Lexical Summary perioché: Region, area, district Original Word: περιοχή Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Scripture passageFrom periecho; a being held around, i.e. (concretely) a passage (of Scripture, as circumscribed) -- place. see GREEK periecho NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom periechó Definition circumference, a portion circumscribed NASB Translation passage (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4042: περιοχήπεριοχή, περιοχῆς, ἡ (περιέχω, which see); 1. an encompassing, compass, circuit (Theophrastus, Diodorus, Plutarch, others). 2. that which is contained; specifically, the contents of any writing, Acts 8:32 (Cicero, ad Attic. 13, 25; Stobaeus, eclog. ethic., p. 164 (ii., p. 541, Gaisford edition)) (but A. V. place i. e. passage; cf. Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word). The noun rendered “passage” in Acts 8:32 denotes a defined section of a written work. Luke employs it to describe the precise portion of Isaiah read by the Ethiopian official. By selecting this rare word, he underscores that the Holy Spirit guided Philip to a particular, divinely appointed text rather than to Scripture in general. The term therefore highlights both the unity of the biblical canon and the providential timing that brings a pointed portion of prophecy into direct contact with a searching heart. Context in Acts 8:32 “The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: ‘He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.’” (Acts 8:32) The official is traveling homeward from worship in Jerusalem, unrolling his Isaiah scroll, and reaching the section we know as Isaiah 53:7–8. The Spirit sends Philip at precisely this moment, bridging Old Testament promise with New Testament fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The single occurrence of the word in the New Testament thus paints a vivid portrait of God’s sovereign orchestration: a seeker, a specific Scripture portion, and a ready evangelist converge to produce immediate gospel proclamation and baptism. Historical Background First–century scrolls lacked chapters and verses; readers located material by physical familiarity or memory. A distinctive term for “section” suggests early conventions for dividing texts in public or private reading, anticipating later synagogue lectionaries and Christian pericopes. The Ethiopian, holding a personal copy of Isaiah in Greek, testifies to the spread of the Septuagint among diaspora Jews and God-fearers. His encounter becomes one of the earliest recorded instances of cross-cultural evangelism, foreshadowing the gospel’s advance “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Significance in Biblical Theology 1. Inspiration and Unity: The Spirit’s focus on a single portion shows that every part of Scripture is God-breathed and capable of pointing sinners to Christ (2 Timothy 3:15-16). Practical Application for Ministry Related Old Testament Concepts The Hebrew Bible often speaks of a “portion” (Deuteronomy 32:9; Nehemiah 8:8), whether referring to land, sacrificial food, or Scripture read aloud. Nehemiah’s reforms, for example, involved distinct readings followed by explanation (Nehemiah 8:8-12), an approach mirrored by Philip. Such parallels reveal a consistent biblical pattern: selected portions serve as vehicles for covenant renewal and spiritual awakening. Summary Strong’s Greek 4042 appears only once, yet its strategic placement in Acts 8 emphasizes God’s providence in matching a specific Scripture section with a prepared heart through a ready messenger. The episode affirms the sufficiency of every part of God’s Word, the centrality of Christ in all Scripture, and the ongoing call for believers to handle the sacred text accurately in mission and ministry. |
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