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Tetrarch Strictly the ruler over the fourth part of a province; but the word denotes a ruler of a province generally (Mat 14:1; Luk 3:1, Luk 3:19; Luk 9:7; Act 13:1). Herod and Phasael, the sons of Antipater, were the first tetrarchs in Palestine. Herod the tetrarch had the title of king (Mat 14:9).

Thaddaeus Breast, the name of one of the apostles (Mar 3:18), called "Lebbaeus" in Mat 10:3, and in Luk 6:16, "Judas the brother of James;" while John (Joh 14:22), probably referring to the same person, speaks of "Judas, not Iscariot." These different names all designate the same person, viz., Jude or Judas, the author of the epistle.

Thahash A badger, a son of Nahor, Abraham's brother (Gen 22:24).

Tharshish (Kg1 10:22; Kg1 22:48). See TARSHISH.

Theatre Only mentioned in Act 19:29, Act 19:31. The ruins of this theatre at Ephesus still exist, and they show that it was a magnificent structure, capable of accommodating some 56,700 persons. It was the largest structure of the kind that ever existed. Theatres, as places of amusement, were unknown to the Jews.


Theft Punished by restitution, the proportions of which are noted in Sa2 12:6. If the thief could not pay the fine, he was to be sold to a Hebrew master till he could pay (Exo 22:1). A night-thief might be smitten till he died, and there would be no blood-guiltiness for him (Exo 22:2). A man-stealer was to be put to death (Exo 21:16). All theft is forbidden (Exo 20:15; Exo 21:16; Lev 19:11; Deu 5:19; Deu 24:7; Psa 50:18; Zac 5:3; Mat 19:18; Rom 13:9; Eph 4:28; Pe1 4:15).


Theophilus Lover of God, a Christian, probably a Roman, to whom Luke dedicated both his Gospel (Luk 1:3) and the Acts of the Apostles (Act 1:1). Nothing beyond this is known of him. From the fact that Luke applies to him the title "most excellent", the same title Paul uses in addressing Felix (Act 23:26; Act 24:3) and Festus (Act 26:25), it has been concluded that Theophilus was a person of rank, perhaps a Roman officer.
