The term "Chiliarch" is derived from the Greek word "χιλίαρχος" (chiliarchos), which translates to "commander of a thousand." In the context of the Bible, a chiliarch is a military officer who holds command over a cohort, typically consisting of a thousand soldiers. This term is primarily used in the New Testament to describe Roman military officers.

Biblical References:

1. Acts 21:31-33 : The term chiliarch is notably used in the Book of Acts, where it describes the Roman commander who intervened during the uproar in Jerusalem concerning the Apostle Paul. "While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman cohort received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil. Immediately he took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. The commander came up and arrested Paul and ordered that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done."

2. Acts 22:24 : The chiliarch is again mentioned as the one who orders Paul to be brought into the barracks for questioning. "The commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to determine the reason for this outcry against him."

3. Acts 23:10 : The chiliarch plays a crucial role in ensuring Paul's safety amidst a violent dispute. "The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks."

4. Acts 24:7 : In some manuscripts, the chiliarch is mentioned in the context of the accusations against Paul, highlighting the authority and involvement of Roman military officials in maintaining order.

Historical and Cultural Context:

In the Roman military hierarchy, a chiliarch was equivalent to a tribune, a senior officer who commanded a cohort. The Roman army was structured in a highly organized manner, with legions consisting of several cohorts. Each cohort was made up of centuries, and each century was led by a centurion. The chiliarch, therefore, held significant authority and responsibility, often acting as a key figure in maintaining discipline and executing military operations.

The presence of a chiliarch in the biblical narrative underscores the Roman influence and control over Judea during the time of the New Testament. The Roman military was not only a force of occupation but also a means of enforcing Roman law and order in the provinces. The chiliarch's interactions with Paul highlight the complexities of Roman governance and the tensions between Roman authorities and the local Jewish population.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the role of the chiliarch in the Acts of the Apostles illustrates the providential protection of God over His servants. Despite the hostility and danger faced by Paul, the intervention of the Roman chiliarch serves as a means by which God preserves Paul's life and mission. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty and His ability to use even secular authorities to accomplish His divine purposes.

The chiliarch's involvement also emphasizes the spread of the Gospel within the context of the Roman Empire. The interactions between Paul and Roman officials provide opportunities for the message of Christ to be witnessed by Gentiles, fulfilling the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).(n.) The commander or chief of a thousand men.5506. chiliarchos -- a chiliarch, a commander of a thousand
... a chiliarch, a commander of a thousand. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
chiliarchos Phonetic Spelling: (khil-ee'-ar-khos) Short Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5506.htm - 7k441b. alluph -- a chief, chiliarch
... 441a, 441b. alluph. 442 . a chief, chiliarch. Transliteration: alluph
Short Definition: chief. Word Origin from eleph Definition ...
/hebrew/441b.htm - 5k

Acts XXIII
... XXIII: 1, 2. No sooner had the prisoner and the Sanhedrim come face to face, than
the chiliarch must have perceived that he was again to be disappointed in his ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxiii.htm

Acts XXII
... (23) And as they were shouting, and tossing up their garments, and casting dust
into the air, (24) the chiliarch commanded him to be led into the castle ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxii.htm

Acts XXIV
... (7) But Lysias the chiliarch came, and with great violence snatched him out of
our hands, (8) and commanded his accusers to come before you. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxiv.htm

Acts XXI
... 534] (31) "And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the chiliarch [535]
of ... And when they saw the chiliarch and the soldiers, they quit striking Paul. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxi.htm

The Use of the Symbolic Style by Poets and Philosophers.
... And there being a doubt in reference to them, as was to be expected, Orontopagas
the Chiliarch said that they were to resign the kingdom; taking dwellings to ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter viii the use of the.htm

The Number of those who Fought for Religion in Gaul under Verus ...
... 8. Then, being taken to the forum by the chiliarch [1355] and the authorities of
the city, they were examined in the presence of the whole multitude, and ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter i the number of those.htm

Acts XIII
... name; by the Lord Jesus; [273] by the mob in Jerusalem; [274] by the centurion under
Lysias; [275] by his own nephew; [276] by Lysias the chiliarch; [277] by ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xiii.htm

Chapter xxxvi
... For 'alluph, "chief," may well mean "chiliarch," "ruler over a thousand," for 'alluph
is from the root '??leph, which means a "thousand." Now, though the idea ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvi.htm

Gethsemane
... And if further evidence were required, it would be in the fact that the band was
led not by a Centurion, but by a Chiliarch, [5862] which, as there were no ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xii gethsemane.htm

The Book of John Concerning the Falling Asleep of Mary.
... is in Venice; see Tischendorf, Apocalypses Apocryph??, p. xliii., for designations
of mss.--R.]. [2624] Lit., chiliarch, ie, commander of a thousand. ...
/.../unknown/revelation of john/the book of john concerning.htm

Chiliarch (17 Occurrences)
...Chiliarch (17 Occurrences). John 18:12 The band therefore, and the chiliarch,
and the officers of the Jews, took Jesus and bound him: (DBY). ...
/c/chiliarch.htm - 11k

Lysias (3 Occurrences)
... The chief captain (chiliarch) who commanded the Roman troops in Jerusalem, and sent
Paul under guard to the procurator Felix at Caesarea (Acts 21:31-38; 22:24 ...
/l/lysias.htm - 12k

Claudius (3 Occurrences)
... The chief captain (chiliarch) who commanded the Roman troops in Jerusalem, and sent
Paul under guard to the procurator Felix at Caesarea (Acts 21:31-38; 22:24 ...
/c/claudius.htm - 15k

Report (127 Occurrences)
... Acts 23:17 And Paul, having called one of the centurions, said, Take this youth
to the chiliarch, for he has something to report to him. (DBY NAS). ...
/r/report.htm - 38k

Youth (169 Occurrences)
... Acts 23:17 And Paul, having called one of the centurions, said, Take this youth
to the chiliarch, for he has something to report to him. (DBY). ...
/y/youth.htm - 37k

Utter (111 Occurrences)
... Acts 23:22 The chiliarch then dismissed the youth, commanding him, Utter to
no one that thou hast represented these things to me. (DBY). ...
/u/utter.htm - 35k

Inquired (74 Occurrences)
... Acts 23:19 And the chiliarch having taken him by the hand, and having gone apart
in private, inquired, What is it that thou hast to report to me? (DBY YLT). ...
/i/inquired.htm - 28k

Tumult (56 Occurrences)
... Acts 21:31 And as they were seeking to kill him, a representation came to the chiliarch
of the band that the whole of Jerusalem was in a tumult; (DBY). ...
/t/tumult.htm - 23k

Representation (6 Occurrences)
... Acts 21:31 And as they were seeking to kill him, a representation came to the chiliarch
of the band that the whole of Jerusalem was in a tumult; (DBY). ...
/r/representation.htm - 9k

Represented (3 Occurrences)
... Represented (3 Occurrences). Acts 23:22 The chiliarch then dismissed the youth,
commanding him, Utter to no one that thou hast represented these things to me. ...
/r/represented.htm - 7k

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