Aristachus (1st century)

Biography

In Ephesus he ran the greatest danger of his life: the city was famous for the temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the world, and the goldsmith Demetrius, who made small temples of the goddess in silver, summoned his colleagues and said to them: “What will become of us if this Paul persuades all of Asia that the gods made by the hands of men are false?” The entire city rioted against Paul, Aristarchus and Gaius. The last two were dragged to the theater and would have perished if Alexander, an eloquent magistrate, responsible for the theater, had not calmed them down and distracted them with other arguments. The disciples took the opportunity to escape and met with their teacher to leave the city. Aristarchus followed Paul to Rome. “Aristarchus, my fellow captive, greets you,” Paul writes to the Colossians.