1206. deuteraios

Lexical Summary

deuteraios: Second day

Original Word: δευτεραῖος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: deuteraios
Pronunciation: dyoo-ter-ah'-yos
Phonetic Spelling: (dyoo-ter-ah'-yos)
KJV: next day
NASB: second day
Word Origin: [from G1208 (δεύτερος - second)]

1. secondary
2. (specially) on the second day

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

next day.

From deuteros; secondary, i.e. (specially) on the second day -- next day.

see GREEK deuteros

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from deuteros
Definition
on the second day
NASB Translation
second day (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1206: δευτεραῖος

δευτεραῖος, δευτεραια, δευτεραιον (δεύτερος) (Herodotus, Xenophon, others), of or belonging to the second; of one who comes, or does a thing, on the second day (cf. τριταῖος, τεταρταῖος, etc.): δευτεραῖοι ἤλθομεν, Acts 28:13; cf. Winers Grammar, § 54, 2; (Buttmann, § 123, 9).

Topical Lexicon

Temporal Nuance

The term carries the simple yet important idea of a “second” or “following” day in a sequence. In Scripture it functions as a narrative marker, indicating measured, orderly progress rather than abrupt or random movement.

Biblical Occurrence (Acts 28:13)

“From there we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day a south wind came up, and the following day we arrived at Puteoli.” (Acts 28:13)

This solitary usage appears in the final sea-leg of Paul’s journey to Rome. Having wintered on Malta, the apostle and his companions resume travel on an Alexandrian grain ship. A brief stop in Syracuse is followed by a push to Rhegium on the toe of Italy. Favorable winds then carry them, “the following day,” to Puteoli, the principal port for ships approaching Rome from the south.

Historical Significance

1. Maritime Travel in the First Century
• The Mediterranean sailing season normally reopened in early spring. Luke’s notation of “the following day” reflects real-world nautical scheduling; a sudden south wind could shorten what was usually a two-day sail from Rhegium to Puteoli.
• The chronology underscores Luke’s eye-witness accuracy, reinforcing confidence in the historicity of Acts.

2. Strategic Arrival Point
• Puteoli (modern Pozzuoli) was a bustling harbor with a sizeable Jewish population and an established Christian community (Acts 28:14).
• Paul’s landing there positioned him for his final overland approach to Rome and provided a brief but meaningful season of fellowship (“we were invited to stay with them for seven days,” Acts 28:14).

Theological Themes

1. Providence in Ordinary Details
• Scripture often reveals God’s guidance in seemingly mundane time markers (“the following day,” “the next morning,” etc.). The single word here reminds readers that divine sovereignty governs both the dramatic and the routine.

2. Step-by-Step Obedience
• Paul’s long-awaited appearance in Rome unfolds incrementally: Malta—Syracuse—Rhegium—Puteoli—Forum of Appius—Three Taverns—Rome (Acts 28:1-16). Each transition, including the “second day,” witnesses to perseverance in calling.

3. Encouragement for the Church
• The believers at Puteoli cared for Paul and his company during a brief layover. Their hospitality, framed by Luke’s temporal reference, illustrates how even a single day can be filled with purposeful ministry and mutual encouragement.

Practical Ministry Insights

• Recognize the Value of Short Windows: One “following day” of favorable wind advanced the gospel’s reach to the heart of the empire. Brief opportunities, rightly seized, may serve long-range kingdom purposes.
• Record God’s Timetable: Luke’s chronological precision motivates believers to mark God’s faithfulness in their own journeys.
• Ordinary Faithfulness Matters: Most Christian service is measured in small, consistent steps rather than dramatic leaps; the text normalizes faithful travel rhythms in mission.

Related Scriptural Parallels

While the specific word is unique to Acts 28:13, the narrative motif of a “next day” punctuating God-directed activity recurs elsewhere:
• Exodus 18:13 – Moses sits to judge Israel “the next day.”
• Luke 9:37 – Following the Transfiguration, Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy “the next day.”
• Acts 21:1 – Paul’s voyage from Cos to Rhodes progresses by successive “next days.”

Each instance underscores measured progress and divine oversight.

Summary

Though appearing only once, the term translated “the following day” anchors Luke’s travel log in concrete time and place, highlights God’s providential timing, and models the blend of human responsibility and divine guidance that characterizes apostolic mission.

Forms and Transliterations

δευτεραιοι δευτεραίοι δευτεραῖοι δευτερεύον δευτερεύοντα δευτερεύουσι δευτερεύων δευτερονόμιον deuteraioi deuteraîoi

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 28:13 Adj-NMP
GRK: ἐπιγενομένου νότου δευτεραῖοι ἤλθομεν εἰς
NAS: sprang up, and on the second day we came
KJV: and we came the next day to
INT: having come on a south wind on the second day we came to

Strong's Greek 1206
1 Occurrence

δευτεραῖοι — 1 Occ.