Herod's chamberlain who helped the people of Tyre and Sidon
Blastus
Named in 1 verse of Acts, first in Acts 12:20.
ΒλάστοςBlastus
The name means “that buds or brings forth.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Blastus Written by AI
Blastus was the chamberlain of King Herod Agrippa I, who ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD (Acts 12:20). The people of Tyre and Sidon, two coastal cities in modern-day Lebanon, had offended Herod, and their region depended on the king's country for food. To regain Herod's favor, they persuaded Blastus to help them secure a reconciliation with the king. Blastus' position as chamberlain, or personal attendant, to the king gave him significant influence and access to the monarch. The fact that the people of Tyre and Sidon sought Blastus' assistance indicates his importance in the royal court and his potential role as an intermediary between the king and his subjects. This brief mention of Blastus in the book of Acts provides insight into the political dynamics and the role of royal officials in the early days of the Christian church.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
Chamberlain to king Herod Agrippa I. (Acts 12:20). Such persons generally had great influence with their masters.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- Acts 12:20
Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.