Sopater

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

(Σώπατρος, a common Greek name)

Sopater is mentioned in Acts 20:4 as a companion of St. Paul, who accompanied him from Greece to Asia Minor on his return journey to Palestine, whither he was bearing the offering of the churches ‘for the poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem’ (Romans 15:26). It has been conjectured that all the persons referred to in Acts 20:4 were delegates of their respective communities appointed ‘in the matter of this grace’ (2 Corinthians 8:19). If this was so, we shall suppose that they went all the way to Jerusalem. We know that one of them, Trophimus, did so (Acts 21:29), and evidently also Aristarchus (Acts 27:2). Sopater was perhaps the delegate of the church at BerCEa. He is described as a native of that place (Βεροιαῖος), and was perhaps a Hellenistic Jew, one of those who contrasted so favourably with the Jews of Thessalonica, one of the ‘many’ who believed during the Apostle’s visit (Acts 17:10-14). If he was not a Jew he cannot be identified, as is sometimes suggested, with Sosipater (q.v.[Note: .v. quod vide, which see.]), whose salutation is sent by St. Paul in Romans 16:21, and who is described as one of the Apostle’s ‘kinsmen,’ i.e. fellow-Jews. Nothing further is known of Sopater than that he was ‘the son of Pyrrhus’ (Σώπατρος Πύρρου), of whom, however, we are entirely ignorant. The patronymic is omitted by Textus Receptusand Authorized Versionbut is found in א ABDE, several ancient versions, and Revised Version. See articlePyrrhus.

T. B. Allworthy.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A Berean Christian, and one of those who attended Paul from Greece into Asia Minor, Acts 20:4 . He is supposed to have been the kinsman of Paul called Sosipater in Romans 16:21 .

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

"Son of Pyrrhus" (in the Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Alexandrinus manuscripts), of Berea, was one of Paul's companions on his return from Greece to Asia, after his third missionary journey (Acts 20:4).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Sop'ater. (saviour of his father). Son of Pyrrhus or Berea, was one of the companions of St. Paul, on his return from Greece into Asia. Acts 20:4. (A.D. 55).

Morrish Bible Dictionary

A believer of Berea who accompanied Paul from Greece into Asia. Acts 20:4 . The Editors of the Greek Testament add '[son]of Pyrrhus.'

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Romans 16:21Acts 20:4-6

Holman Bible Dictionary

Acts 20:4Romans 16:21

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Σώπατρος, i.e. savior of his father, a common Greek name), the son of Pyrrhus of Beroea, was one of the companions of Paul on his return from Greece into Asia as he came back from his third missionary journey (Acts 20:4). A.D. 55. Whether he is the same with SOSIPATER (See Sosipater) (q.v.) mentioned in Romans 16:21 cannot be positively determined. The name of his father, Pyrrhus, is omitted in the received text, though it has the authority of the oldest MSS., A, B, D, E, and the recently discovered Codex Sinaiticus, as well as of the Vulgate, Coptic, Sahidic, Philoxenian-Syriac, Armenian, and Slavonic versions. Mill condemns it, apparently without reason, as a traditional gloss.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sō´pa - tẽr , sop´a - tẽr ( Σώπατος , Sṓpatros ): the Revised Version (British and American) the son of Pyrrhus; the King James Version omits. A man of Berea who is mentioned with some Thessalonians and others as accompanying Paul as far as Asia on his return to Jerusalem after his 3missionary journey ( Acts 20:4 ). He is probably the same as the "Sosipater" of Romans 16:21 .

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Sop´ater, a Christian at Berea, and one of the party of brethren who accompanied Paul into Asia Minor from Greece . He is supposed to be the same with the Sosipater named in; and, if so, was a kinsman of St. Paul.