4575. sebastos

Lexical Summary

sebastos: Revered, Venerable, August

Original Word: σεβαστός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: sebastos
Pronunciation: seb-as-TOS
Phonetic Spelling: (seb-as-tos')
KJV: Augustus(-')
NASB: Augustan, Emperor, Emperor's
Word Origin: [from G4573 (σεβάζομαι - worshiped)]

1. venerable (august)
2. (as noun) a title of the Roman Emperor
3. (as adjective) imperial

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Augustus

From sebazomai; venerable (august), i.e. (as noun) a title of the Roman Emperor, or (as adjective) imperial -- Augustus(-').

see GREEK sebazomai

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from sebazomai
Definition
reverend, august, hence Augustus, a Rom. emperor
NASB Translation
Augustan (1), Emperor (1), Emperor's (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4575: σεβαστός

σεβαστός, σεβαστη, Σεβαστόν (σεβάζομαι);

1. reverend, venerable.

2. ὁ σεβαστός, Latinaugustus, the title of the Roman emperors: Acts 25:21, 25 (Strabo, Lucian, Herodian, Dio Cassius, others); adjective σεβαστός, σεβαστη, Σεβαστόν, Augustan, i. e. taking its name from the emperor; a title of honor which used to be given to certain legions, or cohorts, or battalions, for valor (ala augusta ob virtutem appellata. Corpus inscriptions Latin vii. n. 340, 341, 344): σπείρης Σεβαστῆς, the Augustan (Imperial) cohort, Acts 27:1 (λεγεών σεβαστη, Ptolemy, 2, 3, 30; 2, 9, 18; 4, 3, 30). The subject is fully treated by Schürer in the Zeitsehr. für wissensch. Theol. for 1875, p. 413ff

Topical Lexicon

Linguistic Background

Derived from the verb meaning “to revere,” Σεβαστός became the Greek equivalent of the Latin honorific “Augustus,” a title reserved for the Roman emperor and, by extension, anything directly connected to his person or authority. The feminine form modifies “cohort” in Acts 27:1, indicating a military unit honored with the imperial name.

Occurrences in Scripture

• Acts 25:21 – Paul “appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor.”
• Acts 25:25 – Festus reports that Paul “has made an appeal to the Emperor.”
• Acts 27:1 – Prisoners are entrusted to a centurion of the “Imperial Regiment.”

Historical Context

1. Imperial Authority: The title Σεβαστός signified supreme civil power in the Roman world. By the first century, an appeal to “the Emperor” was the ultimate legal recourse for a Roman citizen, guaranteeing personal hearing before Caesar or his delegate.
2. Augustan Cohort: Military units bearing the imperial title were elite formations charged with guarding the emperor’s interests or conveying imperial prisoners. Julius, the centurion in Acts 27:1, likely enjoyed privileged status and resources, explaining the logistical ease with which Paul’s voyage was organized.
3. Provincial Governance: Procurators such as Festus acknowledged that certain cases lay beyond their jurisdiction when a citizen invoked Caesar’s name. Luke’s record underscores the administrative chain of command that safeguarded Roman legal protections—even for a missionary of Christ.

Theological Implications

1. Sovereign Over Sovereigns: Scripture presents God as the highest authority (Psalm 103:19), yet it also portrays legitimate civil structures as instruments within His providence (Romans 13:1-4). Paul’s recourse to Σεβαστός illustrates this dual reality: honoring earthly authority while trusting divine sovereignty.
2. Gospel Advancement through Empire: Paul’s appeal ensured his transport to Rome, fulfilling the Lord’s promise, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome” (Acts 23:11). The imperial system unwittingly facilitated apostolic mission.
3. Witness before Rulers: Standing before governors and emperors was foreseen by Jesus (Matthew 10:18). Paul’s legal defenses modeled respectful boldness, opening doors for proclamation “before the Emperor” and his court (Philippians 1:12-13).

Ministry Applications

• Legal Rights in Service of the Gospel: Believers may responsibly invoke available protections to advance kingdom purposes, following Paul’s example.
• Respectful Engagement with Government: Even under pagan rule, Christians exhibit honor and integrity, demonstrating that allegiance to Christ does not negate civic responsibility.
• Confidence in God’s Providential Pathways: The imperial label Σεβαστός reminds the Church that secular structures can become conduits for divine mission; obstacles may become opportunities.

Related Concepts

Imperial citizenship (Acts 22:25-29); Roman law (Acts 24–26); Providence (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28); Civil obedience (1 Peter 2:13-17).

Forms and Transliterations

Σεβαστης Σεβαστῆς Σεβαστον Σεβαστὸν Σεβαστου Σεβαστοῦ Sebastes Sebastês Sebastēs Sebastē̂s Sebaston Sebastòn Sebastou Sebastoû

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 25:21 Adj-GMS
GRK: τὴν τοῦ Σεβαστοῦ διάγνωσιν ἐκέλευσα
NAS: in custody for the Emperor's decision,
KJV: the hearing of Augustus, I commanded
INT: the of the emporer decision I commanded

Acts 25:25 Adj-AMS
GRK: ἐπικαλεσαμένου τὸν Σεβαστὸν ἔκρινα πέμπειν
NAS: appealed to the Emperor, I decided
KJV: to Augustus, I have determined
INT: having appealed to the emporer I determined to send

Acts 27:1 Adj-GFS
GRK: Ἰουλίῳ σπείρης Σεβαστῆς
NAS: to a centurion of the Augustan cohort
KJV: Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
INT: Julius of the cohort of Augustus

Strong's Greek 4575
3 Occurrences

Σεβαστῆς — 1 Occ.
Σεβαστὸν — 1 Occ.
Σεβαστοῦ — 1 Occ.