Acts 19:29

29. Gaius Same name as the Latin Caius. This Gaius, mentioned only here, being a Macedonian, must not be identified with Gaius of Derbe, (Acts 20:4,) and probably not with Gaius of Corinth, (Romans 16:23; 1 Corinthians 1:14.)

Aristarchus Name signifying most excellent ruler. He was a native of Thessalonica, and is here first mentioned as endangered for Paul. He seems to have left Ephesus with Paul for Greece; to have returned with him from Greece to Palestine (Acts 20:4) as one of the seven; to have sailed with him from Palestine to Rome, (Acts 27:2,) and there to have been his “fellow-prisoner” (Colossians 4:10) and “fellow-labourer,” (Philemon 1:24.) In short, he seems to have been Paul’s faithful attendant from this time until his appearance before Nero. How much earlier he joined Paul we know not, as the mentions of him are incidental.

One accord into the theatre As the ancient theatre was a place not merely of dramatic gatherings, but for public assemblies of all sorts, especially for city affairs, this mob spontaneously, without very well knowing what it is about, moves to the theatre. This was all the more readily done, as the temple where the first assemblage seems to have taken place and the theatre were in sight of each other. The theatre of Ephesus was a structure of immense size. It was semicircular in form, able to hold thirty thousand occupants, with seats receding and ascending back.

After they were fairly in the theatre, from the business-like character of the place the mob became an assembly, (Acts 19:32,) though not a very deliberative one, “for the most part knew not wherefore they had come together.”