συμπάρειμι

I am present together with

Definition

The verb συμπάρειμι means 'to be present together with' or 'to be in attendance alongside someone.' It denotes a shared presence, often in a formal or official context. In its single New Testament occurrence in Acts 25:24, it describes the Jewish leaders and the crowd being present together with Festus, the Roman governor, to bring accusations against Paul. The word emphasizes a collective, assembled presence for a specific purpose, rather than a casual or coincidental gathering.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 25:24. It appears in the context of Paul's trial before Festus in Caesarea. Festus addresses King Agrippa, stating that 'the whole Jewish community' (οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι) had made petitions to him, both in Jerusalem and in Caesarea, 'crying out that he ought not to live any longer.' Festus then notes that these accusers are now 'present together with' (συμπαρόντες) him, highlighting their united, formal presence to press charges. The usage is entirely within a legal or judicial setting.

Etymology

The word is a compound formed from the preposition σύν (syn), meaning 'with' or 'together,' and the verb πάρειμι (pareimi), meaning 'to be present,' 'to be at hand,' or 'to have come.' The root verb πάρειμι itself comes from παρά (para, 'beside') and εἰμί (eimi, 'to be'). Thus, συμπάρειμι literally means 'to be present together beside.' Its meaning is transparent from its parts, emphasizing accompaniment and shared location.

Semantic Range

While not a theologically dense term, συμπάρειμι enriches the narrative of Acts by underscoring the unified opposition Paul faced. This collective, formal presence of his accusers highlights the gravity of the charges and the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy that Paul would testify before kings (Acts 9:15). It illustrates the concerted human effort to oppose the gospel, which God sovereignly uses to advance Paul's testimony to the highest Roman and Jewish authorities, ultimately moving the gospel toward Rome.

In the Greco-Roman world, formal accusations and legal proceedings required the physical presence of the accusers. The use of συμπάρειμι in Acts 25:24 reflects this cultural and legal norm. The word implies an official, convened gathering, not a mob. The accusers' presence 'together with' the governor signifies their legitimate standing to bring charges and their collective responsibility in the case, a concept crucial to Roman jurisprudence.

πάρειμι (pareimi, G3918) — Means simply 'to be present' or 'at hand,' without the emphasis on accompaniment. συνείμι (syneimi, G4922) — Also means 'to be with,' but can imply a closer association or being assembled together, used in Acts 25:17 for the accusers being 'present' (συνέδριον).

Word Details

Scripture References