Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 20:4
And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
4. And there accompanied him into Asia ] The literal rendering of the last words is “as far as Asia,” but they are altogether omitted by the oldest MSS. We find Trophimus went to Jerusalem (Act 21:29) and that Aristarchus was with St Paul in the voyage to Rome (Act 27:2).
Sopater of Berea ] The oldest MSS. add the son of Pyrrhus. A various reading here has Sosipater, a name which is found in Rom 16:21, but there is no reason for connecting the two persons. We know nothing of Sopater beyond the mention of him in this verse.
and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus ] Aristarchus has been before mentioned (Act 19:29), and in the Epistles written during the Roman imprisonment, to Philemon (24) he is one of those who sends greeting, and also to the Colossians (Act 4:10) in which place the Apostle calls him his fellow-prisoner, shewing that he shared in a great degree the whole hardships of St Paul’s life at Rome. Secundus is only mentioned here.
and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus ] As Timotheus was probably of Lystra, these men may have been friends from an early period and the former may have been a convert at the same time as the latter. We only know of him from this verse, and he has no connexion with any other Gaius named in the New Testament.
and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus ] Of the former of these we have mention several times. In Eph 6:21, he is called a beloved brother and faithful minister, and St Paul states that he is about to send him to Ephesus. To the Colossians (Act 4:7) he writes, “All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you.” From both which notices we see that Tychicus was with St Paul in his first Roman imprisonment. He was also at hand when the Apostle wrote to Titus (Tit 3:12), and also had been with St Paul in the later imprisonment, when the second Epistle to Timothy was written (Act 4:12) and had again been sent to Ephesus. Perhaps Tychicus like Trophimus was by birth an Ephesian. Trophimus also continued much with St Paul, for we read (2Ti 4:20) that the Apostle at that time had left him detained by sickness at Miletus.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And there accompanied him – It was usual for some of the disciples to attend the apostles in their journeys.
Into Asia – It is not meant that they attended him from Greece through Macedonia, but that they went with him to Asia, having gone before him, and joined him at Troas.
Sopater of Berea – Perhaps the same person who, in Rom 16:21, is called Sosipater, and who is there said to have been a kinsman of Paul.
Aristarchus – Act 19:29.
Gaius of Derbe – See the notes on Act 19:29.
Tychicus – This man was high in the confidence and affection of Paul. In Eph 6:21-22 he styles him a beloved brother, and faithful minister in the Lord.
And Trophimus – Trophimus was from Ephesus, Act 20:29. When Paul wrote his Second Epistle to Timothy he was at Miletum, sick, 2Ti 4:20.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Act 20:4
And there accompanied him into Asia Pauls companions.
Paul accompanied by friends
I. They were not deterred by persecutions.
II. They accompanied Paul because of–
1. Their love to Christ.
2. Their love to him.
3. Their desire to see Christianity spread through the world.
III. Their love and kindness was rewarded.
1. By peace of mind.
2. Usefulness.
3. Heaven. (Biblical Museum.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 4. And there accompanied him] Rather, says Bishop Pearce, there followed him as far as to Asia; for they were not in his company till he set sail from Philippi, and came to them at Troas, in Asia, whither they had gone before, and where they tarried for him, Ac 20:5.
Into Asia] ; These words are wanting in two MSS., Erpen, the AEthiopic, Coptic, and Vulgate. Some think that they embarrass this place; for how these could accompany him into Asia, and go before him, and tarry for him at Troas, Ac 20:6, is not so very clear; unless we suppose, what I have glanced at in the table of contents, that they came with him to Asia, but, he tarrying a short time, they proceeded on their journey, and stopped for him at Troas, where he shortly after rejoined them. Mr. Wakefield gets rid of the difficulty by reading the verse thus: Now Sopater of Berea accompanied him; but Aristarchus and Secundus of Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy of Lystra, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia, went before, and tarried for us at Troas.
Sopater of Berea] Sopater seems to be the same as Sosipater, whom St. Paul mentions as his kinsman, Ro 16:21. ADE, more than twenty others, with the Coptic, Armenian, later Syriac in the margin, Vulgate, Itala, Theophylact, Origen, and Bede, add Sopater the SON OF PYRRHUS. Griesbach has received this into his text.
Aristarchus of Thessalonica] This person occurs in Ac 19:29, and is mentioned there as a Macedonian. He attended Paul in his journey to Rome, Ac 27:2, and was his fellow labourer, Phm 1:24, and his fellow prisoner, Col 4:10-11. Secundus is mentioned nowhere but in this place.
Gaius of Derbe] This is supposed to be the same who is mentioned Ac 19:26, and who is there called a man of Macedonia, of which some suppose he was a native, but descended from a family that came from Derbe; but as Gaius, or Caius, was a very common name, these might have been two distinct persons. One of this name was baptized by St. Paul at Corinth, 1Co 1:14, and entertained him as his host while he abode there, Ro 16:23, and was probably the same to whom St. John directs his third epistle.
And Timotheus] Of Lystra, is added by the Syriac. This was the same person of whom mention is made, Ac 16:1, and to whom St. Paul wrote the two epistles which are still extant; and who was a native of Lystra, as we learn from the above place. It was on this evidence, probably that the ancient Syriac translator added, of Lystra, to the text. This reading is not supported by any MSS.
Tychicus-of Asia] This person was high in the confidence of St. Paul. He styles him a beloved brother, and faithful minister in the Lord, whom he sent to the Ephesians, that he might know their affairs, and comfort their hearts, Eph 6:21-22. He sent him for the same purpose, and with the same commendations, to the Colossians, Col 4:7-8. Paul seems also to have designed him to superintend the Church at Crete in the absence of Titus; see Tit 3:12. He seems to have been the most intimate and confidential friend that Paul had.
Trophimus.] Was an Ephesian; and both he and Tychicus are called , Ephesians, instead of , Asiatics, in the Codex Bezae, both Greek and Latin, and in the Sahidic. He accompanied Paul from Ephesus into Greece, as we see here; and from thence to Jerusalem, Ac 21:29. He had, no doubt, travelled with him on other journeys, for we find, by 2Ti 4:20, that he was obliged to leave him sick at Miletus, being then, as it is likely, on his return to his own kindred at Ephesus.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
There accompanied him into Asia; their names are set down, as being men called and known at that time in the churches, and that what they did for this holy apostle might be remembered in all ages.
Sopater; who is called also Sosipater, Rom 16:21. It is added in some copies, that he was the son of Pyrrhus; which in Greek is the same with Rufus in Latin.
Berea; a city of Macedonia, Act 17:10.
Aristarchus; of whom, Act 19:29, as also of the others, mention hath been formerly made.
Of Asia; of Ephesus, a city in Asia.
Tychicus; of whom, Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; 2Ti 4:12; and of
Trophimus we read, Act 21:29; 2Ti 4:20. These seem to have been the apostles or messengers of the churches, spoken of 2Co 8:23; in the number of whom St. Luke is to be reckoned, but being the penman of this book, he declines mentioning of himself by name; but his praise will be for ever in the gospel, 2Co 8:18,19.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4, 5. there accompanied him intoAsiathe province of Asia.
Sopater of BereaThetrue reading, beyond doubt, is, “Sopater [the son] of Pyrrhus ofBerea.” Some think this mention of his father was to distinguishhim from Sosipater (the same name in fuller form), mentioned in Ro16:21. But that they were the same person seems more probable.
of the Thessalonians,Aristarchus(See on Ac19:29).
and Secundusof whomnothing else is known.
Gaius of DerbeThoughthe Gaius of Ac 19:29 is saidto be of “Macedonia,” and this one “of Derbe,”there is no sufficient reason for supposing them different persons;on the contrary, Ro 16:23(compare with 3Jo 1, where thereis hardly any reason to doubt that the same Gaius is addressed) seemsto show that though he spent an important part of his Christian lifeaway from his native Derbe, he had latterly retired to some place notvery far from it.
and Timotheusnotprobably of Derbe, as one might suppose from this verse, but ofLystra (see on Ac 16:1); bothbeing so associated in his early connection with the apostle that themention of the one in the previous clause would recall the other onthe mention of his name.
and of Asia, Tychicus andTrophimusThe latter was an Ephesian, and probably the formeralso. They seem to have put themselves, from this time forward, atthe apostle’s disposal, and to the very last been a great comfort tohim (Eph 6:21; Eph 6:22;Col 4:7; Col 4:8;Act 21:29; 2Ti 4:12;2Ti 4:20). From the mention ofthe places to which each of these companions belonged, and still morethe order in which they occur, we are left to conclude that they weredeputies from their respective churches, charged with taking up andbringing on the collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem, first atBerea, next at Thessalonica, then at Philippi [HOWSON],where we gather that our historian himself rejoined the party(from the resumption at Ac 20:5of the “us,” dropped at Ac16:17), by whom the Philippian collection would naturally bebrought on.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea,…. This Sopater is thought to be the same with Sosipater in Ro 16:21 and in three of Beza’s copies, and in as many of Stephens’s, he is so called here; the Ethiopic version calls him Peter, a citizen of Berea; and the Arabic version Sopater of Aleppo. The Alexandrian copy, Beza’s most ancient copy, and others, the Complutensian edition, and the Vulgate Latin version, read, Sopater of Pyrrhus, the Berean; that is, the son of Pyrrhus. He is reckoned among the seventy disciples, and is said to be bishop of Iconium;
[See comments on Lu 10:1]. This name was common among the Greeks; there was one of this name a native of Paphus, in the times of Alexander the great, a comical poet, and who also is sometimes called Sosipater, as this man was; there was another Sopater the sophist, who wrote the affairs of Alexander; and there was another of this name, who, among other things, collected much concerning painters and statuaries. The name signifies “a father saved”. Pyrrhus is a Grecian name well known, being the name of a famous king of Greece who engaged in war with the Romans. This man went along with the apostle into Asia; and it seems, that of the persons here mentioned, he only accompanied him; for the verb is in the singular number, and the other six persons following did not go along with him, as Sopater did, but went before him to Troas, which was in Asia, and there waited for him; though the Syriac version reads in the plural number; but then it renders the words, “they went forth with him”, as they might do from Greece, and yet not accompany him into Asia: the phrase into Asia is left out in the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions.
And of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; the former of these is before said to be a Macedonian, Ac 19:29 and here he appears to be of Thessalonica, and his name is a Greek one; but Secundus is a Roman name, though he might be born at Thessalonica, or at least have lived there, and so be said to be of it. His name signifies “Second”; very likely was his father’s second son, and therefore so called; though the name was used among the Grecians. We read of Secundus an Athenian, the master of Herod the sophist, who flourished under the emperor Adrian, there are sentences under his name still extant; and another called Secundus the grammarian, a friend of Poleman, a philosopher at Athens, who corrected his writings; so that this man might be a Grecian, and a native of Thessalonica; mention is made of him nowhere else.
And Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; the former of these is so called to distinguish him from Gaius the Macedonian in Ac 19:29 and the latter by being joined with him should be of the same place, as he might be; see Ac 16:1 though the Syriac version reads, “and Timotheus of Lystra”; and so does the Arabic version used by De Dieu; and this is mentioned with Derbe in the above cited place.
And of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus: of the former see Eph 6:21 and of the latter see 2Ti 4:20
Ac 21:29 where he is called an Ephesian, as they both are here in Beza’s most ancient copy; Ephesus being the metropolis of Asia, strictly so called. These are both of them said to be among the seventy disciples: Trophimus, we are told, taught at Arles in France, and suffered martyrdom with the Apostle Paul; and that Tychicus was bishop of Chalcedon in Bithynia; and that another of the same name was bishop of Colophon; [See comments on Lu 10:1]. Trophimus signifies “nourished”, and is a name to be found in a funeral inscription of the Romans h, though Greek, and in the fragments of the poet Menander: and Tychicus signifies “fortunate”; whether the same with Fortunatus in 1Co 16:17 may be inquired.
h Kirchman. de Funer. Roman. l. 3. c. 26. p. 525.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Accompanied him ( ). Imperfect of , old and common verb, but only here in the N.T. The singular is used agreeing with the first name mentioned and to be supplied with each of the others. Textus Receptus adds here “into Asia” ( , as far as Asia), but the best documents (Aleph B Vulg. Sah Boh) do not have it. As a matter of fact, Trophimus went as far as Jerusalem (Ac 21:29) and Aristarchus as far as Rome (Acts 27:2; Col 4:10), The phrase could apply only to Sopatros. It is not clear though probable that Luke means to say that these seven brethren, delegates of the various churches (2Co 8:19-23) started from Corinth with Paul. Luke notes the fact that they accompanied Paul, but the party may really have been made up at Philippi where Luke himself joined Paul, the rest of the party having gone on to Troas (20:5f.). These were from Roman provinces that shared in the collection (Galatia, Asia, Macedonia, Achaia). In this list three were from Macedonia, Sopater of Beroea, Aristarchus and Secundus of Thessalonica; two from Galatia, Gaius of Derbe and Timothy of Lystra; two from Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. It is a bit curious that none are named from Achaia. Had Corinth failed after all (Acts 20:2; Acts 20:9) to raise its share of the collection after such eager pledging? Rackham suggests that they may have turned their part over directly to Paul. Luke joined Paul in Philippi and could have handled the money from Achaia. It was an important event and Paul took the utmost pains to remove any opportunity for scandal in the handling of the funds.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
So pater. The best texts add, the son of Pyrrhus. Compare Rom 16:21.
Aristarchus. Compare Act 19:29.
Gaius. Not the one mentioned in ch. 19 29, who was a Macedonian.
Tychicus and Trophimus. See Col 4:7, 8; Eph 6:21, 22; 2Ti 4:12; Tit 3:2; Act 21:29; 2Ti 4:20.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And there accompanied him,” (suneipeto de auto) “Then there went in colleague with him,” in close affinity of fellowship and purpose with Paul.
2) “Into Asia Sopater, of Berea; (Sopatros purrou Beroiaios) “Sopater, son of Pyrrhus who was a Berean of Asia,” mentioned Rom 16:21 as a kinsman of Paul.
3) “And of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; (Thesalonikeon de Aristarchus kai Sekoundos) “Aristarchus as well as Secundus,” of the Thessalonians of Macedonia, Act 19:29, Paul’s companions in travel, Act 27:2; Col 4:10; Phm 1:24.
4) “And Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; (kai Gaios Derbaios kai Timotheos) “And Gaius a Derbean and Timothy,” both of Asia Minor, Rom 15:23; 3Jn 1:1; Act 19:22. Timothy appears to have been the soundest in doctrine, and most trusted letter carrier for Paul, who delivered his letter to the Ephesian church where he had received it from Paul in prison at Rome.
5) “And of Asia Tychicus and Trophimus.” (Asianoi de Tushikos kai Trophumos) “Then Tychicus and Trophimus also Asians,” as well as Gaius and Timothy, Eph 6:21; Col 4:7-8; 2Ti 4:12; Tit 3:12; Act 21:29; 2Ti 4:20. All seven of the above named brethren were companions in travel, helpers of Paul, and perhaps elected messengers of both associations of churches, in colleague or fellowship, on both the continents of Asia and Europe, united in a common bond of benevolent spread of the gospel to all nations, Mat 28:18-20; Joh 20:21; Luk 24:46-52.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(4) And there accompanied him into Asia . . .The occurrence of the two names, Timotheus and Sosipater (another form of Sopater) in Rom. 16:21 makes it probable that all of those here named were with St. Paul at Corinth. As they were to go with him to Jerusalem, it was indeed natural they should have gone to the city from which he intended to embark. It is not difficult to discover the reason of their accompanying him. He was carrying up a large sum in trust for the churches of Juda, and he sought to avoid even the suspicion of the malversations which the tongue of slanderers was so ready to impute to him (2Co. 8:20-21). Representatives were accordingly chosen from the leading churches, who acting, as it were, as auditors of his accounts, would be witnesses that all was right. As regards the individual names, we note as follows: (1) The name of Sopater, or Sosipater, occurs in the inscription on the arch named in the Note on Act. 17:8 as belonging to one of the politarchs of Thessalonica. (2) Aristarchus had been a fellow-worker with St. Paul at Ephesus, and had been a sufferer in the tumult raised by Demetrius (Act. 19:29). (3) Of Secundus nothing is known, but the name may be compared with Tertius in Rom. 16:22, and Quartus in Rom. 16:23, as suggesting the probability that all three were sons of a disciple who had adopted this plan of naming his children. The corresponding name of Primus occurs in an inscription from the Catacombs now in the Lateran Museum, as belonging to an exorcist, and might seem, at first, to supply the missing link; but the inscription is probably of later date. In any case, it is a probable inference that the three belonged to the freed-man or slave class, who had no family names; and the Latin form of their names suggests that they had been originally Roman Jews, an inference confirmed by the fact that both Tertius and Quartus send salutations to their brethren in the imperial city (Rom. 16:22-23). The names Primitivus and Primitiva, which occur both in Christian and Jewish inscriptions in the same Museum, are more or less analogous. (4) Gains of Derbe. The Greek sentence admits of the description being attached to the name of Timotheus which follows; and the fact that a Caius has already appeared in close connection with Aristarchus makes this construction preferable. On this assumption he, too, came from Thessalonica. (See Note on Act. 19:29.) (5) Timotheus. (See Note on Act. 16:1.) (6) Tychicus. The name, which means fortunate, the Greek equivalent for Felix, was very common among slaves and freed-men. It is found in an inscription in the Lateran Museum from the Cemetery of Priscilla; and in a non-Christian inscription, giving the names of the household of the Emperor Claudius, in the Vatican Museum, as belonging to an architect. The Tychicus of the Acts would seem to have been a disciple from Ephesus, where men of that calling would naturally find an opening. Such vocations tended naturally, as has been said in the Note on Act. 19:9, to become hereditary. (7) Trophimus (= nursling, or foster-child was, again, a name of the same class, almost as common as Onesimus ( = profitable). In a very cursory survey of inscriptions from the Columbaria and Catacombs of Rome, I have noted the recurrence of the former four, and of the latter five times Trophimus appears again in Act. 21:29, and is described more definitely as an Ephesian. We find him again in contact with St. Paul towards the close of the Apostles life, in 2Ti. 4:20. That they were seven in number suggests the idea of a reproduction either of the idea of the Seven, who are commonly called Deacons in Acts 6, or of the Roman institution upon which that was probably based. It may be noted here, in addition to what has there been said on the subject, that the well-known pyramidal monument of Caius Cestius, of the time of Augustus, near the Porta Latina at Rome, records that he was one of the Septemviri Epulonum there referred to.
We must not forget what the sudden change to the first person plural in the next verse reminds us of, that the name of Luke has to be added to the list of St. Pauls companions. We may, perhaps, assume that he went less as an official delegate from the Church of Philippi than as a friend, and probably, St. Pauls health needing his services, as physician.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Accompanied Seven persons now form Paul’s company, a retinue unprecedentedly large. They are said to have accompanied Paul to Asia; but as we find that both Aristarchus and Trophimus were with him at Jerusalem, it is probable the whole seven went thither. (See note on Act 21:1.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And there accompanied him as far as Asia, Sopater of Beroea, the son of Pyrrhus; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.’
With him on his journey Paul had a number of people from the different churches. These would come with him to Jerusalem in order to bring their greetings to the church from their own churches and in order to help him guard and hand over the Collection. Luke himself possibly represented Philippi. There is no Corinthian representation but it is possible that they looked to Paul, Timothy or Titus to represent them.
‘As far as Asia.’ It is possible that we are to understand here that Paul was accompanied ‘as far as Asia’ by Sopater, and that the remainder went ahead and awaited him in Troas. Sopater may even not have been going with them to Jerusalem.
In total the travellers included Sopater from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia, even possibly from Ephesus itself.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 20:4. There accompanied himSopater, &c. The several persons mentioned in this verse are thought by some to have been joined with St. Paul, as messengers of the churches, in carrying their contributions to the poor brethren at Jerusalem. Compare 1Co 16:3-4 and 2Co 8:19-23. We know but few particulars of most of them. Sopater, who in most ancient manuscripts is called the son of Pyrrhus, is generally thought to be the same with Sosipater, whom St. Paul has mentioned as his kinsman, Rom 16:21. Aristarchus of Thessalonica is mentioned before as a Macedonian, ch. Act 19:29. He attended St. Paul in his voyage to Rome, ch. Act 27:2 and was his fellow-labourer, Phm 1:24 and a fellow-prisoner with him, Col 4:10-11. Secundus is not mentioned any where but here. Gaius of Derbe (if he be not a differentperson of the same name,) is elsewhere mentioned as a man of Macedonia, ch. Act 19:29 of which, as some suppose, he was a native; but descended of a family that came from Derbe: he was baptized by St. Paul at Corinth, 1Co 1:14 and entertained him as his host while he abode there, Rom 16:23 and afterwards St. John directs his third Epistle to him. Timothy was a native of Lystra, Act 16:1 whom St. Paul particularly honoured with the appellation of his friend, and distinguished by his two epistles to him, as well as by joining his name with his own in the title of several other epistles. Tychicus of Asia was often employed on messages by St. Paul and is more than once recommended by him to the churches, as a beloved brother, a faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord; whom he employed not only to acquaint them with his own affairs, but for this purpose also, that he might know their state and comfort their hearts, Eph 6:21-22. Col 4:7-8. Trophimus of Ephesus appears to have been a Gentile convert, whom we find afterwards with St. Paul at Jerusalem, ch. Act 21:29 and who attended him in other journeys, till he left him at Miletum sick, 2Ti 4:20. These two last are said to be Asiatics; and being distinguished here from Gaius and Timothy, who were of Derbe and Lystra, which lay in Asia Minor, it is plain that they are so called as being natives of the proconsular Asia.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Act 20:4 . [106] ] excepting only the short separation from Philippi to Troas, Act 20:5 , where those companions ( ), having journeyed before the apostle, waited for him. The statement is summary , not excluding the sailing before from Philippi to Troas, the Asiatic emporium; but Tittmann, Synon. N.T. p. 85, erroneously judges: “eos usque in Asiam cum Paulo una fuisse, deinde praeivisse eumque expectasse.” Act 20:5-6 are at variance with this. Nor is there, with Wieseler, p. 293, and Baumgarten, to be artificially deduced from the meaning: “up to that point from which people crossed to Asia;” so that Luke would oddly enough have indicated nothing else than as far as Philippi . On (only here in the N.T.), comp. 2Ma 15:2 ; 3Ma 5:48 ; 3Ma 6:21 ; very frequent in the classics.
Of Sopater , the son of Pyrrhus, of Beroea, and whether he is identical with Sosipater, Rom 16:21 , nothing is known.
The other companions were two Thessalonians, Aristarchus (Act 19:29 ) and Secundus (entirely unknown); further, an inhabitant of Derbe, Caius (thus different from the Macedonian, Act 19:29 ; for Derbe belonged to Lycaonia, see on Act 14:6 ); Timotheus , whose dwelling is supposed as known and therefore is not specified (see on Act 16:1 ); and lastly, the two Asiatics, Tychicus (Eph 6:21 ; Col 4:7 ; 2Ti 4:12 ; Tit 3:12 ) and Trophimus (Act 21:29 ; 2Ti 4:20 ). It was nothing but arbitrary violence, when Ernesti, Valckenaer, and Kuinoel, in order to identify Caius (how extremely frequent was the name!) with the Caius of Act 19:12 and to make Timothy a native of Derbe, wished to put a comma after and then to read . . (Heinrichs: . . ). [107] Following the same presupposition, Olshausen contents himself with merely putting a point after and then taking in the signification of also! And for this even Wieseler, p. 26, and in Herzog’s Encykl . XXI. p. 276, has declared himself, appealing to the parallelism of the language, according to which, from . onwards, the nomen gentilitium is always placed first. But the parallelism is rather of this nature, that the nomen gentilitium first follows after ( .), then precedes ( . ), then again follows after ( . ), and lastly, again precedes ( . ), thus in regular alternation .
We may add, that no special reason for such a numerous escort is indicated in the text, and hypotheses [108] referring to the point amount to mere subjective fancies.
[106] The omission of . is not strongly enough attested by B , 13, Vulg. Aeth. Erp. Beda, particularly as it might easily have taken place for the sake of ver. 5. It is, however, approved by Lekebusch.
[107] Lachmann, Praef . p. ix., conjectured . . He places a point after ., and makes the , read by him after , ver. 5, to be resumptive (repeating the after ), which, as the discourse is not interrupted by parentheses, would be without motive and forced.
[108] According to Schneckenburger, they are the collection-commissioners of the chief churches ; according to Baumgarten, they appear, in their number corresponding to the deacons in Jerusalem, as representatives of the whole Gentile church ; comp. also Lange, II. p. 291. Such inventions are purely fanciful.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
Ver. 4. Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus, &c. ] These all were the very “glory of Jesus Christ,” 2Co 8:23 , and yet counted the offscouring of all things: , 1Co 4:13 these precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, were esteemed as earthen pitchers,Lam 4:2Lam 4:2 . These worthies of whom the world was not worthy, Heb 11:38 , were cast out of the world as it were by an ostracism. These jewels of Jesus Christ, these “excellent ones of the earth,” these earthly angels, were shamefully slighted, and trampled upon by the fat bulls of Bashan with the feet of insolence and cruelty. Howbeit as stars (though we see them sometimes in a puddle, though they reflect there, yet) have they their situation in heaven; so God’s saints, though in a low condition, yet they are fixed in the region of happiness. Content they are to pass to heaven (as Christ their head did) as concealed men, and would not change estates with the earth’s mightier monarchs.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
4. . ] It is not hereby implied that they went no further than to Asia: Trophimus (ch. Act 21:29 ) and Aristarchus (ch. Act 27:2 ), and probably others, as the bearers of the alms from Macedonia and Corinth ( 1Co 16:3-4 ), accompanied him to Jerusalem.
] This mention of his father is perhaps made to distinguish him (?) from Sosipater, who was with Paul at Corinth ( Rom 16:21 ). The name has been erased as that of an unknown person, and because the mention of the father is unusual in the N. T.: no possible reason can be given for its insertion by copyists.
] See ch. Act 19:29 ; Act 27:2 ; Col 4:10 ; Phm 1:24 .
Secundus is altogether unknown.
The Gaius here is not the Gaius of ch. Act 19:29 , who was a Macedonian . The epithet is inserted for distinction’s sake. Timotheus was from Lystra , which probably gives occasion to his being mentioned here in close company with Gaius of Derbe. All attempts to join with in the construction are futile. Timotheus was not of Derbe , see ch. Act 16:1-2 ; and the name Caius ( , Gr.) was far too common to create any difficulty in there being two, or three (see note, ch. Act 19:29 ) companions of Paul so called. With conjectural emendations of the text ( . ., Kuin., Valck.) we have no concern.
. . . ] Tycbicus is mentioned Eph 6:21 , as sent (to Ephesus from Rome) with that Epistle. He bore also that to the Colossians, Col 4:7 , at the same time. See also 2Ti 4:12 ; Tit 3:12 .
Trophimus, an Ephesian, was in Jerusalem with Paul, ch. Act 21:29 ; and had been, shortly before 2 Tim. was written, left sick at Miletus. (See Prolegg. to 2 Tim. i. 5.)
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 20:4 . : only here in N.T., cf. 2Ma 15:2 , 3Ma 5:48 ; 3Ma 6:21 , but frequent in classics. .: among more recent writers Rendall has argued strongly for the retention of the words, whilst he maintains, nevertheless, that all the companions of the Apostle named here accompanied him to Jerusalem. In his view the words are an antithesis to , so that whilst on the one hand one party, viz. , six of the deputies, travel with Paul to Philippi, on the other hand the other party consisting of two, viz. , the Asian representatives, waited for them at Troas. At Philippi the six deputies and Paul were joined by St. Luke, who henceforth speaks of the deputation in the first person plural, and identifies himself with its members as a colleague. Then from Troas the whole party proceed to Jerusalem ( Acts , pp. 119, 303). In this way in Act 20:5 is restricted to Tychicus and Trophimus (see also Ramsay, as below), whereas A. and R.V. refer the pronoun to all the deputies, so too Weiss and Wendt. If this is so, the , Act 20:5 , might refer (but see further below) only to Paul and Luke, as the latter would naturally rejoin Paul at Philippi where we left him, cf. Act 16:17 . Ramsay explains ( St. Paul , p. 287) that the discovery of the Jewish plot altered St. Paul’s plan, and that too at the last moment, when delegates from the Churches had already assembled. The European delegates were to sail from Corinth, and the Asian from Ephesus, but the latter having received word of the change of plan went as far as Troas to meet the others, thus referring to Tychicus and Trophimus alone (but see also Askwith, Epistle to the Galatians (1899), pp. 94, 95).
Wendt also favours retention of . and prefers the reading , but he takes in Act 20:5 to exclude St. Paul, and refers it to other friends of the Apostle (as distinct from those who accompanied him through Macedonia “as far as Asia”), viz. , the author of the “We” sections and others who only now meet the Apostle and his company at Troas. But this obliges us to make a somewhat artificial distinction between in Act 20:5 with in Act 20:6 , and . and on the one hand, and , Act 20:6 , on the other, as the latter must be taken to include St. Paul, St. Luke, and the whole company, although Wendt justifies the distinction by pointing out that in Act 20:13 is used exclusive of Paul ( cf. Act 21:12 ).
Mr. Askwith, u. s. , p. 93 ff., has recently argued that in Act 20:6 includes not only St. Luke and St. Paul, but with them the representatives of Achaia (who are not mentioned by name with the other deputies) who would naturally be with St. Paul on his return from Corinth, Act 20:2-3 , and he would not travel through Macedonia unaccompanied. In 2Co 8 St. Luke, “the brother,” according to tradition, whose praise in the Gospel was spread through all the Churches, had been sent to Corinth with Titus and another “brother,” and so naturally any representatives from Achaia would come along with them, pp. 93, 94. No names are given because St. Luke himself was amongst them, and he never mentions his own name, p. 96. The fact that Timothy and Sopater who had been with the Apostle at Corinth when he wrote to the Romans (chap. Act 16:21 , if we may identify with the , Act 20:4 ) are amongst those who waited at Troas is accounted for on the supposition that Timothy and others might naturally go across to inform the Asiatic delegates of Paul’s change of plan, and would then proceed with these Asian representatives to Troas to meet the Apostle (p. 94). The presence of Aristarchus and Secundus at Troas is accounted for on the ground that St. Paul, on his way to Achaia, did not expect to return through Macedonia, and so would naturally arrange for the Macedonian delegates, who were not accompanying him into Greece, to meet him somewhere. And the delegates from Thessalonica would naturally cross to Troas with the intention of proceeding to Ephesus (or Miletus), where St. Paul would have touched even if he had sailed for Palestine from Cenchre ( cf. Act 18:18-19 ), p. 95. But against this it may be fairly urged that there is no reason to assume that the Macedonian delegates did not accompany Paul into Greece; Timothy and Sosipater had evidently done so, and all the delegates mentioned seem to have been together in St. Paul’s company, , Act 20:4 . In the uncertain state of the text it is difficult to come to any decision on the passage. The words may easily have been omitted on account of the supposed difficulty connected with the fact that two at least of St. Paul’s companions who are named, Trophimus and Aristarchus, went further than Asia, cf. Act 21:29 , Act 27:2 , while on the other hand it is somewhat hard to believe that the words could be inserted by a later hand.
On “The Pauline Collection for the Saints and its importance,” and the representatives of the Churches in the different provinces, see Rendall, Expositor , November, 1893; Ramsay, St. Paul , p. 287, and “Corinth,” Hastings’ B.D.; Wendt, p. 325 (1899); Hort, Rom. and Ephes. , pp. 39 ff. and 173. Nothing could more clearly show the immense importance which St. Paul attached to this contribution for the poor saints than the fact that he was ready to present in person at Jerusalem the members of the deputation and their joint offerings, and that too at a time when his presence in the capital was full of danger, and after he had been expressly warned of the peril, cf. Act 24:17 , Rom 15:25 . On the suggestion for the fund and its consummation see 1Co 16:1-8 , Act 20:16 , 2Co 8:10 ; 2Co 9:2 ; A.D. 57 58, Rendall, Lightfoot; 56 57, Ramsay. Such a scheme would not only unite all the Gentile Churches in one holy bond of faith and charity, but it would mark their solidarity with the Mother Church at Jerusalem; it would be a splendid fulfilment by their own generous and loyal effort of the truth that if one member of the body suffered all the members suffered with it. We know how this vision which St. Paul had before his eyes of a universal brotherhood throughout the Christian world seemed to tarry; and we may understand something of the joy which filled his heart, even amidst his farewell to the elders at Miletus, as he anticipated without misgiving the accomplishment of this to the saints, a “ministry” which he had received from the Lord Jesus, Act 20:24 . On the coincidence between the narrative of the Acts cf. Act 20:2-3 ; Act 24:17-19 , and the notices in St. Paul’s Epistles given above, see especially Paley, Hor. Paulin , chap. ii., 1. ., see critical note; whether he is the same as the Sopater of Rom 16:21 who was with St. Paul at Corinth we cannot say possibly the name of his father may be introduced to distinguish him, but perhaps, as Blass says, added in this one case “quod domi nobilis erat”. . ., see above on p. 414, and Knabenbauer’s note as against Blass. : Eph 6:21 , Col 4:7 show that Timothy was in Rome at the time of St. Paul’s first imprisonment. He is spoken of as a beloved and faithful minister, and it would appear that as St. Paul was about to send him to Ephesus, he was presumably the bearer of the Epistle which at all events included the Ephesian Church. In Tit 3:12 we have another reference which shows the high place Timothy occupied amongst St. Paul’s trusted confidential friends, and from 2Ti 4:12 we learn that he had been a sharer in the Apostle’s second and heavier captivity, and had only left him to fulfil another mission to Ephesus. : probably like Tychicus an Ephesian. In Act 21:29 he was with St. Paul at Jerusalem, and from 2Ti 4:20 we learn that he was at a later stage the companion of the Apostle after his release from his first imprisonment, and that he had been left by him at Miletus sick. On the absurd attempt to connect this notice of Miletus in the Pastoral Epistles with Act 20:4 see Weiss, Die Briefe Pauli an Timotheus und Titus , p. 354; Salmon, Introd. , fifth edition, p. 401.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
accompanied = were accompanying. This was their purpose, but they went before and waited at Troas (Act 20:5). Greek. sunepomai. Only here.
into = as far as.
Sopater. Shortened form of Sosipater, which is found in Rom 16:21, but there is no connexion between the two persons. The texts add “son of Pyrrhus”.
Aristarehus. See Act 19:29.
Secundus. Only here.
Gaius. Not the same as in Act 19:29.
Tychicus. See Eph 6:21. Col 4:7. 2Ti 4:12. Tit 3:12. He was with Paul in his first and second imprisonments at Rome, and was twice sent by him to Ephesus, which was no doubt his native place, as it was that of Trophimus.
Trophimus. See Act 21:29. 2Ti 4:20.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
4. . ] It is not hereby implied that they went no further than to Asia: Trophimus (ch. Act 21:29) and Aristarchus (ch. Act 27:2), and probably others, as the bearers of the alms from Macedonia and Corinth (1Co 16:3-4), accompanied him to Jerusalem.
] This mention of his father is perhaps made to distinguish him (?) from Sosipater, who was with Paul at Corinth (Rom 16:21). The name has been erased as that of an unknown person, and because the mention of the father is unusual in the N. T.:-no possible reason can be given for its insertion by copyists.
] See ch. Act 19:29; Act 27:2; Col 4:10; Phm 1:24.
Secundus is altogether unknown.
The Gaius here is not the Gaius of ch. Act 19:29, who was a Macedonian. The epithet is inserted for distinctions sake. Timotheus was from Lystra, which probably gives occasion to his being mentioned here in close company with Gaius of Derbe. All attempts to join with in the construction are futile. Timotheus was not of Derbe, see ch. Act 16:1-2; and the name Caius (, Gr.) was far too common to create any difficulty in there being two, or three (see note, ch. Act 19:29) companions of Paul so called. With conjectural emendations of the text (. ., Kuin., Valck.) we have no concern.
. . .] Tycbicus is mentioned Eph 6:21, as sent (to Ephesus from Rome) with that Epistle. He bore also that to the Colossians, Col 4:7, at the same time. See also 2Ti 4:12; Tit 3:12.
Trophimus, an Ephesian, was in Jerusalem with Paul, ch. Act 21:29; and had been, shortly before 2 Tim. was written, left sick at Miletus. (See Prolegg. to 2 Tim. i. 5.)
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 20:4. , there accompanied him) A delightful retinue.- , as far as to Asia) In Asia a part of them departed, a part remained with Paul: Act 20:6; Act 20:13-14. Trophimus went along with him to Jerusalem, as appears from ch. Act 21:29; Aristarchus accompanied him to Rome, ch. Act 27:2.-, of the Thessalonians) So Aristarchus and Secundus are called. For Gaius was of Derbe: the country of Timothy was already marked, viz. Lystra, near Derbe.-, of Asia) from Asia strictly so called.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Sopater: Rom 16:21, Sosipater
Berea: Act 17:10-12
Aristarchus: Act 19:29, Act 27:2, Col 4:10, Phm 1:24
Gaius: Rom 16:23, 3Jo 1:1
Derbe: Act 14:6, Act 14:20, 2Co 8:23, 2Co 8:24
Timotheus: Act 16:1, 2Co 1:1, 2Co 1:19, Phi 2:19, 1Ti 1:1, 2Ti 1:2
Tychicus: Eph 6:21, Col 4:7, 2Ti 4:12, Tit 3:12
Trophimus: Act 21:29, 2Ti 4:20
Reciprocal: Deu 4:16 – the likeness Act 16:6 – Asia 1Th 1:1 – Timotheus
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5
Act 20:4-5. These persons were associated with Paul in the good work, but were evidently not involved in the plot of the Jews. They went on ahead across the sea and stopped at Troas where they awaited the coming of Paul and Luke, he being with Paul as the first personal pronoun us denotes, and as he is the author of this book (chapter 1:1).
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 20:4. And there accompanied him into Asia, Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gains of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. Of these companions of the apostles three were natives of Macedonia and four of Asia Minor. In the older MSS. Sopater is described as (the son) of Pyrrhus; this was possibly added to distinguish him from the Sosipater (the same name as Sopater) mentioned in Rom 16:21, a kinsman of St. Paul. Nothing is known of him further. The name, however, occurs in an inscription still existing in Saloniki (Thessalonica), probably of the date of Vespasian, as belonging to one of the politarchs of that city. Aristarchus had been associated with St. Paul at Ephesus (chap. Act 19:29). Secundus is not mentioned elsewhere. Professor Plumptre ingeniously suggests that this Secundus, together with Tertius in Rom 16:22, and Quartus (Rom 16:23), were all three sons of a disciple who had adopted this plan of naming his children.Gaius of Derbe. So styled to distinguish him from another companion of St. Paul with the same name, who belonged to Macedonia (chap. Act 19:29). Derbe was a small city of Lycaonia, in Asia Minor, near to Lystra (see chap. Act 14:6).Timotheus. The well-known pupil and disciple of St. Paul, to whom in after days the two epistles bearing his name were addressed. It is not improbable that these two here named together, coming from the same neighbourhood, were friends and comrades.Tychicus. The name which means fortunate is represented by the Latin Felix. He was probably a native of Ephesus. We hear of him several times in early apostolic history. He was the bearer of the epistles to the Colossians and Ephesians from Paul, then a prisoner at Rome, to those distant churches (see Col 4:7-8; Eph 6:21-22), and he is styled a beloved brother and a faithful minister of the Lord. In the last epistle of his brave, good life, St. Paul tells Timothy he had sent Tychicus to Ephesus (2Ti 4:12). Tradition tells us he became Bishop of Chalcedon in Bithynia.Trophimus. The last-named of this company of St. Pauls friends, we know, accompanied the apostle on this journey all the way to Jerusalem, and was the occasion there of his arrest (Act 21:29). Trophimus, too, is mentioned in the Second Epistle to Timothy (chap. Act 4:20), Trophimus have I left at Miletus sick. Early tradition tells us this friend and associate of St. Paul had been one of the seventy disciples, and suffered martyrdom under Nero. It is, however, very doubtful if any of the seventy belonged to an alien race, to which Trophimus, from the circumstance related in chap. Act 21:27-30, certainly appears to have belonged. It has been asked why these seven companions of the apostle are so carefully enumerated in this case. The supposition that they acted as a bodyguard to St. Paul, and that they were seven in number, to correspond with the number of the deacons (chap. Act 6:3-5), must be dismissed as purely fanciful. They were, no doubt, messengers of their several churches deputed to carry the contributions of the Gentile congregations to the poor saints of Jerusalem. St. Luke, the compiler of the history of the Acts, as we shall see in the next verse, at this juncture rejoined the apostle, and the narrative now indicates from its minuteness that the writer was present at the scenes described. We can easily conceive that the names of the persons of this little company with which he found himself so intimately associated were graven on the mind of the compiler of the memoir.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Act 20:4-6. And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea, &c. The several persons mentioned in this verse are thought by some to have been joined with Paul as messengers of the churches, in carrying their contributions to the poor brethren at Jerusalem. We know but few particulars of most of them. Sopater is thought to be the same with Sosipater, mentioned by Paul as his kinsman, Rom 16:21. Aristarchus and Secundus are the Macedonians of whom he speaks, 2Co 9:4; and Gaius of Derbe, the person who, with Aristarchus, was hurried into the theatre at Ephesus during the riot; he was baptized by Paul at Corinth, 1Co 1:14; and entertained him as his host, while he abode there, Rom 16:23; and afterward John directs his third epistle to him. Of Timothy, see Act 16:1, &c. Tychicus of Asia, was often sent on messages by Paul, 2Ti 4:12; Tit 3:12; and more than once is recommended by him to the churches, as a beloved brother, and fellow-servant in the Lord, whom he employed, not only to acquaint them with his own affairs, but that he might know their state, and comfort their hearts, Eph 6:21-22; Col 4:7-8. Trophimus, who was of Ephesus, appears to have been a Gentile convert, whom we find afterward with Paul at Jerusalem, Act 21:29; and who attended him in other journeys, till he left him at Miletum sick, 2Ti 4:20. These two last, being distinguished here from Timothy and Gaius, who were of Lystra and Derbe, which lay in Asia Minor; and yet being said to be Asiatics, must have been so called, because they were natives of the proconsular Asia. These, going before, tarried for us at Troas It appears from the construction of the original, that this refers not to all the persons mentioned in the preceding verse, but only to the two last named, Tychicus and Trophimus. And we sailed from Philippi
Some time after the forementioned persons left us; (Luke was now with Paul again, as we learn from his manner of expressing himself;) after the days of unleavened bread That is, after the passover week was ended; and came to Troas in five days Paul, in his former progress, crossed over from Troas to Philippi in two days; where we abode seven days Conversing with the Christians there. This Paul might choose to do so much the rather as he had declined such great views of service as were here opened to him, when he passed through it before, in his way to Macedonia. See 2Co 2:12-13.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
4, 5. (4) “And there accompanied him, as far as Asia, Sopater of Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus of Thessalonica; Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. (5) These, going before, waited for us at Troas.” This sentence brings us again into company with two familiar companions of Paul, from whom we have been parted for some time. The name of Timothy has not occurred in the history before, since he was dispatched with Erastus from Ephesus into Macedonia. He had, however, joined company again with Paul while the latter was in Macedonia, as we learn from the fact that his name appears in the salutation of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians. Luke, the other party here introduced, has not been an eye-witness of the scenes he was describing since the scouring of Paul and Silas in Philippi. His significant we and us were discontinued then, and are not resumed until he says, in this verse, “These, going before, waited for us in Troas.” The probability is, that he had resided in that city during the whole of this period, and now, as Paul was passing through on his way to Jerusalem, he once more joined the company. During his absence the narrative has been very hurried and elliptical. We shall now, for a time, find it circumstantial in the extreme.
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
4-6. Meanwhile his evangelistic comrades, Sopater of Asia, Aristarchus and Secundus, Gaius and Timothy, Tychicus and Trophinius, embarking, sail directly to Asia, landing at Troas, whither Paul and Luke, leaving Philippi after the Passover, April 14, arrive in five days, and there remain for a week, preaching.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
The men Luke identified here were the representatives of the churches in the provinces of Macedonia, Galatia, and Asia who accompanied Paul with the gift of money for the Jerusalem church. Sopater may be the Sosipater of Rom 16:21. Paul himself may have represented the province of Achaia and the church in Corinth while Luke may have represented the Philippian Christians, but Luke did not make this clear.