Asiarch

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

In  Acts 19:31 Revised Version margin reads ‘Asiarchs’ for Revised Version‘chief officers of Asia’ and Authorized Version‘chief of Asia.’ The word is a transliteration of the Gr. Ἀσιάρχης, derived from Ἀσία, ‘province of Asia,’ and ἄρχειν, ‘to rule,’ and belongs to a class of names, of which Βιθυνιάρχης, Γαλατάρχης, Καππαδοκάρχης, Λυκιάρχης, Ποντάρχης, Συριάρχης are other examples. The titles are peculiar to Eastern, Greek-speaking, Roman provinces. As the real rulers of these provinces were the Roman Emperor and the Roman Senate, with their elected representatives, it is clear that such titles must have been honorary and complimentary. With regard to the duties and privileges attached to the dignities thus indicated there has been much discussion. The titles occur rarely in literature, much more often in inscriptions; and the lessons we learn from inscriptions are in direct proportion to their number. Several scholars of repute have hold the view that the term Ἀσιάρχης is equivalent to ἀρχιερεὺς Ἀσίας (‘high priest of Asia’), the president of the Diet of Asia (κοινὸν τῆς Ἀσίας, commune Asiae ). This Diet of Asia was a body composed of a number of representatives, one or more of whom were elected by each of a number of cities in the province. The principal duty of the president of this body was to supervise the worship of Rome and the Emperor throughout the province (see under articleEmperor-Worship). Certain considerations, however, militate against the view ‘that the terms ‘Asiarch’ and ‘high priest of Asia’ are interchangeable. The word Ἀσιάρχης is never feminine, whereas the title ‘high priestess of Asia’ is often applied to the wife of the high priest. There was only one ἀρχιερεὺς Ἀσίας (without further designation) at a time, whereas there were a number of Asiarchs. Another (civil) office could be held concurrently with the Asiarchate, but not with the chief priesthood of Asia. Further, the title ‘Asiarch’ was held only during a man’s period of office (probably one year*[Note: But see Lightfoot, Apostolic Fathers, pt. ii. vol. iii. p. 412 ff.]), but he was eligible for re-election. The origin of the view that ‘Asiarch’ and ‘high priest of Asia’ are two convertible terms is to be found in the Martyrdom of Polycarp (a.d. 155), where two separate persons named Philippos have been confused: (1) Philip of Smyrna, Asiarch, who superintended the games; (2) Philip of Tralles, who was high priest of Asia (the latter had been an Asiarch a year or two before). It is clear, therefore, that the honorary position of Asiarch was inferior to the office of high priest of Asia. Yet there was a connexion between the two. The high priest presided over the games, etc., but the Asiarchs did the work and probably paid the cost. Their election by their fellow-citizens to this honorary position was rewarded by games and gladiatorial shows. Both the Asiarchs and the high priest disappear after the early part of the 4th cent., for the obvious reason that, as the Empire was henceforth officially Christian, the machinery for Emperor-worship had become obsolete.

When we come to study the connexion of the Asiarchs with the Acts narrative, we are puzzled. It seems at first sight so strange that men elected to foster the worship of Rome and the Emperor should be found favouring the ambassador of the Messiah, the Emperor’s rival for the lordship of the Empire. This is only one, however, of a number of indications that the Empire was at first disposed to look with a kindly eye on the new religion. Christianity, with its outward respect for civil authority, seemed at first the strongest supporter of law and order. Artemis-worship, moreover, hulked so largely in Ephesus as perhaps to dwarf the Imperial worship. Thus St. Paul, whose preaching so threatened the authority of Artemis, may have appeared in a favourable light to the representatives of Caesar-worship, as likely to create more enthusiasm in that direction.

See also articles Diana and Ephesus.

Literature.-C. G. Brandis, s.vv. ‘Asiarches,’ ‘Bithyniarches,’ ‘Galatarches,’ in Pauly-Wissowa[Note: auly-Wissowa Pauly-Wissowa’s Realencyklopädie.], Stuttgart, 1894ff.; J. B. Lightfoot, Appendix, ‘The Asiarchate’ in his Apostolic Fathers , pt. ii. vol. iii., London, 1889, p. 404ff.; W. M. Ramsay in Classical Review , iii. [1889] 174, and St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen , London, 1895, p. 280f.

A. Souter.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ASIARCH . The form of the word is parallel with Lyciarch, Bithyniarch , etc., but the signification is by no means certain. The title of Asiarch could be held in conjunction with any civil office, and with the high priesthood of a particular city, but the high priest of Asia and the Asiarch were probably not identical; for there was only one high priest of Asia at a time, but there were a number of Asiarchs, as   Acts 19:31 shows, even in one city. The honour lasted one year, but re-election was possible. It was held in connexion with the Koinon (Council) of the province, the main duty of which was to regulate the worship of Rome and of the Emperor; and the Asiarchs were probably the deputies to the Council elected by the towns.

A. Souter.

Webster's Dictionary

(n.) One of the chiefs or pontiffs of the Roman province of Asia, who had the superintendence of the public games and religious rites.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ā´shi - ark ( Ἀσιάρχης , Asiárchēs  ; the English Revised Version "the chief officers of Asia," the King James Version "the chief of Asia "): The title given to certain men of high honorary rank in the Roman province of Asia. What their exact functions were is not altogether clear. They derived their appellation from the name of the province over which they presided (compare Bithyniarch; Cariarch; Syriarch ). Brandis has shown that they were not "high priests of Asia," as some have thought, but delegates of individual cities to the provincial Council ( Commune Asioe  ; see Asia Minor ) which regulated the worship of Rome and of the emperor. They were probably assembled at Ephesus, among other places, to preside over the public games and the religious rites at the festival, in honor of the gods and the emperor, when they sent word to Paul and gave him a bit of friendly advice, not to present himself at theater ( mḗ doúnai heautón eis tó théatron ,  Acts 19:31 ). The title could be held along with any civil office and with the high-priesthood of a particular city. They served for one year, but re-election was possible (the tenure of office, according to Ramsay, was four years). The municipalities must have shown the Asiarchs high honor, as we find the names of many perpetuated on coins and inscriptions. The office could only be held by men of wealth, as the expenses of the provincial games were for the greater part defrayed by the Asiarchs.

Literature

CI, 2511, 2912; CIL , 296, 297; Brandis, Pauly-Wissowa's Real-Encyclopedia , articles "Archiereus" and "Asiarches"; Strabo, Xiv , 649; Eusebius, HE , IV, 15; Hicks, Ancient Greek Inscrs in the British Museum  ; Ramsay, Classical Review , III, 174ff; Cities and Bishoprics of Phrygia , I, 55-58, and II, chapter xi; Guiraud, Les assemblées provinciales de l'Empire Romain  ; Lightfoot, Ignatius and Polycarp , II, 987ff.