Bible Dictionary
Sopater
Sopater was a Christian from Berea who accompanied Paul on his journey toward Asia. He is probably the same person as Sosipater, Paul’s kinsman mentioned in Romans.
Definition
Sopater was a Christian man from Berea, also called the son of Pyrrhus, who accompanied Paul on his journey toward Asia. He is probably the same person as Sosipater, Paul’s Jewish kinsman.
Biblical Usage
Sopater is named among Paul’s companions in Acts 20:4. Sosipater is named with those sending greetings to the Roman Christians in Romans 16:21.
Historical Background
Sopater accompanied Paul after the third missionary journey, on the return toward Jerusalem. The sources identify the two names as probably referring to the same person.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The father who saves, probably the same as Sosipater, a kinsman of Paul (Rom. 16:21), a Christian of the city of Berea who accompanied Paul into Asia (Acts 20:4-6).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(saviour of his father), son or Pyrrhus or Berea, was one of the companions of St. Paul on his return from Greece into Asia. (Acts 20:4) (A.D. 55.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>so'-pa-ter, sop'-a-ter (Sopatros): 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 3rd missionary journey (Ac 20:4). He is probably the same as the "Sosipater" of Ro 16:21.</p>