This noun designates a person held in captivity or imprisonment, literally one in chains or fetters. Both New Testament instances appear in Acts 27, during Paul's sea voyage to Rome as a prisoner. The term appears when the centurion delivers prisoners including Paul to the centurion in charge (27:1), and later when soldiers consider killing prisoners to prevent escape during the shipwreck (27:42). The Greek root relates to 'bonds' or 'chains,' emphasizing the physical restraint of captivity. Translations consistently render this as 'prisoners' across languages, reflecting its straightforward reference to those held in custody.