Gaius

by Wayne Blank

Gaius (the Greek version of the Roman name Caius) was the name of a Greek man who was associated with the apostle Paul during parts of Paul's missionary journeys (see Paul's First Missionary Journey, Paul's Second Missionary Journey and Paul's Third Missionary Journey). Some are of the opinion that there was more than one man named Gaius associated with Paul (i.e. one from Derbe, another from Corinth - see verses below), a possibility that is not clearly ruled out by the Scriptures. One fact is certain, if there was more than one Gaius, they all were Believers who were faithful and trusted friends of Paul and their fellow saints (see What Is A Saint?).

Gaius

Gaius was baptized (see Baptism) by Paul:

"I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius" (1 Corinthians 1:14 RSV)

During Paul's third missionary journey, Gaius was accosted by a raving mob of idol worshippers (who were incited mainly by the businessmen who manufactured and sold religious statues) after Paul's message that their "gods" were worse than just useless (those who violate The Second Commandment are inviting God's wrath) began to take its toll on the statue business at Ephesus:

"And you see and hear that not only at Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable company of people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 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 count for nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship." When they heard this they were enraged, and cried out, "Great is Artemis Of The Ephesians!"
"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." (Acts 19:26-29 RSV)

A "Gaius of Derbe" was among those who accompanied Paul for some time:

"Sopater of Beroea, the son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. These went on and were waiting for us at Troas, but we sailed away from Philippi after The Days Of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days." (Acts 20:4-6 RSV)

Paul was staying with Gaius at Corinth when Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans:

"Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church [see People or Place?], greets you." (Romans 16:23 RSV)

Fact Finder: Was there another man named Gaius to whom The Apostle John addressed one of the Epistles?
3 John 1:1

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