ἀγγέλλω / ἀπαγγέλλω

I announce, report; I report, bring a report, announce

Definition

The verb ἀπαγγέλλω means to report, announce, or declare a message, often with the sense of carrying news from one place or person to another. In the New Testament, it frequently describes the act of delivering a specific, often important, message, such as the shepherds reporting the angelic announcement (Luke 2:20) or the disciples announcing the news of Jesus' resurrection (Matthew 28:8-9). It can also carry the nuance of a formal declaration or proclamation, as seen in Matthew 11:4 where Jesus instructs John the Baptist's disciples to report what they have witnessed. In some contexts, like Matthew 8:33, it simply means to give an account or tell what happened.

Biblical Usage

ἀπαγγέλλω is used 44 times in the New Testament, appearing across the Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles. It is most prominent in the Gospels, where it often describes characters reporting events about Jesus, such as the Magi's findings (Matthew 2:8) or the healing of the demon-possessed men (Matthew 8:33). In Acts, it describes the apostles proclaiming the gospel message (e.g., Acts 4:23). A key pattern is its use for relaying divine or significant news, especially concerning Jesus' identity, miracles, and resurrection, making it a verb of authoritative testimony.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἀπό (apo, meaning 'from') and the verb ἀγγέλλω (angellō, meaning 'to announce' or 'to report'). The compound emphasizes the idea of bringing a message 'from' a source or location. It is related to ἄγγελος (angelos, G32), meaning 'messenger' or 'angel,' highlighting its core function of message-bearing. The meaning developed from a general sense of reporting to often carrying significant, sometimes divine, announcements.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it is frequently used for the communication of divine revelation and gospel proclamation. It underscores the role of believers as messengers who carry the news of Christ's life, death, and resurrection to others (e.g., 1 John 1:2-3). Understanding ἀπαγγέλλω enriches Bible reading by highlighting the active, declarative nature of sharing the Christian faith—it is not just private belief but a reported testimony meant to be announced to the world.

In the first-century Greco-Roman world, reliable messengers were vital for communication across distances. ἀπαγγέλλω implies a trusted transmission of information, often from an eyewitness. This cultural value of accurate reporting lends weight to its biblical usage, where the credibility of the message and messenger is paramount, especially for the apostolic testimony about Jesus.

εὐαγγελίζω (euangelizō, G2097) — focuses on announcing good news, especially the gospel; κηρύσσω (kēryssō, G2784) — emphasizes public proclamation or heralding, often in an official capacity; λέγω (legō, G3004) — a general term for 'to say' or 'speak,' without the specific nuance of carrying a report from one place to another.

Word Details

Scripture References