The prince of the power of the air (Eph 2^) is Satan. That he had authority over the evil spirits whose abode is in the air was the general Jewish belief, except among the Sadducees, St. Paul does not, however, here say ' powers of the air,' i.e. evil spirits, but the ' air-power ' or ' air-tyranny ' (for this meaning of i^ovaia see Lightfoot's note on Col V^). Satan is the arch-tyrant whose abode is in the air.
LiTERATURB. — See art. Dbmon. A. J. MACLEAN.
AKELDAMA (kKeXSan&x WH, 'AKeXSafid TR).— Akeldama is said to be equivalent to xwpi'oi' a'i/xaros in Ac 1'^, and to dypbs aifiaros in ISIt 27*: in that case the word represents Aram, not hpn and the final X (which is retained also in the best Vulg. text, acheldemach) transliterates n (which is only rarely so found). It has, therefore, been suggested as possible that the second part of the word repre- sents Aram. '^Q'^^ = Koifj.rjTTjpiov, 'cemetery,' which accords better with St. Matthew's explanation, though not with St. Luke's. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that we have here an instance of the occasional discrepancies and inaccuracies which have from an early period crept into the text of the NT. It would certainly seem as if the explanation of the title 'field of blood' given in Mt 27* is radically diflerent from that suggested in Ac V^, and that the former is more in accord- ance with the facts, though still an incorrect trans- lation of the Aram, title, while it is probable that the whole section vv.^*- ^* (-svith or without v.-") of the latter passage is not part of St. Peter's speech, but a comment or gloss either by the author of the book (St. Luke) himself or even by some later editor or transcriber, who has incorporated a less trustworthy tradition in the text.
The site of Akeldama is the modern Hakk ed- Diimm, on the south side of the Valley of Hinnom. See, further, art. s.v. in HDB and DCG.
C. L. Feltoe.
ALEXANDER {'k\^avSpo%, 'helper of men').— This name is found in the NT in five diflerent connexions, and possibly designates as many diflerent individuals.
1. The son of Simon of Cyrene, who bore the cross to Calvary (Mk 15^^), and the brother of Rufus. In all probability Alexander and his brother were well-knoAvn and honoured men in the Church of Rome (cf. Ro 16^* and art. RUFUS), to which the Gospel of Mark was addressed, as St. Mark identifies the father by a reference to the sons. We may regard the allosion as an interesting in- stance of the sons being blessed for the father's sake.
2. A leader of the priestly party in Jerusalem at the period subsequent to the death of Christ. After the healing of tlie impotent man we are told that Alexander Avas present at a meeting of the Jewish authorities along witli Annas, Caiaphas, and John, and ' as many as were of the kindred of the high priest' (Ac 4«). It is probable, though not quite certain, that this indicates that Alex- ander belonged to the high-priestly class ; and it is impossible to identify him with Alexander the ' alabarch ' of Alexandria and brother of PhUo.
3. A leading member of the Jewish community at Ephesus (Ac 19^^), who was put forward by the Jews at the time of the Ephesian riot to clear themselves of any complicity with St. Paul or his teaching, but whom the mob refused to hear. He may have been one of the ' craftsmen,' though en the whole it is unlikely that a Jew would have any connexion with the production of the symbols of idolatry. There are, however, slight variations in the MSS of Ac 19^^ and diflerent views have been taken with regard to Alexander and the in- tention of the Jews. Meyer holds that Alexander was a JeAvish Christian who was put forward maliciously by the Jews in the hope that he might be sacrificed (cf. Com. in loco). The omission of rts, ' a certain,' before his name has been regarded as an indication that Alexander was a well-known man in Ephesus at the time.
4. A Christian convert and teacher, who along Avith Hymenseus (q.v.) and others apostatized from the faith, and was excommunicated by the Apostle Paul(lTili«-2«).
5. Alexander the coppersmith, who did St. Paul much evil and whom the Apostle desires to be rewarded according to his works (2 Ti 4'*"^*). This Alexander has been identified with both 3 and 4. We are able to gather certain facts regarding him which would seem to connect him with 3. — (1) His trade was that of a smith (see Coppersmith), a worker in metal, originally brass, but subsequently any other metal, which might associate him with the craftsmen of Ephesus. (2) The statement re- garding him was addressed to Timothy, who was settled in Ephesus. On the other hand, we are told that Alexander greatly withstood St. Paul's words — a reference which seems to indicate a bitter personal hostility between the two men, as well as controversial disputes on matters of doctrine which might rather connect him with 4, the associate of Hymenaeus. It is possible that 3, 4, and 5 may be the same person, but Alexander was a very common name, and the data are insuflicient to allow of any certain identification. Those who hold the Epistles to Timothy to be non-Pauline regard the statement in Ac 19^ as the basis of the references in the Epistles, but the only thing in common is the name, while there is no indication in Acts that Alexander had any personal connexion with St. Paul.