After the riot in Ephesus, Paul travels to Macedonia. Luke lists the team who goes with Paul, or at least part of the team: Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus, and Trophimus.
We’ve already covered Timothy, Aristarchus, and Gaius. We know nothing about Sopater because this is the only verse he appears in, and we know little about Trophimus.
That leaves Tychicus.
Tychicus makes an appearance in five Bible verses. The first is in Acts, and the other four are in Paul’s letters. From these we learn that Tychicus is a trusted member of Paul’s team, someone Paul often dispatches as his representative.
Paul tells the church in Ephesus that Tychicus is a dear brother and faithful servant of God. Paul plans to send Tychicus to them to give a personal update with information that isn’t in his letter.
When Paul writes to his protégé Timothy, he confirms that he sent Tychicus to Ephesus. However, in Paul’s letter to his protégé Titus, he writes of his plan to send Tychicus (or Artemas) to fill in for Titus so he can come to visit Paul.
Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful missionary, and servant of God, helps Paul be more effective in ministry, serving as his ambassador and messenger.
These roles aren’t big, but they are important.
Regardless of the size of our assignment, are we a faithful servant of God?
[Discover more about Tychicus in Acts 20:4, Ephesians 6:21, Colossians 4:7, 2 Timothy 4:12, and Titus 3:12.]
Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.
A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.
