[NOTE: I just discovered that this is the third time I’ve titled a post “Naming Names.” Who knew!]
About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
I like to kid that I know only 12 people by name. Famous people that is. Like Sean Connery, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Barbra Streisand. When I was put to the test recently by family members, I managed to identify as many as 18 to 20. But you don’t want me on your trivia team if the category is famous persons. I just don’t have those names readily in mind.
But then there are Bible names: Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Isaiah, Elisha, Elijah, Thomas, Peter, Paul, Gaius and Aristarchus. Wait! Gaius and Aristarchus?!? Really? I really don’t have a grasp of their names even though I do know Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, and Shear–Jashub (the two sons of Isaiah whose names prophesied of coming destruction and redemption). And Eutychus, the man every seminary student learns about in his first preaching class. He fell out of a three-story window in Troas when Paul went long into the night preaching to the church there.
But what of Gaius and Aristarchus? Luke records that Gaius and Aristarchus accompany Paul as he continues his mission. They are listed in Acts 20:1-6 along with Timothy and others in that journey. He is listed in Romans 16:23 as a gracious host to Paul. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:14 that Gaius was one of the people he baptized. In 3 John 1:1, a man named Gaius is mentioned as a beloved brother in Christ. But the name was apparently common in those days it is not widely believed that these are the same persons.
According to ChatGPT, Aristarchus is portrayed as a steadfast and loyal associate of Paul, playing a significant role in the early Christian movement. His repeated presence alongside Paul in various challenging situations underscores his commitment to the spread of Christianity and his support for Paul’s ministry. He is mentioned here as well as in Acts 20:4; 27:2; Colossians 4:10 (where he is listed as a fellow prisoner with Paul), and Philemon 1:24.
More important than all those accolades, however, are two things about names.
- There is no other name given among men by which we must be saved, than Jesus Christ, son of Mary, Son of God.
- It is a great blessing to have our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and to know that because God has put his name on us in baptism, we have promises of that to which we must cling in faith.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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