Lexical Summary anthupateuó: To be a proconsul, to govern as a proconsul Original Word: ἀνθυπατεύω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance act as deputy or proconsul. From anthupatos; to act as proconsul -- be the deputy. see GREEK anthupatos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originvariant reading for anthupatos, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 445: ἀνθυπατεύωἀνθυπατεύω; (ἀντί for i. e. in lieu or stead of anyone, and ὑπατεύω to be ὕπατος, to be supreme, to be consul); to be proconsul: Acts 18:12 (R G; cf. Buttmann, 169 (147)). (Plutarch, comp. Demosthenes c. Cicero, c. 3; Herodian, 7, 5, 2.) ἀνθυπατεύω (anthypateuō) signifies the act of holding the office of a Roman proconsul or exercising the authority delegated to that office. While the verb itself never appears in the extant Greek New Testament manuscripts, its cognate noun ἀνθύπατος (anthypatos, Strong’s Greek 446) surfaces in several passages, underscoring the relevance of the concept for understanding the political environment that framed key moments of apostolic ministry. Historical Background Under the Roman constitution, provinces were classified as either senatorial or imperial. Senatorial provinces were governed by proconsuls—former consuls of Rome—who served fixed one-year terms and wielded civil and military authority. Their seat of power often lay in the provincial capital, where justice was dispensed, taxes were overseen, and public order maintained. Inscriptions and papyri from Asia Minor, Cyprus, and Achaia regularly employ ἀνθυπατεύω to record a man’s tenure: “During the year that Marcus Atilius Nicon ἀνθυπατεύει of Asia….” Such formulae situate the verb firmly within first-century administrative parlance. Usage in Biblical Literature Although the New Testament writers did not employ the verb ἀνθυπατεύω, Luke repeatedly refers to sitting proconsuls, thereby offering an implicit witness to the verb’s concept. Acts 13:7-8 records Sergius Paulus, “the proconsul,” on Cyprus hearing the gospel from Paul and Barnabas, while the sorcerer Elymas opposed them. The narrative climaxes in verse 12: “Then the proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord”. In Acts 18:12 Luke again demonstrates historical accuracy: “While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat”. Contemporary Corinthian fragments name Lucius Junius Gallio precisely at that date, corroborating Luke’s timeline. Acts 19:38 shows Paul’s companions charged in Ephesus: “If Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls”. Here Luke recognizes that Asia was a senatorial province after A.D. 23, hence governed by proconsuls—a subtle yet powerful confirmation of his reliability. Behind every appearance of ἀνθύπατος stands the implicit activity ἀνθυπατεύω: exercising proconsular authority. Bringing the verb to mind enriches exegesis by highlighting how the apostles navigated Roman legal frameworks. Related Greek Governance Terms • ἡγεμών (hēgemōn) – governor, often used of imperial procurators such as Pontius Pilate. By setting ἀνθυπατεύω alongside these terms, one gains a fuller view of the layered administrative landscape in which the gospel advanced. Roman Administration and the Spread of the Gospel The transition from republic to empire left intact many republican institutions, including the proconsulship. God’s providence utilized that predictable administrative order: 1. Geographic Stability: Proconsuls normally resided in capitals connected by Roman roads, allowing itinerant preachers like Paul easy access. Theological Implications Scripture portrays civil authority as ordained by God (Romans 13:1). Though pagan, proconsuls unconsciously furthered divine purposes: Gallio’s indifference in Corinth protected Paul’s ministry; Sergius Paulus’s conversion evidenced the gospel’s reach into Roman aristocracy. Such episodes illustrate that Christ’s kingdom advances not by overthrowing earthly structures but by transforming hearts within them. Ministry and Missionary Lessons • Know the governing structures of one’s context; Paul invoked his rights before Gallio and later before Caesar. References in Early Christian Writing and Inscriptions The verb ἀνθυπατεύω surfaces in second-century apologetic literature as believers addressed provincial governors. Justin Martyr’s First Apology is framed as an appeal to “those who ἀνθυπατεύουσι τῆς Ῥώμης.” Numerous Asia Minor inscriptions (e.g., IGR IV 145, 166) register successive officials “while so-and-so ἀνθυπατεύει,” enabling precise dating of Acts events. Key Points for Teaching and Preaching • ἀνθυπατεύω underscores God’s sovereignty over political offices. Englishman's Concordance ἀνθρακιὰν — 2 Occ.ἄνθρακας — 1 Occ. ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι — 2 Occ. ἀνθρωπίνῃ — 2 Occ. ἀνθρωπίνης — 2 Occ. ἀνθρωπίνων — 1 Occ. ἀνθρώπινον — 1 Occ. ἀνθρώπινος — 1 Occ. ἀνθρωποκτόνος — 3 Occ. Ἄνθρωπε — 9 Occ. ἀνθρώπων — 100 Occ. ἄνθρωποι — 27 Occ. ἀνθρώποις — 44 Occ. ἄνθρωπον — 62 Occ. ἄνθρωπος — 123 Occ. ἀνθρώπου — 132 Occ. ἀνθρώπους — 31 Occ. ἀνθυπάτῳ — 1 Occ. ἀνθύπατοί — 1 Occ. ἀνθύπατον — 1 Occ. |
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