, according to tradition.