protostates denotes a person identified as leading a named sect in an accusation.

The attested use identifies a man as a leading figure within a named sect, in the context of an accusation that he stirs up riots.

1. Leader of a named sect · dominant

   In Acts 24:5, the accusative singular masculine form identifies “this man” in the accusation alongside the claim that he stirs up riots; the APB renders the clause “a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.”

   Acts 24:5

In the Anselm Project Bible: In Acts 24:5, the APB presents the accusation with the phrase “a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.” This shows the clause-level presentation rather than a precise word-for-word equivalence.