tyrannus Summary and Overview

prince, a Greek rhetorician, in whose "school" at Ephesus Paul disputed daily for the space of two years with those who came to him (Acts 19:9). Some have supposed that he was a Jew, and that his "school" was a private synagogue.

(sovereign), the name of a man in whose school or place of audience Paul taught the gospel for two years, during his sojourn at Ephesus. See #Ac 19:9| (A.D. 52,53.) The presumption is that Tyrannus himself was a Greek, and a public teacher of philosophy or rhetoric.

TYRAN'NUS (tyrant), the name of the Greek rhetorician of Ephesus in whose lecture-room Paul delivered discourses daily for two years. Acts 19:9. Paul and he must have occupied the same room at different hours. He may have been a convert.

Acts 19:9. In whose school at Ephesus Paul discussed (dielegeto, "reasoned"; same Greek, Acts 17:2) gospel truths with disciples and inquirers (having withdrawn from cavilers) daily for two years. A private synagogue (called beet midrash by the Jews), or rather the hall of a Gentile sophist or lecturer on rhetoric and philosophy; his name is Greek, and the "one" prefixed implies that there was no definite leaning to Christianity in him. He probably hired out his school when not using it himself. Paul in leaving the synagogue would be likely to take a Gentile's hall to gain access to the Gentiles.