ἐξαποστέλλω

I send forth

Definition

The verb ἐξαποστέλλω means to send out or send away, often with a sense of official or purposeful dispatch. It can describe sending someone away for their own safety, as when the disciples sent Paul away from Jerusalem to Tarsus (Acts 9:30). It also carries the meaning of sending forth someone with authority or resources to accomplish a specific mission, such as the vineyard owner sending servants to collect fruit (Luke 20:10-11). In some contexts, it emphasizes the act of release or deliverance, as when God 'has sent the rich away empty' (Luke 1:53) or when an angel released Peter from prison (Acts 12:11).

Biblical Usage

This verb is used 11 times in the New Testament, primarily in Luke and Acts, highlighting its role in narrative accounts of mission and deliverance. In Luke's Gospel, it appears in parables about authority (Luke 20:10-11) and in Mary's song about God's reversal of fortunes (Luke 1:53). In Acts, it frequently describes the strategic sending of people for ministry or safety, such as the church sending Barnabas to Antioch (Acts 11:22) or believers sending Paul away from danger (Acts 9:30, 17:14). It consistently implies a deliberate, purposeful action by a sender.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐξ (ex, meaning 'out of') combined with the verb ἀποστέλλω (apostellō, meaning 'to send'). The compound intensifies the sense of sending, emphasizing movement 'out from' a source or location. It shares a root with the significant noun ἀπόστολος (apostolos, G652, 'apostle' or 'sent one'), though ἐξαποστέλλω typically focuses more on the act of sending forth than the official status of the one sent.

Semantic Range

This word enriches our understanding of divine initiative and human agency in God's plan. It portrays God as the primary sender who dispatches help (Acts 12:11), executes justice (Luke 1:53), and advances the gospel mission through the church (Acts 11:22). The term underscores that key figures in the early church were strategically sent by divine providence or communal wisdom, not acting on their own. Understanding this 'sending' highlights the purposeful, often protective, nature of God's guidance in the narrative of salvation.

In the Greco-Roman world, sending someone officially (like an envoy or delegate) conveyed the authority and resources of the sender. The prefix ἐξ- could imply sending from a specific, often secure, location into a different sphere, which in Acts sometimes meant moving from a Jewish context into the Gentile world. This cultural nuance of authorized mission differs from a simple, informal 'sending' and aligns with the New Testament themes of apostolic mission and strategic expansion of the church.

ἀποστέλλω (apostellō, G649) — a more general term for sending, often on a mission, but without the compounded emphasis on 'out from.' πέμπω (pempō, G3992) — a common word for sending, which can be more neutral or less official. ἀπολύω (apolyō, G630) — focuses on releasing or dismissing someone, rather than sending them forth with a task.

Word Details

Scripture References