παροτρύνω

I stir up, incite

Definition

The verb παροτρύνω means to stir up, incite, or urge someone to action, often with a strong sense of provocation or agitation. In its single New Testament occurrence (Acts 13:50), it describes the action of influential people inciting a mob against Paul and Barnabas, implying a deliberate and hostile instigation. The term carries a negative connotation of rousing others to opposition or persecution, rather than a neutral encouragement. It is used to depict the catalyst for social and religious conflict directed at the early Christian missionaries.

Biblical Usage

παροτρύνω is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 13:50. In this context, it describes how the Jewish leaders (specifically the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city) 'stirred up' persecution against Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia, leading to their expulsion from the region. The usage is distinctly negative, showing the word applied in a scenario of social and religious agitation that results in direct opposition to the gospel message.

Etymology

The word παροτρύνω is a compound verb formed from the preposition παρά (para, meaning 'beside' or 'alongside') and the verb ὀτρύνω (otrynō, meaning 'to urge' or 'to spur on'). Literally, it means 'to urge on from beside,' intensifying the base idea of incitement. Its root shares a sense of provocation or stimulation seen in other Greek literature, where it often describes inciting people to anger or action.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it highlights the reality of spiritual opposition faced by the early church. The act of 'stirring up' persecution in Acts 13:50 underscores the organized, social resistance to the gospel, often instigated by religious authorities. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by emphasizing the deliberate, adversarial nature of the opposition, contrasting it with mere disagreement, and showing how the spread of the gospel frequently provoked hostile, coordinated reactions.

In the Greco-Roman world, inciting a crowd was a powerful social and political tool, often used by elites to maintain influence or oppose new movements. The action in Acts 13:50 reflects a cultural pattern where prominent figures could mobilize public sentiment and legal pressure against perceived threats. The term implies leveraging social standing to provoke collective action, a dynamic familiar in ancient urban centers where public order and reputation were paramount.

παροξύνω (paroxynō, G3947) — emphasizes provoking to anger or sharp contention, as in Acts 15:39. ἀναστατόω (anastatoō, G387) — means to stir up, unsettle, or cause an uproar, often with a sense of turmoil (Acts 17:6). ἐρεθίζω (erethizō, G2042) — means to provoke or irritate, sometimes in a negative sense to incite conflict (2 Corinthians 9:2).

Word Details

Scripture References