μετακαλέω

I send for

Definition

The verb μετακαλέω (metakaleō) means 'to call to oneself' or 'to summon.' In its middle voice form, which is how it exclusively appears in the New Testament, it carries the reflexive sense of 'I summon for myself' or 'I send for someone to come to me.' This action implies a deliberate, personal invitation or command. For example, in Acts 7:14, Joseph 'sent for' his father Jacob and family, while in Acts 10:32, Cornelius is instructed to 'send for' Peter. In Acts 20:17, Paul 'sent for' the elders of Ephesus, and in Acts 24:25, Felix 'sent for' Paul for further conversation. The meaning is consistent across all uses.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used four times in the New Testament, all in the Book of Acts. It consistently describes a person in authority or initiative summoning another person for a specific purpose. The contexts involve significant relational or narrative turning points: family reunion (Acts 7:14), divine orchestration for the inclusion of Gentiles (Acts 10:32), pastoral instruction (Acts 20:17), and legal or personal discourse (Acts 24:25). The pattern shows it is a verb of purposeful, directed communication.

Etymology

The word is a compound of the preposition μετά (meta), meaning 'with' or 'after,' and the common verb καλέω (kaleō, G2564), meaning 'to call.' Thus, it literally means 'to call with/after' or 'to call to oneself.' The middle voice nuance emphasizes the action is done for the benefit or purpose of the one calling.

Semantic Range

While not a central theological term, μετακαλέω illustrates God's active, personal calling in the narrative of salvation. In Acts 10, the verb is part of the chain of divine instruction that brings Peter to Cornelius, signaling the gospel's expansion to the Gentiles. It highlights how God works through human agency—people are 'sent for' to fulfill divine purposes. Understanding this specific 'calling' enriches our view of God's orchestration in the early church's mission.

In the Greco-Roman world, 'sending for' someone was an act that assumed the summoner had some level of social authority, status, or legitimate need to command another's presence. It differs from a simple invitation; it carries an expectation of response. This cultural weight is present in the biblical usage, whether it is a ruler like Felix or an apostle like Paul initiating the summons.

καλέω (kaleō, G2564) — A more general term for 'to call,' often used for God's divine calling, without the specific 'to oneself' directional force. προσκαλέω (proskaleō, G4341) — Means 'to call to oneself' or 'summon,' very similar in meaning and also used in Acts; the prefixes μετα- and προσ- can be functionally synonymous here.

Word Details

Scripture References