"a body of old men, an assembly of elders; the Jewish Sanhedrin, Lk. 22:66; Acts 22:5; a body of elders in the Christian church, a presbytery, 1 Tim. 4:14*"
Definition and meaning
a body of old men, an assembly of elders; the Jewish Sanhedrin, Lk. 22:66; Acts 22:5; a body of elders in the Christian church, a presbytery, 1 Tim. 4:14*
In the original Greek the word is written: πρεσβυτέριον
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
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 presbyterion (G4244) across the King James Bible.
And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,
As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
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Common questions
Strong's G4244 (presbyterion) is a Greek word that means: a body of old men, an assembly of elders; the Jewish Sanhedrin, Lk. 22:66; Acts 22:5; a body of elders in the Christian church, a presbytery, 1 Tim. 4:14* It appears 3 times in the King James Bible.
The word presbyterion (G4244) appears 3 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4244 is presbyterion, a Greek word defined as: a body of old men, an assembly of elders; the Jewish Sanhedrin, Lk. 22:66; Acts 22:5; a body of elders in the Christian church, a presbytery, 1 Tim. 4. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
presbyterion is a Greek word found in the New Testament.