asiarchs Summary and Overview

"CHIEF OF ASIA" (Acts 19:31). Officers, like the Roman aediles and Greek leitourgoi, yearly chosen by the cities in that part of Asia of which Ephesus was metropolis, to defray the cost and to undertake all the arrangements of the national games and theatrical sacred spectacles. Only wealthy persons could undertake the office. Each city chose one deputy, and out of the whole number ten were chosen, over whom one presided, selected by the Roman proconsul. The ten probably had the title, as well as the president, pre-eminently called "the Asiarchs." Ex-asiarchs also probably retained the title.