Ἰταλικός (Italikos)
Italikos
Italian
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective Italikos simply means "Italian" or "of Italy." It is a straightforward geographical descriptor derived from the noun for an Italian person. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, serving as a precise label in Acts 10:1.
Here it modifies the word for military cohort (speira), identifying the unit commanded by Centurion Cornelius as the "Italian Cohort." This specific reference helps readers understand the diverse nature of the Roman army stationed in Caesarea, which included soldiers from Italy itself rather than just local recruits. The term carries no hidden theological depth; its value lies in its historical clarity, marking a tangible connection between the early Christian message and the broader Roman world.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word Italikos appears just once in the New Testament, serving as a simple geographical label for "Italian." In Acts 10:1, it identifies the cohort commanded by Cornelius, a centurion stationed in Caesarea. This single adjective anchors the early Christian narrative in real history, showing that the Gospel was reaching people across the Roman Empire, not just within Judea.
For your faith, this detail reminds us that God’s work often unfolds through ordinary places and people. Cornelius was a man of authority and reverence, yet he stood on the other side of cultural and religious divides. His story shows that the message of Jesus transcends national boundaries and social status.
You can take comfort in knowing that your own context matters to God. Just as the Italian cohort was part of God’s larger plan, your daily life and surroundings are used by Him. The Gospel is not confined to one region or people group; it is for everyone, everywhere.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Italian,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ἰταλικῆς,1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 10:1
Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
This occurrence identifies Cornelius’s military unit as the Italian Cohort, highlighting the diverse makeup of the Roman army and setting the stage for the Gospel’s expansion to Gentiles.