Gaius

Gaius (meaning: lord; an earthly man) was a common Latin name borne by several distinct individuals in the New Testament. Paul's Gaius in Corinth was baptized by Paul personally and hosted the apostle and the whole Corinthian church in his home — his hospitality was evidently large-scale (Romans 16:23; 1 Corinthians 1:14). A Gaius of Macedonia accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey and was seized by the Ephesian mob during the riot over Artemis (Acts 19:29). A Gaius of Derbe traveled with Paul from Greece toward Asia (Acts 20:4).

The most extended portrait is of Gaius the recipient of 3 John, whom the Elder commends warmly for his faithfulness, his walking in truth, and above all his generous hospitality to traveling missionaries including those unknown to him (3 John 1:1–8). John holds Gaius's hospitality in pointed contrast to the inhospitable Diotrephes. The multiplication of men named Gaius in the NT period reflects the name's frequency in the Roman world, making confident identification between the various bearers nearly impossible without additional contextual markers.