Cenchre’a, a port or Corinth where Phebe the deaconess resided, and whence Paul sailed for Ephesus (Acts 18:18; Rom. 16:1). It was on the eastern side of the Isthmus of Corinth. The other port, called Lech um, was on the western side.
Censer, a vessel in which incense was burned by the high priest, when he entered the holy of holies once a year (Lev. 16:1:2).
Centurion, a Roman commander or captain of a hundred med (Matt. 8:5, 8, 13; 27:54; Luke 7:2, 6; Acts 10:1, 22; 21:32; 22:25, 26; 23:17, 23; 24:23; 27:1, 6, 11, 31, 43; 28:16).
Ce’phas, the surname given to Simon (Jno. 1:42), and which has the same meaning as Peter; viz., a “stone.” (see PETER.)
Chaff.—The threshing-floors of Palestine were usually on a hill top or other raised place, and when the corn had been trodden out by the oxen, or threshed, and was being winnowed, the refuse was driven aside by the wind; or when there was no wind blowing, a large fan was employed for the purpose. The heaps of chaff thus separated from the corn were afterward burned, the ashes being probably useful as manure for the land. Chaff is used in Scripture as a figure of the ungodly (Psa. 1:4; Matt. 3:12).
Chain. — Golden chains were worn as ornaments both by men and women in ancient times, as they are now (Prov. 1:9; Ezek. 16:11; Song of Sol. 1:10, 4:9), also by those in high office (Gen. 41:42; Dan. 5:20).
Among the Romans, a prisoner was often fastened by means of a light chain to the soldier who had the custody of him, one end being fixed on the right hand of the prisoner, and the other to the left hand of the keeper (Acts 28:20; Eph. 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:16). Sometimes when the greatest security was desired, the prisoner was bound to a soldier on each side of him by two chains (Acts 12:6).
Chal’cedony is a semi-transparent stone of a species of quartz, usually a light brown, but often_ nearly white, and sometimes gray, yellow, green, or blue. It is found in most parts of the world, in irregular masses, forming cavities in trap rocks and granite. It is used in the East for cups, plates, and other articles. In Europe, it is made into snuff-boxes, knife-handles, buttons, and other small articles (Rev. 21:19).
Chaldœ’ans’ ―The name given to the inhabitants of Babylon (2 Kings 25; Isa. 13:19; 23:13; Dan. 9:1). They were a warlike and cruel people (Hab. 1:6-10; Job 1:17), and supposed to have been originally a tribe of wild mountaineers from the neighborhood of Xenophon as brave and fond of freedom.
Nimrod was the founder of the kingdom of Babylon (Gen. 10:8, &c.). The next Babylonian ruler who is mentioned, is Amraphel (Gen. 14:1), and then, after a long interval, we read of Berodach-baladan, son of Baladan, king of Babylon (2 Kings 20:12, 13). This was about B.C. 713. About a hundred and twenty years after this, Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem, and becomes the “head of gold” (Dan. 2:37, 38), taking that place of supremacy in the earth which Israel, if faithful to Jehovah, would have had (Deut. 28:13). Thus, “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24) began, and will continue till “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” comes as Deliverer (Rom. 11:26). The next king of Babylon we read of is Evil-merodach (2 Kings 25:27), who began his reign about B.C. 562. He delivered Jehoiachin, king of Judah, out of prison, where lie had been for more than six and thirty years. Belshazzar (B.C. 538) was the last of the Chaldean kings. He was put to death in the seventeenth year of his reign by Cyrus, who established the Medo-Persian empire in the room of the Babylonish (Dan. 2:39; 7:5).
The religion of the Chaldees was the worship of the planets. Jupiter was worshipped as Bel, Mercury as Nebo, and Venus as Meni. Astrology was, of course, connected with such a worship, and the astronomical studies or the Chaldæans have made them famous. The magi, or wise men, appear to have been chiefly devoted to this science (Dan. 2:2; Matt. 2:1). It is said that the high priest of Belus was called “the Peter” (which was an official, not a personal name), and his throne, “the Peter’s Chair.” His mitre, or crown, was formed like the head of a fish, the jaws coming to a point, and nearly meeting at the top exactly as in the Pope’s mitre at the Present day. The connection between the fish-head mitre and the worship of Eel is traceable to a vague tradition as to Noah, who is represented as having come out of the sea. Many nations of antiquity have a similar tradition, and with it the worship of a fish-god (see DAGON).
Chambers of Imagery. — These places of idolatrous worship are mentioned Ezekiel 8:12; and, to show how exactly the Israelites had wickedly copied the abominations of Egypt, the reader can compare Ezekiel’s description with the following extract from a work by Mr. Madden, describing the ancient temple of Edfon. He says, “Considerably below the surface of the adjoining building, my conductor pointed out to me a chink in an old wall, which he told me I should creep through on my hands and feet. The aperture was not two feet and a half high, and scarcely three feet and a ball’ broad. My companion had the courage to go first, thrusting in a lamp before him. I followed. The passage was so narrow that my mouth and nose were almost buried in the dust, and I was nearly suffocated. After proceeding about ten yards in utter darkness, the heat became excessive, the breathing was laborious, the perspiration poured down my face, and I would have given the world to have got out, but my companion, whose person I could not distinguish, though his voice was audible, called out to me to crawl a few feet further, and that I should find plenty of room. I joined him at length, and had the inexpressible satisfaction of standing once more upon my feet. We found ourselves in a splendid apartment of great magnitude, adorned with an incredible profusion of sacred paintings and hieroglyphics.”
Chameleon, a small kind of lizard noted for changing the color of its skin. But this change is not owing, as has been stated, to the substance it may be placed on. Among themselves they are very irascible, and are then seen to change their color rapidly. When quiet, dark yellow or gray is the predominant color; but when disturbed, this changes to a green, purple, or even ashy black. They live on flies, which they catch by shooting out their long tongue suddenly and drawing it in again. They are referred to as unclean animals in Leviticus 11:30.