Bible Dictionary
Proconsul
A proconsul was a Roman governor appointed over a senatorial province. The title appears in the New Testament for officials who exercised civil authority in Roman territories.
Definition
A proconsul was an officer appointed over a senatorial province of the Roman Empire. He exercised civil authority in the province.
Biblical Usage
The New Testament uses the title for Roman officials exercising authority in provincial settings, including the proconsul mentioned in Acts.
Historical Background
Under Augustus, provinces were divided into senatorial and imperial territories. The senate appointed proconsuls yearly by lot over the peaceable senatorial provinces, while imperial provinces were governed by legates and procurators.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(for, or in place of, the consul). At the division of the provinces by Augustus, in the year B.C. 27, into senatorial and imperial, the emperor assigned to the senate such portions of territory as were peaceable and could be held without force of arms. Those which he retained were called imperial, and were governed by legates and procurators . [Procurator] Over the senatorial provinces the senate appointed by lot yearly an officer, who was called “proconsul” and who exercised purely proconsul, civil functions. The provinces were in consequence called “proconsular.”
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>pro-kon'-sul (anthupatos (Ac 13:7; 18:12); the King James Version deputy).</p><p>See PROVINCE.</p>