Acts 20:4

4-5. there accompanied him into Asia--the province of Asia. Sopater of Berea--The true reading, beyond doubt, is, "Sopater [the son] of Pyrrhus of Berea." Some think this mention of his father was to distinguish him from Sosipater (the same name in fuller form), mentioned in Ro 16:21. But that they were the same person seems more probable. of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus--(See on Ac 19:29). and Secundus--of whom nothing else is known. Gaius of Derbe--Though the Gaius of Ac 19:29 is said to 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 there is hardly any reason to doubt that the same Gaius is addressed) seems to show that though he spent an important part of his Christian life away from his native Derbe, he had latterly retired to some place not very far from it. and Timotheus--not probably of Derbe, as one might suppose from this verse, but of Lystra (see on Ac 16:1); both being so associated in his early connection with the apostle that the mention of the one in the previous clause would recall the other on the mention of his name. and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus--The latter was an Ephesian, and probably the former also. They seem to have put themselves, from this time forward, at the apostle's disposal, and to the very last been a great comfort to him (Ep 6:21, 22; Col 4:7, 8; Ac 21:29; 2Ti 4:12, 20). From the mention of the places to which each of these companions belonged, and still more the order in which they occur, we are left to conclude that they were deputies from their respective churches, charged with taking up and bringing on the collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem, first at Berea, next at Thessalonica, then at Philippi [Howson], where we gather that our historian himself rejoined the party (from the resumption at Ac 20:5 of the "us," dropped at Ac 16:17), by whom the Philippian collection would naturally be brought on.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Verse 4. 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.

Aristarthus, Acts 19:29.

Gaius of Derbe. Acts 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, Acts 20:29. When Paul wrote his Second Epistle to Timothy, he was at Mileturn, sick, 2Ti 4:20.

(e) "Aristarchus" Acts 19:29 (f) "Timotheus" Acts 16:1 (g) "Tychius" Eph 6:21 (h) "Trophimus" Acts 21:29, 2Ti 4:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

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, Act 20:5. Into Asia - Αχρι της Ασιας; These words are wanting in two MSS., Erpen, the Ethiopic, 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, Act 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, Rom 16:21. ADE, more than twenty others, with the Coptic, Armenian, later Syriac in the margin, Vulgate, Itala, Theophylact, Origen, and Bede, add Πυρῥου, Sopater the Son of Pyrrhus. Griesbach has received this into his text. Aristarchus of Thessalonica - This person occurs in Act 19:29, and is mentioned there as a Macedonian. He attended Paul in his journey to Rome, Act 27:2, and was his fellow laborer, Plm 1:24, and his fellow prisoner, Col 4:10, Col 4:11. Secundus is mentioned nowhere but in this place. Gaius of Derbe - This is supposed to be the same who is mentioned Act 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, 1Cor 1:14, and entertained him as his host while he abode there, Rom 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, Act 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, Eph 6:22. He sent him for the same purpose, and with the same commendations, to the Colossians, Col 4:7, Col 4:8. 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 Εφεσιοι, Ephesians, instead of Ασιανοι, 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, Act 21:29. He had, no doubt, traveled with him on other journeys, for we find, by 2Tim 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain