καταφέρω

I bring down, oppress

Definition

The verb καταφέρω (katapherō) carries two distinct meanings in the New Testament. Its primary, literal sense is 'to bring down' or 'to bear down,' as seen in Acts 20:9, where a young man named Eutychus, overcome by sleep, 'was borne down' and fell from a third-story window. The second, more figurative sense is 'to bring a charge' or 'to cast a vote' in a judicial context. This usage appears in Acts 26:10, where Paul states he 'cast his vote' against the Christians he persecuted, indicating his official, condemnatory judgment.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the New Testament, both times in the book of Acts, and it illustrates its two different applications. In Acts 20:9, it describes a physical event of being weighed down by sleep and falling. In Acts 26:10, it is used in a legal or judicial setting, referring to Paul's official action of condemning believers before his conversion. The usage is therefore context-dependent, shifting from a physical description to a formal, legal action.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition κατά (kata), meaning 'down' or 'against,' and the common verb φέρω (pherō), meaning 'to bear' or 'to carry.' The compound thus literally means 'to bear down.' This root meaning naturally extended to figurative uses involving bringing down a verdict or charge against someone.

Semantic Range

While not a central theological term, καταφέρω enriches our understanding of key narratives. In Acts 26:10, Paul's use of 'I cast my vote' (κατέφερον) powerfully underscores the gravity of his pre-conversion zeal—it was not just personal dislike but an official, judicial persecution he authorized. This adds depth to his testimony of transformation from a prosecutor of the church to its foremost apostle. The word in Acts 20:9 also highlights the very human, relatable setting of a long church service, contrasting with the miraculous intervention that follows.

The judicial sense of 'casting a vote' in Acts 26:10 reflects the formal legal procedures of the Greco-Roman world and within Jewish councils like the Sanhedrin. A vote was a decisive, authoritative act of condemnation. The physical sense in Acts 20:9 simply depicts a common hazard in multi-story urban dwellings where people gathered in upper rooms.

κρίνω (krinō, G2919) — A broader term for judging or deciding, not specifically 'bringing down' a verdict. φέρω (pherō, G5342) — The root verb meaning simply 'to bear' or 'carry,' without the downward or oppositional force of the compound.

Word Details

Scripture References