Acacius was a Byzantine

Byzantine

Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...

 military officer, active in Alexandria

Alexandria

Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...

 during the reign of Justinian I

Justinian I

Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...

 (r. 527–565).

Acacius was a native of Amida

Amida (Roman city)

Amida was an ancient city located where modern Diyarbakır, Turkey. The Roman writers Ammianus Marcellinus and Procopius consider it a city of Mesopotamia, but it may be more properly viewed as belonging to Armenia Major....

, and Zacharias Rhetor

Zacharias Rhetor

Zacharias of Mytilene , also known as Zacharias Scholasticus or Zacharias Rhetor, was a bishop and ecclesiastical historian....

 calls him "Bar Eshkhofo", which seems to mean "son of a cobbler

Cobbler

Cobbler may refer to:* A shoemaker who repairs shoes, rather than manufacturing them .** Cobbler apron, a type of apron that covers both the front and back of the body...

. Zacharias further reports that after the deposition of Patriarch Paul of Alexandria

Patriarch Paul of Alexandria

Patriarch Paul of Alexandria was Greek Patriarch of Alexandria between 536 and 540.He was elected Patriarch in 536 when the Greek Church of Alexandria, which had previously recognized the Miaphysite Theodosius I, disbanded with this recognition and elected Paul in his place...

 and his replacement by Zoilus

Patriarch Zoilus of Alexandria

Zoilus served as Greek Patriarch of Alexandria between 541 and 551.Zacharias Rhetor reports on how Patriarch Paul of Alexandria was involved in a murder. He was consequently deposed and replaced by Zoilus . Acacius was the military officer tasked to protect Zoilus from the hostile population of...

 (in 539/540), Acacius was the military officer tasked to protect Zoilus from the hostile population of Alexandria. Acacius was probably a professional soldier, but seems to have held a lower position, perhaps a comes rei militaris or a tribunus (cavalry regimental commander).