Erastus of Corinth
‘During the eighteen months he was in Corinth (Acts 18:11) Paul evidently converted a man named Erastus, who provides an interesting cross-cultural link in the Corinthian church. One of the most imposing structures in Corinth was the fourteen-thousand-seat theater, located northwest of the forum and renovated about five years before Paul arrived. About this time (c. 50, during the reign of Claudius) a large stone plaza was also laid at the northeast corner of the theater area. There an inscription was found that contained part of an abbreviated Latin statement: “Erastus in return for his aedileship laid [the pavement] at his own expense.” The Erastus of this inscription is identified by the excavators with the Erastus mentioned by Paul in a letter later written from Corinth to Rome, in which he said: “Erastus, the city treasurer, salutes you” (Rom 16:23). This is undoubtedly the same Erastus who later remained in Corinth when Paul was taken to Rome (2 Tim 4:20). He was also with Paul in Ephesus on his third journey (Acts 19:22). Although this name is found among prominent people in Ephesus, it is an uncommon one in Corinth, not otherwise found in the literature and inscriptions of the city.’
Dictionary of New Testament Background, art. ‘Corinth’