Lexical Summary epegeiró: To stir up, to awaken, to arouse Original Word: ἐπεγείρω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance raise, stir up. From epi and egeiro; to rouse upon, i.e. (figuratively) to excite against -- raise, stir up. see GREEK epi see GREEK egeiro NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom epi and egeiró Definition to rouse up, excite NASB Translation instigated (1), stirred (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1892: ἐπεγείρωἐπεγείρω: 1 aorist ἐπηγειρα; to raise or excite against: τί ἐπί τινα, Acts 13:50 (διωγμόν); κατά τίνος, to stir up against one: τάς ψυχάς ... κατά τῶν ἀδελφῶν, Acts 14:2. Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 1892 describes an intentional rousing that moves people from passivity to determined action, but always in a hostile direction. Its two inspired uses picture adversaries being prompted to active resistance against the gospel message. Occurrences in Scripture Acts 13:50 – “The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.” Acts 14:2 – “But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.” Historical context: Paul’s first missionary journey The verb appears only in the Galatian region during Paul’s first recorded tour (Acts 13–14). In Pisidian Antioch, synagogue leaders, alarmed by the influx of Gentiles to Paul’s preaching, recruited influential women and civic officials to initiate persecution. At Iconium, the same unbelieving faction inflamed Gentile hearts, creating a volatile atmosphere that nearly cost the missionaries their lives. The term thus frames a pattern: religious jealousy weaponized through social and political channels. Spiritual dynamics of opposition 1. External orchestration: The hostility is not spontaneous; it is engineered. Scripture portrays unbelieving Jews as catalysts who exploit existing social networks. Implications for the Church • Expectation of hostility – Proclamation of Christ inevitably provokes deliberate resistance (John 15:18–20). Interplay with Old Testament imagery Old Covenant prophets frequently warned against those who “stir up strife” (Proverbs 28:25). The New Testament verb echoes this motif, linking unbelieving Israel’s resistance to the historic rebellion of stiff-necked ancestors (Acts 7:51). By contrast, the Lord “stirs up” Cyrus for deliverance (Isaiah 45:13), showing that divine stirring produces salvation, whereas human stirring without God produces persecution. Contemporary application • Guarding speech – Modern disciples must refuse to replicate the negative stirring of Acts 13–14, instead using words to “stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). Related New Testament themes • Contrasting stirrings – The Spirit “stirs up” spiritual gifts for edification (2 Timothy 1:6), the flesh stirs up hostility (Galatians 5:19–21). In sum, Strong’s Greek 1892 highlights a calculated agitation against God’s messengers, reminding believers that while adversaries may engineer hostility, the risen Christ continues to build His Church unhindered. Forms and Transliterations επεγειρομένους επεγειρομένων επεγείρω επεγερεί επεγερθήναι επεγερθήσονται επεγερώ επηγειραν επήγειραν ἐπήγειραν επήγειρε επήγειρεν epegeiran epēgeiran epḗgeiranLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 13:50 V-AIA-3PGRK: πόλεως καὶ ἐπήγειραν διωγμὸν ἐπὶ NAS: of the city, and instigated a persecution KJV: and raised persecution INT: city and stirred up a persecution against Acts 14:2 V-AIA-3P |
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