Serjeants
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [1]
Serjeants . EV [Note: English Version.] tr. [Note: translate or translation.] in Acts 16:35; Acts 16:38 of Gr. rhabdouchoi (= ‘rod-bearers’), which represents the Lat. lictores (RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] lictors ), officials whose duty it was to attend the Roman magistrates, to execute their orders, and especially to administer the punishments of scourging or beheading. For this purpose they carried, as their mark of office, the fasces , a bundle of rods with an axe inserted. Cf. art. Philippi.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [2]
sar´jents , - jants ( ῥαβδοῦχαι , rhabdoúchoi ): In Acts 16:35 , Acts 16:38 the word (literally, "holders of rods," corresponding to Roman "lictors," thus the Revised Version margin) is used of the officers in attendance on the Philippian magistrates, whose duty it was to execute orders in scourging, etc., in this case in setting prisoners free. Paul and Silas, however, as Romans, refused thus to be "privily" dismissed.
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [3]
servants in monastic offices: those of the church, the guest house, refectory, and infirmary were subordinate officers. The first was the bell ringer, except for high mass, vespers, matins, and obits. The candle lighter, except round the high altar (he also laid out the vestments for the celebrant at the high altar), was the chandler, who made all the wax candles, and assisted the subsacrist in baking the hosts. The serjeant of the infirmary was the barber, and, with the clerk and cook, waited on the monks who were sick or aged.
