Insurrection

From BiblePortal Wikipedia

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament [1]

Insurrection ( στάσις,  Mark 15:7, and  Luke 23:19;  Luke 23:25 where Authorized Version gives ‘sedition’) is defined by Plato ( Rep . v. 470 B) thus: ἐπὶ γὰρ τῇ τοῦ οἰκείου ἔχθρᾳ στάσις κἐκληται, ἐπὶ δὲ τῇ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων πόλεμος. Its use in these passages is important as showing that Barabbas was not merely a robber (λῃστής,  John 18:40), but also a leader in one of those fierce fanatical out bursts which were so common in the last years of the Jewish nation, especially from the accession of Herod. Josephus tells of notable leaders such as Ezekias, his son Judas, and his four grandsons, all of whom were put to death ( Ant . xiv. ix. 2, xvii. x. 5, xviii. i. 1; BJ ii. iv. 1, viii. 1, xiii. 5, etc.; cf.  Acts 5:36 f.,  Acts 21:38). Josephus in his account of the final troubles uses ζηλωτής and λῃστής almost as convertible terms. Nothing further is known of this particular στάσις, unless, as Ewald ( H I [Note: I History of Israel.] vi. 67 f.) suggests, it may have arisen on account of the aqueduct which Pilate had built with money taken from the Temple treasury (Josephus, BJ ii. ix. 4; cf.  Luke 13:4). Barabbas may have been moved by patriotic ideas at the first, becoming an outlaw and notorious robber when his rising was suppressed; or he may have used aspirations after freedom merely as a cloak for brigandage (see Westcott, Some Lessons of the Revised Version of the NT , p. 74 f.).* [Note: There is no reference to the insurrection in the Sin. Syr. Gospels: see Mrs. Lewis in Exp. Times, xii. (1901), pp. 118, 271.] He was ‘lying bound with them that had made insurrection’ (στασιαστῶν, v.l. συστασιαστῶν,  Mark 15:7), including probably the two robbers who were crucified; for him the third cross may have been intended. Such men had a deep hold on the popular sympathy, which goes to explain the strong demand of the people for the release of their hero, and the interest which the priests showed on behalf of Barabbas, notwithstanding their pretence to holiness. But the hollowness of their newfound zeal for Caesar was thereby exposed, seeing that Barabbas was admittedly guilty of the crime which they alleged against Jesus. See, further, Barabbas.

Literature.—Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah , ii. 576 ff.; Trench, Studies in the Gospels (No. 15).

W. H. Dundas.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [2]

A — 1: Στάσις (Strong'S #4714 — Noun Feminine — stasis — stas'-is )

akin to histemi, "to make to stand," denotes (a) primarily, "a standing or place,"  Hebrews 9:8; (b) "an insurrection, sedition," translated "insurrection" in  Mark 15:7; "insurrections" in  Acts 24:5 , RV (AV, "sedition"); in  Luke 23:19,25 (AV "sedition"), "riot,"   Acts 19:40 , RV (AV, "uproar"); (c) "a dissension,"  Acts 15:2; in  Acts 23:7,10 , "dissension." See Dissension.

A — 2: Συστασιαστής (Strong'S #4955 — Noun Masculine — stasiastes — soos-tas-ee-as-tace' )

denotes "a rebel, revolutionist, one who stirs up sedition" (from stasiazo, "to stir up sedition"),  Mark 15:7 , "had made insurrection." Some mss. have sustasiastes, a fellow-rioter, a fellow-mover of sedition, AV, "had made insurrection with (him)."

B — 1: Κατεφίσταμαι (Strong'S #2721 — Verb — katephistemi — kat-ef-is'-tay-mee )

signifies "to rise up against" (lit., "to cause to stand forth against," kata, "against," epi, "forth," histemi, "to cause to stand"),  Acts 18:12 , AV, "made insurrection" (RV, "rose up against)."

King James Dictionary [3]

INSURREC'TION, n. L. insurgo in and surgo, to rise.

1. A rising against or political authority the open and active opposition of a number of persons to the execution of a law in a city or state. It is equivalent to sedition, except that sedition expresses a less extensive rising of citizens. It differs from rebellion, for the latter expresses a revolt, or an attempt to overthrow the government, to establish a different one or to place the country under another jurisdiction. It differs from mutiny, as it respects the or political government whereas a mutiny is an open opposition to law in the army or navy. Insurrection is however used with such latitude as to comprehend either sedition or rebellion.

It is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings,and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.  Ezra 4 .

2. A rising in mass to oppose an enemy. Little used.

Webster's Dictionary [4]

(1): ( n.) A rising in mass to oppose an enemy.

(2): ( n.) A rising against civil or political authority, or the established government; open and active opposition to the execution of law in a city or state.

Holman Bible Dictionary [5]

 Ezra 4:19 Mark 15:7 Luke 23:19 23:25 Acts 21:38 Acts 18:12

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [6]

in su rek´shun   Psalm 64:2  Ezra 4:19 ע ֿ2 )#&fn;נ nesā' στάσις stásis  Mark 15:7  Luke 23:19 Luke 23:25  Acts 24:5

References