Bible Figure
Trophimus
Trophimus was a Gentile Christian from Ephesus and a traveling companion of Paul. His presence with Paul in Jerusalem became the basis of a false assumption that Paul had brought a Gentile into the Temple, helping trigger the riot that led to Paul's arrest.
Biography
Acts identifies Trophimus as an Asian Christian who accompanied Paul during the journey connected with the collection for believers in Jerusalem. When Paul later entered the Temple, opponents from Asia saw him and stirred up the crowd, claiming that he taught against the people, the Law, and the Temple and had even brought Greeks into the sacred precincts. Luke explains that they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with Paul in the city and merely assumed that Paul had taken him into the Temple. The accusation helped provoke the violent disturbance from which Roman soldiers rescued Paul. In 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul says that he left Trophimus ill at Miletus, showing that this valued coworker also experienced ordinary sickness despite the miracles associated with apostolic ministry.
Biblical Significance
Trophimus is important as a Gentile coworker whose presence illustrates the expanding multiethnic church. The false accusation involving him also exposes the tensions surrounding Paul's Gentile mission and the misunderstandings that contributed to Paul's arrest.