Lexical Summary anadidómi: To give up, to deliver, to hand over Original Word: ἀναδίδωμι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance deliver. From ana and didomi; to hand over -- deliver. see GREEK ana see GREEK didomi NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ana and didómi Definition to give up, yield NASB Translation delivered (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 325: ἀναδίδωμιἀναδίδωμι: 2 aorist participle ἀναδούς; 1. to give forth, send up, so of the earth producing plants, of plants yielding fruit, etc.; in secular authors. 2. according to the second sense which ἀνά has in composition (see ἀνά, 3 b.), to deliver up, hand over: ἐπιστολήν, Acts 23:33 (the same phrase in Polybius (29, 10, 7) and Plutarch). Rooted in the compound of ana (“up” or “again”) and didómi (“give”), Strong’s 325 emphasizes a deliberate handing over to someone of higher rank or greater responsibility. Unlike paradidómi, often shaded by betrayal, anadidómi carries the positive sense of trustworthy delivery or formal submission. Biblical Setting Acts 23 records Paul’s nighttime transfer from Jerusalem to Caesarea under heavy Roman escort. Verse 33 reads, “When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him” (Acts 23:33). The participle ἀναδόντες characterizes the messenger-soldiers as conscientious stewards of their commander’s written testimony, underlining the orderly nature of Roman jurisprudence that Providence employed to safeguard the apostle. Historical Background Roman military couriers routinely carried official dispatches on the cursus publicus. A letter authenticated by a tribune like Claudius Lysias bore legal weight equivalent to personal testimony. The verb captures that administrative precision: the missive, once surrendered to Felix, became part of the judicial dossier. This scene mirrors Hellenistic protocol where anadidómi described surrendering inventories, wills, or property deeds to magistrates. Theological Significance 1. Divine preservation—The safe transfer of the letter ensured Paul’s right to a fair hearing, illustrating how God can utilize secular systems to advance redemptive purposes (compare Proverbs 21:1). Comparative Usage in the Septuagint In the Greek Old Testament the verb frequently depicts returning or handing back sacred or legal items (for example, 2 Kings 12:15 LXX where temple funds are entrusted to workmen). Such passages reinforce the function of anadidómi as a mark of covenantal faithfulness: what is received from God or authority must be returned intact. Occurrences and Form New Testament: one instance, Acts 23:33, aorist active participle masculine plural (ἀναδόντες). No textual variants affect the reading. The rarity in the canon accentuates the precision of Luke’s vocabulary, chosen to depict an official act rather than a casual giving. Application for Ministry • Integrity in transmission—Pastors and teachers must hand over the apostolic deposit without alteration, echoing the accuracy of the couriers. Related Vocabulary paradidómi (3860): often negative, betrayal or judicial surrender epididómi (1929): granting or extending in addition antididómi (467): giving back in exchange The lone New Testament appearance of ἀναδίδωμι nevertheless illuminates a rich theology of stewardship, trust, and divine oversight woven through Luke’s narrative and the wider Scriptures. |
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