Julius

Julius (meaning: same as Julia) was a Roman centurion of the Augustan cohort assigned to escort Paul from Caesarea to Rome for his imperial trial. The account in Acts 27 portrays Julius favorably, treating Paul with courtesy and allowing him to visit friends at Sidon. When the ship was wrecked at Malta, Julius intervened to prevent the soldiers from killing the prisoners, sparing Paul's life. His sympathetic handling of the apostle throughout the voyage reflects a broader Lukan interest in showing that Roman officials often recognized Paul's innocence.