Blastus

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Blastus, a chamberlain of Herod Agrippa I., is mentioned in  Acts 12:20 in connexion with an embassy which the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon sent to Herod at Caesarea in order to obtain terms of peace. The ambassadors obtained an audience of the prince through the influence of Blastus, who no doubt had been liberally bribed for his services. The incident of the embassy is not mentioned by Josephus nor is the name of Blastus, and this omission has been regarded by some ( e.g. Krenkel) as throwing doubt on St. Luke’s narrative, while others regard the incident as a proof of St. Luke’s independence, or as an intentional supplement to the account of the Jewish historian.

W. F. Boyd.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Blastus . A chamberlain of Agrippa I., through whose intervention the people of Tyre and Sidon secured a hearing at Cæsarea (  Acts 12:20 ).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Blas'tus. (Sprout). The chamberlain, of Herod Agrippa I.  Acts 12:20.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Herod Agrippa I's chamberlain; mediator between him and the people of Tyre and Sidon, who made him their friend ( Acts 12:20).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A chamberlain of Herod Agrippa, bribed to favor the men of Tyre and Sidon,  Acts 12:20 .

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Chamberlain of Herod Agrippa I:  Acts 12:20 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Acts 12:20-23

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Acts 12:20

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

blas´tus ( Βλάστος , Blástos , "shoot"): The chamberlain of Herod Agrippa I, whose services as an intermediary between them and the king were gained by the people of Tyre and Sidon. These cities were dependent on Palestine for corn and other provisions, and when Herod, on the occasion of some commercial dispute, forbade the export of foodstuffs to Tyre and Sidon, they were at his mercy and were compelled to ask for peace. "Having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend," probably by means of a bribe, the Phoenician embassy was given an opportunity of setting their case before Herod ( Acts 12:20 ).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( Βλάστος ), a man who was " chamberlain" (Cubicularius, Ὁ Έπὶ Τοῦ Κοιτῶνος , i.e. chief eunuch) to King Herod Agrippa, or who had the charge of his bed-chamber ( Acts 12:20). A.D. 44. Such persons had usually great influence with their masters, and hence the importance attached to Blastus's favoring the peace with Tyre and Sidon.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Blas´tus, a man who was cubicularius to king Herod Agrippa, or who had the charge of his bedchamber ( Acts 12:20). Such persons had usually great influence with their masters, and hence the importance attached to Blastus' favoring the peace with Tyre and Sidon.