1999. episustasis

Lexical Summary

episustasis: Uprising, commotion, insurrection

Original Word: ἐπισύστασις
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: episustasis
Pronunciation: eh-pee-SOOS-tah-sis
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-soo'-stas-is)
KJV: that which cometh upon, + raising up
Word Origin: [from the middle voice of a compound of G1909 (ἐπί - over) and G4921 (συνιστάω - commend)]

1. a conspiracy, i.e. concourse (riotous or friendly)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

conspiracy

From the middle voice of a compound of epi and sunistao; a conspiracy, i.e. Concourse (riotous or friendly) -- that which cometh upon, + raising up.

see GREEK epi

see GREEK sunistao

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from epi and sunistémi
Definition
variant reading for NG1988a, q.v.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1999: ἐπισύστασις

ἐπισύστασις, ἐπισυστασεως, ἡ (ἐπισυνισταμαι to collect together, conspire against) a gathering together or combining against or at. Hence,

1. a hostile banding together or concourse: ποιεῖν ἐπισύστασιν, to excite a riotous gathering of the people, make a mob, Acts 24:12 R G; 1 Esdr. 5:70 Alex.; Sextus Empiricus, adv. eth., p. 127 (p. 571, 20 edition, Bekker; cf. Philo in Flac. § 1); τίνος, against one, Numbers 26:9; a conspiracy, Josephus, contra Apion 1, 20.

2. a troublesome throng of persons seeking help, counsel, comfort: τίνος, thronging to one, 2 Corinthians 11:28 R G (see ἐπίστασις); Luther,dassichwerdeangelaufen.

Topical Lexicon

Semantic Scope

The term depicts something that “stands upon” a person or place, giving the idea of a burden that presses down or a disturbance that rises up. In first–century usage it could describe an external commotion (an uproar, an incursion) or an inward, pressing weight of responsibility.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Acts 24:12 – Paul, on trial before Felix, denies that he was “stirring up a crowd”. Here the word represents the outward tumult his accusers alleged he had caused.
2. 2 Corinthians 11:28 – After listing perils suffered for the gospel, Paul adds, “Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches”. Now the word conveys an inward, unrelenting load borne for the flock of God.

Historical Setting

• Acts 24 pictures Paul in Caesarea‐Maritima answering charges brought by the Sanhedrin’s spokesman, Tertullus. Roman law punished sedition severely, so the accusation of rousing an “assembly” was calculated to secure a guilty verdict. Paul’s use shows that whatever fervor accompanied his preaching, it never amounted to civil insurrection.
• 2 Corinthians was written from Macedonia during Paul’s third missionary journey. After years of travel, hardship, and persecution, the apostle confesses that the cumulative spiritual oversight of many congregations presses on him even more constantly than physical trials.

Ministry Significance

1. The faithful servant avoids fleshly agitation (Acts 24:12). Gospel proclamation may confront sin, yet God’s messenger does not foster riots or anarchy. Paul’s blamelessness under Roman scrutiny models submission to governing authorities while remaining bold for Christ (Romans 13:1; Philippians 2:15).
2. Genuine leadership feels holy weight (2 Corinthians 11:28). Paul equates pastoral concern with the same intensity as shipwrecks and beatings. Shepherds who carry Christ’s heart sense an abiding “pressure” that drives prayer, counsel, and sacrificial labor (Colossians 1:28-29).
3. The same term describes both turmoil without and burden within. The believer’s life is shaped by forces from the surrounding world and by God-given responsibilities inside the fellowship. Grace equips the church to respond to each: peace in the face of accusation, endurance amid ongoing care (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Theological Reflections

• Christ bore the ultimate epistasis when the chastisement that brought us peace fell on Him (Isaiah 53:5). Paul’s lighter yet constant pressure is an echo of the Savior’s greater load, underscoring union with Christ in suffering for the body (Colossians 1:24).
• The absence of epistasis in Paul’s temple activity shows the harmony between true worship and social order. Wherever the gospel takes root, it transforms hearts rather than fomenting chaos (Acts 19:40).
• Conversely, the presence of epistasis in Paul’s heart reveals God’s design for under-shepherds: a “weight” produced not by worldly anxiety but by love. Such pressure is answered by the Chief Shepherd who invites laborers to cast every care upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).

Contemporary Application

• Examine public witness: Does zeal for truth provoke unnecessary discord? Imitate Paul’s measured demeanor so that opposition arises from the message, not misconduct.
• Embrace pastoral weight: Elders, teachers, and parents should not resent the steady press of responsibility; it is integral to Christlike service. Seek the Spirit’s power to transform that pressure into intercession and wise oversight.
• Encourage shared burden-bearing: Paul invites believers to enter into “the daily pressure” through prayer (2 Corinthians 1:11) and mutual care (Galatians 6:2). When the body functions as designed, no single member is crushed by the load.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1999 underscores both the tumult the world falsely imputes to gospel messengers and the legitimate, abiding weight that Christian servants carry for the people of God. In Acts it is a charge refuted; in 2 Corinthians it is a reality embraced. The term therefore challenges believers to maintain peaceable conduct before the watching world and to shoulder spiritual responsibility with steadfast love and confidence in divine grace.

Forms and Transliterations

επιστασιν ἐπίστασιν επιστασις ἐπίστασίς επισυστάσει επισύστασιν επισύστασις επισύστασίς επισυστρέφεσθαι epistasin epístasin epistasis epístasís

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 24:12 N-AFS
GRK: διαλεγόμενον ἢ ἐπίστασιν ποιοῦντα ὄχλου
KJV: neither raising up the people,
INT: reasoning or a tumultuous gathering making of a crowd

2 Corinthians 11:28 N-NFS
GRK: παρεκτὸς ἡ ἐπίστασίς μοι ἡ
KJV: that which cometh upon me
INT: external the pressure on me

Strong's Greek 1999
2 Occurrences

ἐπίστασιν — 1 Occ.
ἐπίστασίς — 1 Occ.