Jewish quarters at Ephesus in the hope of seizing Paul and dragging him into

the theatre.  In this the Jews were unsuccessful, but Gaius and Aristarchus,

men of Macedonia, were 'rushed with one accord into the theatre'.  On hearing

this Paul 'would have entered' the theatre, but the disciples 'and certain of

the chief of Asia' desired him not to do so (Acts 19:29 -31)

.

The second reference to Aristarchus is in Acts 20:3,4, where we find

the Jews laying in wait for Paul, and a noble band of faithful believers,

including Aristarchus, accompany him on his perilous journey.  In Acts 27:2

we again find Aristarchus with the apostle, this time on board the ship which

was taking Paul as a prisoner to Rome.  Evidently he went through the storm

and the wreck with Paul and stood by during his Roman imprisonment, for in

Colossians 4:10, as fellowprisoner, he joins in sending salutations to the

saints at Colosse.  What a record of faithful devotedness these few verses

supply!  When writing the epistle to Philemon, Epaphras becomes the

'fellowprisoner' while Aristarchus is now called by Paul his 'fellowlabourer'

(Philem. 23,24).

While there are indications that Paul was at times treated with some

discrimination, being permitted to dwell in his own hired house, the fact

remains that bonds are bonds, and to a man of the sensitiveness of Paul, a

man who championed liberty with fiery zeal, bonds and bars of any sort would

perhaps have become well -nigh intolerable, had it not been for the grace of

God.  We sometimes forget that the grace of God through which we receive help

in time of need will usually reach us through some human channel, and

Andronicus and Junia, Aristarchus and Epaphras, as 'fellowprisoners' with the

apostle must be regarded in that light.

Paul himself is now for ever beyond the power of man.  He awaits 'the

liberty of the glory of the sons of God', but his message remains, and his

appeal to Timothy is of the same urgency today as when he wrote it:

'Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me

His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel

according to the power of God' (2 Tim. 1:8).

Some of our readers may know a loneliness and an isolation as deep and

as cruel as any prison experience.  Certainly those intimately associated

with this publication know what the shut door of ostracism means.  In a

sense, all who believe the truth of the Mystery become 'fellowprisoners' with

the great apostle, and we trust that the contemplation of this phase of

companionship, which is open to us all, will tend to sweeten the bitterness

of the way, and cheer the lonely pilgrim thereon:

'Ye became companions ... ye had compassion (on them that were in bonds

R.V.) ... ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance' (Heb.

It is usual to speak of Barnabas as Paul's first companion, and if we

limit that word companion to actual fellowship in service, perhaps Barnabas

must be given first place.  We are sure, however, that one name, associated

with Paul's passing from blindness to sight, would be sure of a prominent

place among Paul's companions; the name of one by whom Paul was cheered in

the midst of his bitter reflections and remorse when he was addressed by that

unexpected but lovely word 'brother'.  To the end of his days, Paul retained