PROCURATOR. This word does not occur in the Vulgate or in the A. V., nor is its accurate Greek equivalent, (though used by Philo, Leg. ad Caium, and by Josephus, Antig. xx. 6. 2, etc.), found in this sense in the Greek Testament, where it is represented by the vaguer term -,/^yee.ktLP, rendered by our translators governor' (Luke ii. 2 ; Matt. xxvii. 2 ; xxviii. 14, etc.) * The word is generally applied both in the original and in our version to the Procurators of Pontius Pilate (Matt. xxvii., etc.), Felix (Acts xxiii.), and Festus (Acts xxvi. 3o) ; but it is also used of Cyrenius (Quirinus), who held the more responsible and distinguished office of Preeses or Legalise Ca.saris over the province of Syria (Luke ii. 2). Pro curators were chiefly despatched to the imperial, and not to the senatorial provinces [PROVINCE]. The revenues of the latter flowed into the jErarium or exchequer, while those of the former belonged to the Fiscus, or privy purse. The Proeuratores Cosaris were specially intrusted with the interests of the fiscus, and therefore managed the various * 'Hycildiv also occurs in a perfectly general sense, Matt. x. 18 ; I Pet. ii. 14. In Matt. ii. 6 it is rendered princes,' and corresponds to the Hebrew 116. See GOVERNOR, VOL 1., p. 167.
Governor' in the A. V. is also used for 2 Cor. xi. 32. Awocnriis is another Greek term for procurator.
taxes and imposts, performing similar duties to those exercised by the qutestors in the provinces administered by the senate.* Sometimes, how ever, the Procurators were invested with the dignity of legati, or promeralares cum jure gladii (7-fi brl srdQw 40vcric4, Joseph. Bell. ii. 8. I), and this was the case with the Procurators of Judaea, which had been made a sub-province of Syria (irpociOnn) luplas ; Joseph. Anliq. xiii. I. 1) since the de position of the ethnarch Archelaus, A.D. 6. There no inaccuracy in the use of kr/L(Lp in the N. T., since we find from inscriptions that Presses and Procurator were often interchangeable (Gruter, 493, b). In one respect, indeed, the kr Oyes were even more powerful than the proconsuls themselves (dyflinraroL) ; for, being regarded as the immediate emissaries and representatives of the Cesar, by whom they were appointed to an in definite tenure of office (Dio Cass., liii. 13-15), they had the power of inflicting capital punishment at their own discretion ( John xix. Jo; Joseph. Bell. Yud. ii. 8. 1). They also governed the province
when the proconsul was dead or absent, vice pro consulum,' as we see from many inscriptions (Murat. 907, 4, etc.) In a turbulent and seditious province like Judaea, their most frequent functions were of a military or judicial character. It was before Roman procurators that both our Lord and St. Paul were tried. The former trial took place in Jerusalem, where the procurators usually resided during the winter, and during the celebration of the great Jewish festivals ( Joseph. Antiy. xviii. 3. I ; ,7ud. ii. 14. 3). Their presence was necessary at these seasons to overawe the turbulent fanaticism of the vast multitudes of pilgrims from all countries, who on such occasions thronged to the centre of the national worship. The trial of St. Paul took place at Cmsarea, which was regarded as the capital of the sub-province, and where the pro curators 01 dinarily held their court (Acts xxv.) Both at Caesarea and at Jerusalem the prtorium belonged to the palace of Herod (Joseph. Bell. .7isa'. ii. 14. 8; Acts xxiii. 35). The pomp and dignity of the procurators may be inferred from the narrative of these trials, and from the titles of most ex cellent,' and `most noble' (Kp6.7-tcrre), applied to them by such different lips as those of Claudius, Lysias, Tertullus, and St. Paul ; yet they were usually chosen from no higher rank than that of the equites, or even the freedmen of the emperor ; and the most noble Felix,' in particular, was a mere manumitted slave.-1. It is satisfactory to find that even in the minutest details the glimpses of their position afforded to us by the N. T. are cor roborated by the statements of heathen writers. The violence (Luke xiii. 1), the venality (Acts xxiv. 26), the insolence ( John xix. 22), and the gross injustice (Acts xxiv. 27), which we see exemplified in their conduct towards our Lord and his apostles, are amply illustrated by contemporary historians (Joseph. Anliq. xviii. 3. I; Bell. Yud.
* Procurators were, however, sometimes sent as well as quzestors to the senatorial provinces (Tac., Ann., xiii. I ; Dio Cass., liii. 15) ; but these were doubtless offices of less dignity, though bear ing the same title. Procurator' is also used for steward (Plant., Pseud., 2. 2. 14), attorney (Ulp. Dig., 3. 3), regent (Czes., B. C., 3, 112), etc.
1 'Pas regium ser ill ingenio exercuit' (Tac.
v. 9 ; Ann., xii. 54; Sutton., Chlied., zS).