"a prisoner, i.q. δέσμιος, Acts 27:1, 42*"
Definition and meaning
a prisoner, i.q. δέσμιος, Acts 27:1, 42*
In the original Greek the word is written: δεσμώτης
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of desmotes (G1202) across the King James Bible.
And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
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Common questions
Strong's G1202 (desmotes) is a Greek word that means: a prisoner, i.q. δέσμιος, Acts 27:1, 42* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word desmotes (G1202) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1202 is desmotes, a Greek word defined as: a prisoner, i.q. δέσμιος, Acts 27:1, 42*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
desmotes is a Greek word found in the New Testament.