BENEFACTOR (εὐεργέται, those who work well). A title sometimes assumed by kings (as Ptolemy III, 247-242 b.c., and Ptolemy VII, 147-117 b.c.) and sometimes conferred by them upon outstanding men as a reward for some unusual service. When a dispute arose among the apostles as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest, Jesus rebuked them, saying that those in authority over the Gentiles were called benefactors, but that the apostles were to be humble servants of men (Luke 22:25).