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Bible Dictionaries
Julius
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
JULIUS. For the voyage to Rome St. Paul was committed with other prisoners to the charge of a centurion named Julius, ‘of the Augustan band’ or cohort ( Acts 27:1 ). Julius showed much kindness to the Apostle, and evidently treated him as a man of importance, though he did not take his advice on a matter of navigation ( Acts 27:3; Acts 27:9; Acts 27:11; Acts 27:21; Acts 27:31; Acts 27:43 , Acts 28:16 ). Sir Wm. Ramsay suggests ( St. Paul , p. 323) that, as Julius rather than the captain or ‘sailing master’ (not ‘owner’) had supreme command ( Acts 27:11 ), the ship must have been a Government vessel. He and his soldiers were probably frumentarii or peregrini , having a camp at Rome and engaged in the commissariat of distant legions, and in bringing political prisoners. In Acts 28:16 some MSS (not the best) say that the prisoners were delivered to the captain of the guard in Rome. This, if a gloss, is at least probably true; the captain of the peregrini would be meant. (See also art. Band.) A. J. Maclean.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Julius'. Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​hdb/​j/julius.html. 1909.