συγκινέω
I move together, stir up
Definition
The verb συγκινέω means to 'move together' or 'stir up' a group of people, implying a collective agitation or incitement. In its sole New Testament occurrence in Acts 6:12, it describes the action of the Jewish leaders who 'stirred up' the people, the elders, and the scribes against Stephen. This usage carries the sense of deliberately provoking or inciting a crowd to a state of unrest or hostility. The word emphasizes a unified, communal disturbance rather than an individual emotional response.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 6:12. It describes the hostile actions of the Jewish authorities ('they stirred up the people') leading to the arrest and trial of Stephen. The context is one of religious and social conflict, where the word signifies the deliberate incitement of a public mob for a judicial or violent purpose.
Etymology
Derived from the preposition σύν (syn, meaning 'with' or 'together') and the verb κινέω (kineō, meaning 'to move' or 'to set in motion'). Literally, it means 'to move together' or 'to set in motion as a group.' This compound form emphasizes collective action or agitation.
Semantic Range
This word is significant in the narrative of early church persecution, highlighting the organized opposition faced by the first Christian witnesses. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading of Acts 6:12 by revealing the deliberate, communal nature of the agitation against Stephen, contrasting the mob's stirred-up passion with Stephen's own Spirit-filled composure. It underscores a theme of worldly systems being 'stirred up' against God's messengers.
In the Greco-Roman world, 'stirring up' a crowd was a serious political and social act, often associated with demagoguery, public accusation, and mob justice. The action in Acts 6:12 leverages this cultural mechanism, using public agitation to bring a person before a council, demonstrating how social pressure was employed within Jewish legal proceedings of the time.
παροξύνω (paroxynō, G3947) — to provoke or irritate, often to the point of sharp contention (e.g., Acts 17:16). ἀναστατόω (anastatoō, G387) — to stir up, unsettle, or trouble, often causing an uproar or disturbance (e.g., Acts 17:6).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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