Lexical Summary sumpino: To drink together, to drink with Original Word: συμπίνω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance drink with. From sun and pino; to partake a beverage in company -- drink with. see GREEK sun see GREEK pino Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4844: συμπίνωσυμπίνω: 2 aorist συνεπιον; from (Herodotus, Aristophanes), Xenophon, and Plato down; to drink with:τίνι, one, Acts 10:41. STRONGS NT 4844a: συμπίπτωσυμπίπτω: 2 aorist συνέπεσον; from Homer down; to fall together, collapse, fall in: of a house, Luke 6:49 T Tr WH. Strong’s Greek 4844 denotes the act of drinking together in table fellowship. In the New Testament it occurs once, describing the apostles’ shared table with the risen Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 10:41). Although singular in appearance, the term belongs to a broader biblical motif of covenant meals that confirm relationship, testimony, and joy in God’s saving acts. Context in Acts 10:41 Peter testifies in the house of Cornelius that the resurrected Jesus “was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses God had chosen in advance—by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead” (Acts 10:41). Here the verb underscores two truths: 1. Eyewitness Validation – Eating and drinking with Jesus provides tangible, physical evidence that His resurrection was bodily, not merely spiritual. Historical and Cultural Background First-century Judaism regarded shared meals as markers of acceptance, unity, and covenant solidarity. To invite someone to the table signified peace; to drink together sealed that peace. After His resurrection, Jesus intentionally met His disciples in this familiar context (cf. Luke 24:41-43; John 21:12-14). Acts 10:41, spoken to Gentiles, bridges Jewish table customs with the universal reach of the gospel, a key theme in the Cornelius narrative. Theological Significance 1. Bodily Resurrection – The risen Lord’s participation in food and drink disproves any docetic notion that He only appeared to rise. His physical presence authenticates the hope of our own bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20). Implications for Christian Fellowship Early believers “devoted themselves… to the breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42). By recounting that Jesus drank with them, Peter grounds ongoing Christian meals—ordinary hospitality and the Lord’s Supper alike—in resurrection reality. Shared eating and drinking become acts of remembrance, unity, and foretaste of glory. Practical Ministry Applications • Testimony: Emphasize the concreteness of Jesus’ resurrection in evangelism, following Peter’s model. Related Biblical Themes and Passages Exodus 24:11; Judges 19:21; Psalm 23:5; Isaiah 25:6-8; Luke 24:30-32; John 6:51-56; Acts 2:46; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Revelation 3:20; Revelation 19:9. Conclusion Though the verb appears only once, its single use amplifies a rich biblical theme: God meets His people at the table. The apostles’ drinking with the risen Lord authenticates the gospel, models Christian fellowship, and points the church toward the coming banquet where Christ will again raise the cup with His redeemed. |
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