spearmen Summary and Overview

#Ac 23:23| These were probably troops so lightly armed as to be able to keep pace on the march with mounted soldiers.

SPEAR'MEN . The word so translated in Acts 23:23 is of rare occurrence and of doubtful meaning, but it most probably refers to light-armed troops.

dexiolaboi (Acts 23:23). Light-armed troops, as distinguished from bowmen and targeteers; derived from their grasping the weapon with the right hand which the others could not. Alexandrinus manuscript reads dexioboloi, "hurlers with the right hand." So Syriac version. Escorted Paul to Caesarea from Jerusalem by night. Distinguished from the heavy armed "legionaries" (stratiotai), who only went as far as Antipatris, and from the cavalry who went forward to Caesarea. They accompanied these latter, and were evidently so lightly armed as to be able to keep pace on the march with the mounted soldiers.