Brief Overview of Πόρκιος (Strong’s G4201: Porkios)

Strong’s G4201: A Roman nomen (family name) meaning “of the Porcii,” referring to Porcius Festus who succeeded Felix as procurator of Judea. His appearance in Acts demonstrates the historical accuracy of Luke’s account and the intersection of Roman authority with early Christian history.

U- Unveiling the Word

Πόρκιος represents the prestigious Roman gens Porcia, a plebeian family that rose to prominence in the Republic. In the New Testament, it appears as the family name of Festus, who succeeded Felix as procurator of Judea. The name’s inclusion demonstrates Luke’s attention to historical detail and the Roman political context of early Christianity. Early church writers referenced Porcius Festus in discussions of Paul’s trials, emphasizing the legal and historical authenticity of Christian origins.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Πόρκιος, Porkios, POR-kee-os
• Detailed pronunciation: POHR-kee-oss (stress on first syllable)
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun

Etymology:

• Latin origin: Porcius
• From porcus (pig)
• Hellenized form of Roman family name

D – Defining Meanings

• Member of the Porcian clan
• Roman family name
• Of the Porcii

Translation Options:

• “Porcius” – standard English transliteration
• “Of the Porcian family” – explanatory translation
• “Porkios” – direct Greek transliteration

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Φῆστος (Phēstos, FACE-tos) – Festus, his cognomen – See G5347
• Φήλιξ (Phēlix, FAY-lix) – Felix, his predecessor – See G5344
• Καῖσαρ (Kaisar, KAI-sar) – Caesar – See G2541

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features:

• Gender: Masculine
• Number: Singular
• Case: All cases possible
• Declension: 2nd declension

Example morphological changes:

• Nominative: Πόρκιος
• Genitive: Πορκίου
• Dative: Πορκίῳ
• Accusative: Πόρκιον

Cross-references:

• Used only as a proper name
• No related forms in Greek

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its role in identifying the Roman official. Thayer’s notes its connection to the Porcian family. LSJ documents Hellenization of Roman names. Vine’s highlights its historical significance. Strong’s connects it to Roman naming conventions. Moulton and Milligan cite similar name forms in administrative documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Acts 24:27: “But after two years [Πόρκιος] Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.”

Additional References:
This name appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 24:27.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Πόρκιος anchors the narrative of Paul’s ministry in verifiable history. The precise identification of Roman officials like Porcius Festus demonstrates that the gospel message spread within real historical contexts. This reminds us that Christianity is not based on myths but on events that occurred under documented Roman administration.

D – Did You Know?

1. The Porcian family was known for laws protecting Roman citizens’ rights.
2. Archaeological evidence confirms Festus’s procuratorship dates.
3. The name appears on coins from the period of his governance.

Strong’s G4201: A Roman nomen (family name) meaning “of the Porcii,” referring to Porcius Festus who succeeded Felix as procurator of Judea. His appearance in Acts demonstrates the historical accuracy of Luke’s account and the intersection of Roman authority with early Christian history.

Part of speech: Proper Noun

Tags: Porcius Festus, Roman names, Acts, Paul’s trials, Roman officials, Judea, historical context, Luke’s accuracy, Roman administration, legal proceedings​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​