GAIUS gā’ yəs (Γάϊος, G1127, Gr. form of Lat. Gaius, rejoiced, I am glad). A common name. 1. A Macedonian Christian; as Paul’s companions in travel, he and Aristarchus were seized by the mob during the Ephesian riot (Acts 19:29).

2. A Christian of Derbe, one of the group waiting for Paul at Troas (Acts 20:4). They apparently were the delegates from the churches who went with Paul to Jerusalem with the collection. The variant reading Δουβέριος, G1523, in Codex D makes him a Macedonian from Doberius. With this reading he could readily be identified with 1. above.

3. A Christian in Corinth; one of two men whom Paul names as having been baptized by him, contrary to his usual practice (1 Cor 1:14, 17). He doubtless was the same as the Gaius who was Paul’s host when he wrote Romans from Corinth on the third journey (Rom 16:23). That he was host also “to the whole church” implies that the Corinthian church met in his spacious home. Tradition has made him the bishop of Thessalonica. Some would identify him with the Titius Justus of Acts 18:7.

4. The addressee of 3 John. John had a deep affection for him, commended him for his hospitality, and desired his continued support for missionaries being sent out by John. There is no evidence to identify him with any of the above.

Bibliography E. J. Goodspeed, “Gaius Titius Justus,” JBL, 69 (1950), 382, 383.