Who is…
Sopater

Meaning: the father who saves

This is probably the same man as Sosipater, a kinsman of Paul (Romans 16:21).

He is the son of a man named Pyrrhus. He was a Christian of the city of Berea who accompanied Paul into Asia (Acts 20:4-6)

Paul’s small group included:

Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas. —Acts 20:4, 5 excerpt

The phrase “son of Pyrrhus” is not introducing a second person but qualifying the identity of Sopater. Scripture does not mention his father again.

Article Version: April 13, 2026