Julius

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

(Ἰούλιος)

After the decision of Festus to send St. Paul to Rome, he was entrusted to the care of a ‘centurion named Julius of the Augustan cohort’ ( Acts 27:1-3). The Apostle was treated with kindness and consideration by the centurion, who, although he disregarded St. Paul’s advice as to the place of wintering ( Acts 27:9-11), deferred to his recommendation regarding cutting away the boat ( Acts 27:31), and, in order to save him, refused to allow the soldiers to kill the prisoners ( Acts 27:42). On arriving in Rome Julius handed over his prisoner to the ‘captain of the guard’ ( Acts 28:16). Much discussion has gathered round the phrase ‘Augustan cohort’ to which Julius belonged. Ramsay regards it as probable that Julius belonged to the corps of official couriers, employed as emissaries to various parts of the Empire-the peregrini  ; and the ‘captain of the guard’ is supposed to have been their commanding officer (see articles Band, Augustan Band).

As Julius was the family name of the members of the Roman Imperial house, it was assumed by many of the vassal kings from the days of Julius Caesar onwards. It was borne by all the Jewish princes from Antipater, the father of Herod the Great. Josephus mentions a Julius Archelaeus, son-in-law of Agrippa I. ( Ant. xix. ix. 1; cf. Schürer, i. 561, also index, p. 69).

Literature.-R. J. Knowling, Expositor’s Greek Testament , ‘Acts’, 1900, p. 516; W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller , 1895, p. 315; E. Schürer, GJV [Note: JV Geschichte des jüdischen Volkes (Schürer).]4 i. [1901] 460-462.

W. F. Boyd.

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.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

The centurion of 'Augustus' band' who had custody of Paul in travelling to Rome. He treated Paul with great courtesy, allowing him to visit his friends at Sidon and refresh himself. Paul counselled him as to where they should winter, but he naturally was swayed by the master of the ship, though it proved afterwards that it would have been wiser to have listened to the man of God, who, though a prisoner, could tell them that God had given him all that sailed in the ship, and that all would be saved. When the shipwreck occurred, Julius would not allow the prisoners to be put to death because he was desirous of saving Paul. God was watching over His servant, and turned the heart of Julius towards him.  Acts 27:1,3,43 .

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A centurion of the cohort of Augustus, to whom Festus, governor of Judea, committed Paul to be conveyed to Rome. Julius had great regard for Paul. He suffered him to land at Sidon, and to visit his friends there; and in a subsequent part of the voyage he opposed the violence of the soldiers, directed against the prisoners generally, in order to save the apostle,  Acts 27:1-44 .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Julius ( Jû'Li-Ŭs or Jûl'Yus ). A centurion of Augustan Band (which see), under whose charge Paul was conveyed to Rome. Acts chaps. 27, 28. He was courteous to the apostle, and may be the same with Julius Priscus, subsequently prefect of the prætorian guards.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ju'lius. (Soft-Haired). The centurion of "Augustus' band," to whose charge, St. Paul was delivered when he was sent prisoner from Caesarea to Rome.  Acts 27:1;  Acts 27:3. (A.D. 60).

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Acts 27:1PaulCenturion

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Acts 27:1,3,43

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( Ι᾿Ούλιος , for the Latin Julius, the name of an honorable Roman family), the centurion of the imperial cohort who had the charge of conducting Paul as a prisoner to Rome, and who treated him with much consideration and kindness on the way ( Acts 27:1;  Acts 27:3;  Acts 27:43; comp.  Acts 27:11;  Acts 27:31). A.D. 55. — Kitto. "Augustus's band," to which Julius belonged, has been identified by some commentators with the Italian band ( Acts 10:1); by others, less probably, with the body of cavalry denominated Sebasteni by Josephus (Ant. 19, 9, 2, etc.). Conybeare and Howson (Life of St. Paul, ch. 21) adopt in the main Wieseler's opinion, that the Augustan cohort was a detachment of the Praetorian Guards attached to the person of the Roman governor at Caesarea; and that this Julius may be the same as Julius Priscus (Tacitus, Hist. 2, 92; 4, 11), sometime centurion, afterwards prefect of the Praetorians. (See Italian); (See Paul).

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

The name of three Popes:

ope from 337 to 332;

ope from 1502 to 1513;

ope from 1550 to 1555, of which only J. II. deserves notice.

n Italian by birth, was more of a soldier than a priest, and, during his pontificate, was almost wholly occupied with wars against the Venetians for the recovery of Romagna, and against the French to drive them out of Italy, in which attempt he called to his aid the spiritual artillery at his command, by ex-communicating Louis XII. and putting his kingdom under an interdict in 1542; he sanctioned the marriage of Henry VIII. with Catharine of Aragon, commenced to rebuild St. Peter's at Rome, and was the patron of Michael Angelo and Raphael.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

jōō´li - us ( Ἰούλιος , Ioúlios ): The centurion of the Augustan cohort under whose charge Paul was sent a prisoner to Rome (  Acts 27:1 ,  Acts 27:3 ). See Army , Roman; Band , Augustan .

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ju´lius, the centurion who had the charge of conducting Paul as a prisoner to Rome, and who treated him with much consideration and kindness on the way .