strategos denotes an official who receives accusations, gives orders, or comes with other authorities in Scripture.

The term most often identifies officials exercising public authority: accusations are brought before them, they order punishment or release, and they receive reports. In temple-related scenes, it identifies an officer who approaches speakers, responds to reports, or goes with servants to bring people in; plural forms also occur with chief priests in the arrest setting.

1. Civic officials issuing and receiving orders · dominant

   In Acts 16:20 the dative plural form marks the officials before whom the accused are brought. In Acts 16:22 the nominative plural form is associated with tearing off garments and ordering a beating, while Acts 16:35 and Acts 16:36 associate the same plural form with sending instructions for release; Acts 16:38 has police reporting statements to them.

   Acts 16:20Acts 16:22Acts 16:35Acts 16:36Acts 16:38
2. Temple officer in actions of custody and arrest · common

   In Acts 4:1 and Acts 5:24 the nominative singular form occurs with priests or chief priests and is described in the APB as the temple officer or captain of the temple guard. In Acts 5:26 that officer goes with servants to bring people, and in Luke 22:4 and Luke 22:52 plural forms occur with chief priests in discussion and confrontation surrounding Jesus' delivery.

   Acts 4:1Acts 5:24Acts 5:26Luke 22:4Luke 22:52

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB usually presents the term as “officers,” but in temple contexts it also uses “officer” and “captain of the temple guard.” These renderings show the verse-level presentation rather than fixed English equivalents.