Meaning
besides its application to "the captain of the Temple" (see CAPTAIN), denotes "a magistrate or governor," Act 16:20, Act 16:22, Act 1:16-36, Act 16:38. These were, in Latin terminology, the duumviri or praetores, so called in towns which were Roman colonies. They were attended by lictors or "sergeants," who executed their orders. In the circumstances of Acts 16 they exceeded their powers, in giving orders for Roman citizens to be scourged; hence they became suppliants. See CAPTAIN.
<2,,758, archon>
"a ruler," denotes, in Luk 12:58, "a local authority, a magistrate," acting in the capacity of one who received complaints, and possessing higher authority than the judge, to whom the "magistrate" remits the case. See CHIEF, PRINCE, RULER.
Notes: (1) In Luk 12:11, AV, arche, "a beginning, rule, principality," is translated "magistrates;" the word, however, denotes "rulers" in general: hence the RV, "rulers." (2) For the AV of Tit 3:1, "to obey magistrates," see OBEY, B, No. 3.
