Lexical Summary suneidon: To perceive, to be aware, to understand Original Word: συνεῖδον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance know, be privy, be aware of. From sun and eido; to see completely; used (like its primary) only in two past tenses, respectively meaning to understand or become aware, and to be conscious or (clandestinely) informed of -- consider, know, be privy, be ware of. see GREEK sun see GREEK eido NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sun and eidon Definition to see together, hence to comprehend NASB Translation aware (1), realized (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4894: συνεῖδονσυνεῖδον, participle συνιδών; perfect σύνοιδα, participle feminine genitive συνειδυίας (Acts 5:2 R G, συνειδης L T Tr WH; cf. Buttmann, 12 (11); (Tdf.; Proleg., p. 117; WHs Appendix, p. 156)); (see εἰδῶ); from Herodotus down; 1. to see (have seen) together with others. 2. to see (have seen) in one's mind, with oneself (cf. Fritzsche, Commentary on Romans, vol. i., p. 120; on Mark, pp. 36 and 78; (see σύν, II. 1 and 4)), i. e. to understand, perceive, comprehend: συνιδών, when he had understood it, Acts 12:12 (A. V. considered); Acts 14:6 (became aware) (2 Macc. 4:41 2Macc. 14:26, 30; 3Macc. 5:50; Polybius 1,4, 6; 3, 8, 9; etc.; Josephus, Antiquities 7, 15, 1; b. j. 4, 5,4; Plutarch, Themistius, 7). Perfect σύνοιδα (cf. σύν, as above) 1. to know with another, be privy to (so A. V.): Acts 5:2. 2. to know in one's mind or with oneself; to be conscious of: τί ἐμαυτῷ, 1 Corinthians 4:4 (R. V. know nothing against myself (cf. Wright, Bible Word-Book, 2nd edition, under the word 'By')) (τήν ἀδικίαν, Josephus, Antiquities 1, 1, 4; examples from Greek writings are given by Passow, under the word σύνοιδα, a.; (Liddell and Scott, under the word σύνοιδα, 2); followed by ὅτι (Dionysius Halicarnassus 2:995, 9); the Epistle of Barnabas 1 (4) 3). Strong’s Greek 4894 describes an awareness shared with oneself or with others—an inner recognition that can be either righteous or complicit in wrongdoing. The term appears four times in the New Testament and consistently highlights moral perception, accountability, and practical discernment. Occurrences and Narrative Function • Acts 5:2 — Ananias, “with his wife’s full knowledge,” keeps back part of the proceeds. Their joint awareness makes both liable before God, underscoring the seriousness of deliberate deception within the covenant community. Theological Emphases 1. Shared responsibility: Acts 5 shows that sin is often communal; knowledge binds participants together in accountability. Historical Context In the first-century Mediterranean world, communal honor and shame magnified the impact of shared knowledge. Early believers, emerging from Jewish and Greco-Roman backgrounds, understood that complicity—whether in financial deceit (Acts 5) or violent intent (Acts 14)—brought collective consequences. Relation to Conscience (Syneidēsis) While syneidēsis (conscience) is the inward faculty, 4894 focuses on the act of knowing together. It bridges private conviction and public responsibility, reminding the church that conscience operates in community. Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Encourage transparency in stewardship; secret collusion jeopardizes congregational holiness (Acts 5). Homiletical Outline Example I. The Peril of Shared Deceit (Acts 5:1-11) II. The Power of Shared Prayer (Acts 12:1-17) III. The Prudence of Shared Discernment (Acts 14:1-7) IV. The Priority of a Clear Conscience Under Divine Judgment (1 Corinthians 4:1-5) Practical Reflection Believers today must guard what they know together—whether finances, ministry strategies, or moral choices—recognizing that collective awareness invites collective blessing or discipline. Englishman's Concordance Acts 5:2 V-RPA-GFSGRK: τῆς τιμῆς συνειδυίης καὶ τῆς KJV: also being privy [to it], and INT: the value being aware of [it] also the Acts 12:12 V-APA-NMS Acts 14:6 V-APA-NMP 1 Corinthians 4:4 V-RIA-1S Strong's Greek 4894 |
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