Sopater/ˈsɒpətər,ˈsoʊpətər/[1] (Greek:Σώπατρος,Sṓpatros)[a] was the son of Pyrhus,[4] a man from the city ofBerea, mentioned inActs 20:4. Sopater and others (Aristarchus and Secundus of theThessalonians, andGaius of Derbe, andTimothy, andTychicus andTrophimus of Asia) accompaniedPaul out ofMacedonia after a group of Jews began to plot against Paul, and then sailed fromPhilippi toAlexandria Troas where they met Paul who had gone by land.
It is commonly accepted that Sopater was the kinsman of Paul noted inRomans 16:21 asSosipater.[1] although some writers think the words "the son of Pyrrhus" were added to distinguish Sopater from Sosipater.[5]
Sosipater is honored as Saint Sosipater by theEastern Orthodox Church with a feast day on 29 April.[6]