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.

People's New Testament

20:4 Sopater of Berea. The Revised Version, based on the oldest MSS, calls him the son of Pyrrhus. He is otherwise unknown. Berea was in Macedonia. See PNT Ac 17:10.

Of the Thessalonians. On Thessalonica, see PNT Ac 17:1.

Aristarchus. See Ac 19:29.

Secundus. Not named elsewhere.

Gaius of Derbe. So named to distinguish him from another Gaius (Ac 19:29). Derbe was in Lycaonia. See PNT Ac 14:6.

Timothy. This celebrated disciple was of Lystra near Derbe. See notes on Ac 16:1-4.

Of Asia. See PNT Ac 2:9.

Tychicus. Supposed to be an Ephesian. See Col 4:7-8 Eph 6:21 2Ti 4:12.

Trophimus. He attended Paul all the way to Jerusalem. See Ac 21:29 2Ti 4:20.

Wesley's Notes

20:4 To Asia - There some of them left him. But Trophimus went with him to Jerusalem, Acts 21:29. Aristarchus, even to Rome, Acts 27:2.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

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 [2071]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 [2072]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 (Eph 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.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:1-6 Tumults or opposition may constrain a Christian to remove from his station or alter his purpose, but his work and his pleasure will be the same, wherever he goes. Paul thought it worth while to bestow five days in going to Troas, though it was but for seven days' stay there; but he knew, and so should we, how to redeem even journeying time, and to make it turn to some good account.