Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

PROCURATOR

The official title of governors of equestrian rank of the lesser Roman imperial provinces, such as Judea, from the time of Claudius (a.d. 41-54) onward. Earlier, the proper title of these officials was prefect.

Judea was an imperial province (ruled by the emperor rather than the senate) between a.d. 6-41 (the first procuratorship) and between 44-66 (the second procuratorship). At other times it and other portions of Palestine were client kingdoms. The legates/procurators were both personal representatives of the emperor and state officials. They had jurisdiction in fiscal, judicial, and military matters. Most of those appointed to govern Judea were men of below average ability, insensitive to Jewish culture and religion, corrupt, and oppressive. Much of the blame for the Jewish Revolt of 66-70 must be placed upon them.

Neither “procurator” nor “prefect” appear in English translations of the NT, but are instead usually rendered “governor” (e.g., Matt. 27:2; Acts 23:24). One prefect (Pilate, whose official title is on an inscription found at Caesarea, the provincial capital) and two procurators (Felix and Festus) are mentioned in the NT. The names and approximate dates of all 14 governors of Judea between a.d. 6-66 are known.

James A. Brooks

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

PROCURATOR

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)