Lexical Summary katholou: At all, altogether, entirely Original Word: καθόλου Strong's Exhaustive Concordance at all. From kata and holos; on the whole, i.e. Entirely -- at all. see GREEK kata see GREEK holos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originadverb from kata and holos Definition in general NASB Translation all (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2527: καθόλουκαθόλου (i. e. καθ' ὅλου ( as it is written in authors before Aristotle (Liddell and Scott))), adverb, wholly, entirely, at all: Acts 4:18. ((Exodus 22:11); Ezekiel 13:3, 22; Amos 3:3, 4; Xenophon, Plato, Demosthenes, Aristotle, and following.) Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 2527 appears once in the Greek New Testament (Acts 4:18) and conveys the idea of a total, sweeping prohibition—“at all,” “in any way,” or “completely.” Though a small word, its single use underscores a decisive clash between human authority and the divine mandate to proclaim Jesus Christ. Occurrence in the New Testament Acts 4:18 records the Sanhedrin’s formal order to the apostles: “Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18). Here the word intensifies the prohibition: no room remains for compromise, partial obedience, or selective silence. Historical Setting and Legal Force 1. The Sanhedrin’s Authority. In first-century Judea the Sanhedrin exercised legal oversight in religious matters. By deploying a term that insists on absolute silence, the council attempted to shut down the rapidly spreading testimony about the resurrection. Linguistic and Cultural Significance • Rooted in the idea of “according to the whole,” the term later supplied the Church with the adjective “catholic” (“universal”). While the noun form refers to the Church’s worldwide scope, the adverb in Acts highlights totality in prohibition—hinting at the broader tension between universal gospel mission and localized attempts at suppression. Theological Implications 1. Divine versus Human Commands. Peter and John immediately reply: “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God” (Acts 4:19). The absoluteness of the Sanhedrin’s ban is met by an even higher absolute—the necessity of obedience to God. Early Church Reflection Ignatius of Antioch first used the cognate adjective “katholikos,” describing the Church as “universal.” The adverb’s root concept—wholeness—fed into early Christian self-understanding: the message prohibited in Jerusalem soon filled the entire world (Romans 10:18). Ministry Applications Today • Bold Proclamation. Modern believers facing legal or cultural pressures can draw courage from Acts 4: the same Spirit who emboldened Peter and John continues to equip the Church. Summary Strong’s 2527 marks the Sanhedrin’s attempt at an all-encompassing gag order. Its solitary appearance accentuates the resolve of earthly powers to silence the gospel and the greater resolve of God’s people to obey Him. The word’s very meaning—totality—ironically underscores the unstoppable, worldwide advance of the name that could not be shut down. Forms and Transliterations καθολου καθόλου καθομολογήσηται καθωμολογήσατο katholou kathólouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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