Lexical Summary theatron: Theater, spectacle Original Word: θέατρον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance spectacle, theatre. From theaomai; a place for public show ("theatre"), i.e. General audience-room; by implication, a show itself (figuratively) -- spectacle, theatre. see GREEK theaomai HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 2302 théatron (the root of the English term, "theatre") – a theatre; a place for public exhibition; (figuratively) the public display of putting someone "on exhibit" to be mocked at as a spectacle (cf. 1 Cor 4:9). See 2300 (theáomai). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom theaomai Definition a theater, a spectacle NASB Translation spectacle (1), theater (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2302: θέατρονθέατρον, θεατρου, τό (θεάομαι); 1. a theatre, a place in which games and dramatic spectacles are exhibited, and public assemblies held (for the Greeks used the theatre also as a forum): Acts 19:29, 31. 2. equivalent to θεά and θέαμα, a public show (Aeschines dial. socr. 3, 20; Achilles Tatius 1, 16, p. 55), and hence, metaphorically, a man who is exhibited to be gazed at and made sport of: 1 Corinthians 4:9 (A. V. a spectacle). Strong’s Greek 2302 designates the public arena in which people gathered to watch dramatic performances, athletic contests, speeches, or civic assemblies. In Scripture it appears in literal form for the great theater of Ephesus and figuratively for the exposure of the apostles to public scrutiny and scorn. Historical Background Greco-Roman theaters were architectural marvels, often carved into hillsides with semicircular seating and excellent acoustics. They functioned not only as entertainment venues but also as town halls where important decrees were read and communal identity was reinforced. Theaters carried religious overtones, frequently dedicated to deities such as Dionysus or, in Ephesus, Artemis. Their cultural influence was so pervasive that “the theater” became a shorthand image for public acclaim—or public humiliation. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Acts 19:29 – During the Ephesian uproar, “the whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed all together into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.” The theater here is the literal stone amphitheater that could seat upward of twenty-four thousand people, underscoring the scale of the mob and the potential danger. 2. Acts 19:31 – While Paul’s supporters are rushed into the amphitheater, certain Asiarchs—“officials of the province, who were friends of Paul”—plead with him not to venture into the crowd. Their warning highlights the theater as a volatile space where civic pride, pagan devotion, and mob psychology converged. 3. 1 Corinthians 4:9 – Paul writes, “For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the line, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.” Here θέατρον is metaphorical. Paul pictures the apostles as condemned gladiators marched into the arena for final display, emphasizing the cost of apostolic ministry and the inverted values of the kingdom of God. Theological Significance A. Public Witness under Scrutiny The theater motif stresses that Christian faith is not a private hobby but a public testimony. Whether in literal riots or metaphorical arenas, believers are “on stage” before a watching world and an unseen heavenly audience (1 Corinthians 4:9; Hebrews 12:1). B. Suffering as Divine Display Paul’s use of θέατρον frames apostolic suffering as purposeful, even providential. Their hardships do not indicate divine neglect but divine appointment, revealing the gospel’s power through human weakness (2 Corinthians 4:7-11). C. Clash of Allegiances In Acts 19 the Ephesian theater epitomizes the conflict between the gospel and entrenched idolatry. Commerce, civic religion, and local identity converge to oppose the message of Christ. The scene anticipates the broader cosmic battle between the kingdom of God and worldly powers (Ephesians 6:12). Practical Ministry Applications • Expect Visibility: Churches and leaders should anticipate scrutiny and live transparently, knowing their conduct is “seen by all.” Archaeological Insights The remains of the Ephesian theater stand today within the ruins of ancient Ephesus. Its thirteen-tiered seating bowl, broad stage, and proximity to the harbor road corroborate Luke’s account, lending historical depth to Acts 19. Excavations show the theater was periodically renovated, affirming its central role in civic life throughout the first century. Related Concepts • “Arena” (agōn, Hebrews 12:1) – the contest setting that complements the theater image. In sum, Strong’s 2302 evokes far more than a physical building; it captures the tension between gospel proclamation and public perception, calling every generation of believers to faithfulness under the gaze of both earth and heaven. Englishman's Concordance Acts 19:29 N-ANSGRK: εἰς τὸ θέατρον συναρπάσαντες Γαῖον NAS: with one accord into the theater, dragging along KJV: with one accord into the theatre. INT: to the theatre having seized with [them] Gaius Acts 19:31 N-ANS 1 Corinthians 4:9 N-NNS |
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