Acts 27:1 - Exposition

For, for into, A.V.; to a centurion named Julius of the Augustan band for unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus ' band, A.V. That we should sail . Observe the "we," denoting that Luke was of the party. Connecting it with the "we" of Acts 21:17 , the inference is obvious that Luke was with Paul through the whole of these two eventful years, and that it is to this presence that we owe the detailed circumstantial narrative of Acts 21-28., as well as, perhaps, the composition of St. Luke's Gospel, for which the two years at Caesarea afforded an admirable opportunity. The Augustan band ; or, cohort ( σπεῖρα ); as Acts 10:1 (where see note). This σπεῖρα σεβαστή , cohors Augusta, was probably one of the five cohorts stationed at Caesarea, consisting of auxiliary troops (though Alford does not think so). Its name "Augustan" was given, after the analogy of the Augustan legion, just as there was an "Italian band" as well as two or three "Italian legions." It has been conjectured (Kuinoel, in loc .), indeed, that the name may rather be taken flora Sebaste, Samaria, as consisting of Samaritans, seeing that Josephus ('Bell. Jud.,' 2. 12.5) actually mentions a troop of cavalry ( καλουμένην σεβαστηνῶν ) called the troop of Sebaste. But the Greek name is σεβαστηνῶν , not σεβαστή , which latter designation is not supported by any similar example (Meyer).