στρατοπεδάρχης (stratopedarchēs)
stratopedarchēs
commander
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun stratopedarchēs refers to a high-ranking military officer, specifically the commander of a camp or army. In the New Testament, it identifies the Praetorian prefect, who served as the captain of the Roman emperor’s bodyguard and held significant authority over the imperial cohorts.
This title appears only once in Scripture, in Acts 28:16. The text describes Paul being allowed to live with a soldier who guarded him, identified by this rank. While some textual variants omit the specific title, its presence highlights the unusual privilege of an imprisoned apostle being placed under the watch of one of Rome’s most powerful military leaders.
The word combines terms for "camp" and "leader," reflecting its origin in Roman military structure rather than biblical tradition. It underscores the historical reality of the early church’s interaction with imperial power, showing how the gospel message reached those at the very top of the Roman chain of command.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word stratopedarchēs identifies the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the elite unit protecting the Roman emperor. This title appears only once in Scripture, marking a unique moment where the apostle Paul, though imprisoned, was placed under the watch of one of Rome’s most powerful military leaders. It highlights how the gospel message reached those at the very top of the imperial chain of command.
For your faith, this reminds us that God’s work is not limited by human barriers or social status. Even in chains, Paul had access to high-ranking officials who could influence the spread of the Christian message. This shows that no situation is too difficult for God to use for His purposes. Whether you face authority figures or complex circumstances, trust that God can bring light into even the most guarded spaces.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- commanders1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- στρατοπεδάρχῃ1×
Key Verses
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Acts 28:16
When we entered into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
This verse uniquely identifies Paul's guard as the stratopedarchēs, highlighting the unusual privilege of an imprisoned apostle being placed under the watch of one of Rome’s most powerful military leaders.