Original Word: πρωτοστάτης
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: prótostatés
Pronunciation: pro-tos-tat'-ace
Phonetic Spelling: (pro-tos-tat'-ace)
Definition: Leader, Chief, Principal
Meaning: one who stands in the front rank, hence: a leader, ringleader, chief.

ringleader.

From protos and histemi; one standing first in the ranks, i.e. A captain (champion) -- ringleader.

see GREEK protos

see GREEK histemi

Word Origin
from prótos and histémi
Definition
one who stands first (of soldiers), hence a leader
NASB Translation
ringleader (1).

STRONGS NT 4414: πρωτοστάτης

πρωτοστάτης, πρωτοστατου, ὁ (πρῶτος and ἵστημι), properly, one who stands in the front rank, a front-rank man, (Thucydides, Xenophon, Polybius, Diodorus, Dionysius Halicarnassus, others; ὥσπερ στρατηγός πρωτοστάτης, Job 15:24); hence, a leader, chief, champion: tropically, (A. V. a ringleader) τῆς αἱρέσεως, Acts 24

Word Origin: Derived from πρῶτος (prōtos, meaning "first") and ἵστημι (histēmi, meaning "to stand").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for πρωτοστάτης, similar concepts of leadership or instigation can be found in Hebrew terms such as נָגִיד (nagid, Strong's Hebrew 5057), meaning "leader" or "prince," and רֹאשׁ (rosh, Strong's Hebrew 7218), meaning "head" or "chief." These terms convey the idea of someone who stands at the forefront or takes a leading role, similar to the Greek πρωτοστάτης.

Usage: The term is used to describe someone who takes a leading role, often in a negative context, such as leading a rebellion or instigating an uprising.

Context: The Greek term πρωτοστάτης appears in the New Testament in Acts 24:5, where it is used to describe Paul as a "ringleader" of the sect of the Nazarenes. In this context, the term is employed by Tertullus, a lawyer, who accuses Paul before the Roman governor Felix. Tertullus claims, "We have found this man to be a pest and an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5, BSB). Here, πρωτοστάτης is used pejoratively to suggest that Paul is a principal figure in causing unrest and leading a new religious movement that was viewed with suspicion by the Jewish authorities and the Roman government.

The use of πρωτοστάτης highlights the early Christian movement's perception as a disruptive force within the Jewish community and the broader Roman society. It underscores the tension between the nascent Christian faith and established religious and political structures. The term also reflects the leadership role that Paul played in spreading the Gospel and establishing Christian communities, albeit viewed negatively by his accusers.

πρωτοστατην πρωτοστάτην πρωτοστάτης πρωτοτοκεύσαι πρωτοτοκούσας πρωτοτοκούσης protostaten protostáten prōtostatēn prōtostátēnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts