Lexical Summary anaphainó: To appear, to make manifest, to show forth Original Word: ἀναφαίνω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance appear, discover. From ana and phaino; to show, i.e. (reflexively) appear, or (passively) to have pointed out -- (should) appear, discover. see GREEK ana see GREEK phaino NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ana and phainó Definition to bring to light, make to appear NASB Translation appear (1), came in sight (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 398: ἀναφαίνωἀναφαίνω: 1 aorist ἀνεφανα, Doric for the more common ἀνεφηνα (Acts 21:3 R T WH (with Erasm., Stephanus Thesaurus, Mill); cf. Passow, p. 2199; (Veitch, and Liddell and Scott, under the word φαίνω; Winers Grammar, 89 (85); Buttmann, 41 (35)); see ἐπιφαίνω); passive (present ἀναφαίνομαι); 2 aorist ἀνεφανην; (from Homer down); to bring to light, hold up to view, show; passive to appear, be made apparent: Luke 19:11. An unusual phrase is ἀναφανέντες τήν τήν Κύπρον having sighted Cyprus, for ἀναφανεισης ἡμῖν τῆς Κύπρου, Acts 21:3; cf. Buttmann, 190 (164); Winers Grammar, § 39, 1 a., p. 260 (244); here Rst T WH (see above) read ἀναφάναντες ... τήν Κύπρον after we had rendered Cyprus visible (to us); (R. V. had come in sight of Cyprus.). Topical Lexicon Overview of the Term Strong’s Greek 398, ἀναφαίνω, is a verb of manifestation—something that comes into view, emerges, or is brought to sight. In Scripture the word serves both a literal and an anticipatory purpose, marking either what the eye suddenly beholds or what faith expects to behold. Scriptural Occurrences Luke 19:11 records a crowd near Jerusalem who “thought that the kingdom of God would appear at once”. Their expectation is expressed with ἀναφαίνω. Jesus immediately answers with the Parable of the Minas, explaining that the King will indeed return and reign, but a period of stewardship and accountability precedes the visible event. Acts 21:3 recounts the sea journey of Paul: “After sighting Cyprus and passing it to the south, we sailed on to Syria”. Here ἀναφαίνω describes the moment land rises on the horizon. Luke’s use of the term not only supplies a nautical detail but also signals progress in the gospel’s advance toward Rome. Theological Themes 1. Manifestation of the Kingdom The hope that God’s reign will “appear” in unmistakable glory underlies Luke 19:11. Jesus’ corrective expands the Old Testament promise of a Messianic kingdom (Isaiah 9:6-7) by explaining its present, hidden growth and future, open display. 2. The “Already and Not Yet” Between the initial coming of Christ and His consummate return, believers live in tension. The kingdom is present in power (Luke 17:21) yet will one day be publicly revealed. ἀναφαίνω conveys this eschatological shift from veiled to visible. 3. Reliability of Apostolic Witness Acts 21:3 places readers on deck with Paul, establishing Luke’s credibility as a historian. The concrete appearance of Cyprus anchors the narrative in geography and verifies the missionary record. 4. Revelation and Accountability Just as the minas must be presented when the king reappears, so every steward will give account at Christ’s manifestation (2 Corinthians 5:10). The verb reminds believers that unseen realities will eventually stand in plain view. Historical Context in First-Century Judaism Messianic fervor was high as pilgrims streamed toward Jerusalem for Passover. Many anticipated immediate liberation from Roman rule. Jesus’ parable (Luke 19:12-27) reoriented that zeal: the Kingdom would not burst forth politically in that moment but would unfold according to divine timetable. The term ἀναφαίνω captures both the people’s impatience and the certainty of eventual fulfillment. Implications for Christian Ministry • Patience in Hope Ministers shepherd congregations between promise and appearance, urging diligence while Christ is physically absent yet certain to return. • Visible Witness While only God can unveil the final kingdom, believers are called to make the gospel “apparent” through love, holiness, and proclamation (Philippians 2:15). • Navigational Faith Paul’s sighting of Cyprus illustrates how the Lord provides markers along the journey. Pastors and missionaries discern such signals—open doors, partnerships, changed lives—that testify God is leading toward the ultimate horizon. Related Biblical Concepts • Ἐπιφάνεια (Titus 2:13) – the blazing “appearing” of Jesus Christ. Together these terms affirm that God’s redemptive work, though sometimes hidden, moves inexorably toward public revelation. Summary Strong’s Greek 398 portrays the moment unseen reality becomes visible, whether in a ship’s first glimpse of land or in the long-awaited revelation of God’s kingdom. It steadies the church with assurance that what faith now beholds will one day stand plainly before all eyes, calling every person to faithful stewardship until that day. Forms and Transliterations αναφαινεσθαι αναφαίνεσθαι ἀναφαίνεσθαι αναφάλαντός αναφαλαντώματι αναφαναντες ἀναφάναντες αναφανείη αναφανείταί αναφανέντες αναφανής αναφανούμαι anaphainesthai anaphaínesthai anaphanantes anaphánantesLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 19:11 V-PNM/PGRK: τοῦ θεοῦ ἀναφαίνεσθαι NAS: was going to appear immediately. KJV: should immediately appear. INT: of God to appear Acts 21:3 V-APA-NMP Strong's Greek 398 |
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