Trophimus
Trophimus was a Gentile believer from Ephesus who traveled with Paul carrying the collection for Jerusalem. It was the sight of Trophimus with Paul in the city that sparked the false accusation - that Paul had brought a Greek into the temple - which led to Paul's arrest. Paul later mentions leaving him sick at Miletus, a reminder that even the apostle's companions were not always miraculously healed.
Biography
- Occupation
- Paul's companion
- Era
- New Testament (Acts)
- Nationality
- Ephesian (Gentile)
Did You Know?
Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, unwittingly triggered Paul's final arrest: the crowd assumed Paul had brought him past the temple's barrier into the Jewish-only courts (Acts 21:29), a charge that ignited the riot.
Archaeologists have found the actual Greek 'soreg' inscriptions that warned Gentiles like Trophimus not to pass the temple barrier on pain of death, illuminating exactly why his presence caused such fury.
Paul mentions leaving 'Trophimus have I left at Miletus sick' (2 Timothy 4:20), a candid reminder that even the apostle's close companions were not always miraculously healed.
Key Chapters
Key Passages
Trophimus and Paul's Arrest
Acts 21:27-30
The crowd, having seen Trophimus the Ephesian with Paul, falsely accuses Paul of defiling the temple.
27nd when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,