magistrate Summary and Overview

a public civil officer invested with authority. The Hebrew shophetim, or judges, were magistrates having authority in the land (Deut. 1:16, 17). In Judg. 18:7 the word "magistrate" (A.V.) is rendered in the Revised Version "possessing authority", i.e., having power to do them harm by invasion. In the time of Ezra (9:2) and Nehemiah (2:16; 4:14; 13:11) the Jewish magistrates were called "seganim", properly meaning "nobles." In the New Testament the Greek word "archon", rendered "magistrate" (Luke 12:58; Titus 3:1), means one first in power, and hence a prince, as in Matt. 20:25, 1 Cor. 2:6, 8. This term is used of the Messiah, "Prince of the kings of the earth" (Rev. 1:5). In Acts 16:20, 22, 35, 36, 38, the Greek term "strategos", rendered "magistrate," properly signifies the leader of an army, a general, one having military authority. The "strategoi" were the duumviri, the two praetors appointed to preside over the administration of justice in the colonies of the Romans. They were attended by the sergeants (properly lictors or "rod bearers").

MAG'ISTRATE is used in our translation both in its general sense, signifying civil olficers with legal authority, Ezr 7:25; Luke 12:11; Tit 3:1; and in a special sense, signifying the Roman colonial officers -- the duum-viri, corresponding nearly to praetores. Acts 16:20, Josh 11:22, Gal 4:25, etc.