Lexical Summary sugkatapséphizomai: To count together with, to vote with, to be numbered with. Original Word: συγκαταψηφίζομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance number with. From sun and a compound of kata and psephizo; to count down in company with, i.e. Enroll among -- number with. see GREEK sun see GREEK kata see GREEK psephizo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sun and a comp. of kata and pséphizó Definition to condemn with, spec. to vote (one) a place among NASB Translation added (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4785: συγκαταψηφίζωσυγκαταψηφίζω (T WH συνκαταψηφίζω (cf. σύν, II. at the end)): 1 aorist passive συγκατεψηφίσθην; 1. by depositing (κατά) a ballot in the urn (i. e. by voting for) "to assign one a place among (σύν), to vote one a place among": τινα μετά τινων, Acts 1:26. 2. middle to vote against with others, i. e. to condemn with others: Plutarch, Themistius, 21. Not found elsewhere. Strong’s Greek 4785 portrays the decisive act of officially adding someone to an already recognized body by a counted vote or casting of lots. It conveys both communal recognition and divine oversight, emphasizing that the individual so “numbered with” the group now shares fully in its identity, privileges, and obligations. Biblical Occurrence Acts 1:26 records the sole New Testament use: “Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” Here the early disciples seek the Lord’s choice to fill the vacancy left by Judas Iscariot, and the counting of Matthias restores the apostolic circle to twelve. Historical Background • Casting lots had deep roots in Israel: land allotments (Joshua 18:10), priestly duties (1 Chronicles 24:5), and temple service (Luke 1:9) were settled by lot, affirming that “the lot is cast into the lap, but every decision is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:33). Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: The disciples pray (Acts 1:24-25) and then cast lots, combining earnest petition with accepted procedure. God’s choice and the community’s action converge. Ministry Implications • Leadership Selection: While lots are no longer normative after Pentecost, the principle remains—leaders are recognized by God’s calling and the body’s confirmation (Acts 13:2-3; 1 Timothy 4:14). Typological Connections • Twelve Apostles and Twelve Tribes: The completed number signals the church as the true Israel, foreshadowing the eschatological city with “twelve foundations” (Revelation 21:14). Practical Application Believers today rest in the assurance that God personally appoints and integrates His servants into their tasks. Whatever the method—prayerful consensus, ordination, or spiritual gifting—the underlying reality is the same divine arithmetic that added Matthias to the eleven. Related Concepts • κλῆρος (lot) – emphasizes the instrument of divine choice. Summary Strong’s Greek 4785 encapsulates the moment God, through an acknowledged human process, publicly incorporates a believer into definitive service. Acts 1:26 presents the pattern: prayer, providence, and participation converge so that the work of Christ proceeds with an unbroken, Spirit-guided witness. |
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