Bible Dictionary
Deputy
Deputy is an older translation for an official or governor. In the New Testament it commonly refers to a Roman proconsul who exercised judicial and administrative authority over a province.
Definition
Deputy is an older English rendering for an official placed over others. In the New Testament it commonly translates proconsul, a Roman governor appointed by the senate over a provincial district.
Biblical Usage
The term refers to governors or prefects in several Old Testament and New Testament settings. In Acts, proconsuls exercised judicial and administrative authority in Roman provinces.
Historical Background
Roman provinces were senatorial or imperial. Proconsuls governed senatorial provinces, usually for one year, and possessed consular, judicial, and military power, subject to accountability after their office.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
In 1 Kings 22:47, means a prefect; one set over others. The same Hebrew word is rendered “officer;” i.e., chief of the commissariat appointed by Solomon (1 Kings 4:5, etc.). In Esther 8:9; 9:3 (R.V., “governor”) it denotes a Persian prefect “on this side” i.e., in the region west of the Euphrates. It is the modern word pasha. In Acts 13:7, 8, 12; 18:12, it denotes a proconsul; i.e., the governor of a Roman province holding his appointment from the senate. The Roman provinces were of two kinds, (1) senatorial and (2) imperial. The appointment of a governor to the former was in the hands of the senate, and he bore the title of proconsul (Gr. anthupatos). The appointment of a governor to the latter was in the hands of the emperor, and he bore the title of propraetor (Gr. antistrategos).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(Acts 13:7,8,12; 19:38) The Greek word signifies proconsul, the title of the Roman governors who were appointed by the senate.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>dep'-u-ti: This is the correct rendering of nitsabh (1Ki 22:47). In Es 8:9, 9:3 the term improperly represents caghan, in the King James Version, and is corrected to "governor" in the Revised Version (British and American). In the New Testament "deputy" represents anthupatos (Ac 13:7,8,12; 18:12; 19:38), which the Revised Version (British and American) correctly renders "proconsul" (which see). The Roman proconsuls were officers invested with consular power over a district outside the city, usually for one year. Originally they were retiring consuls, but after Augustus the title was given to governors of senatorial provinces, whether they had held the office of consul or not. The proconsul exercised judicial as well as military power in his province, and his authority was absolute, except as he might be held accountable at the expiration of his office. See GOVERNMENT.</p><p>William Arthur Heidel</p>