Lexical Summary sunerchomai: To come together, to assemble, to gather Original Word: συνέρχομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance accompany, assembleFrom sun and erchomai; to convene, depart in company with, associate with, or (specially), cohabit (conjugally) -- accompany, assemble (with), come (together), come (company, go) with, resort. see GREEK sun see GREEK erchomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sun and erchomai Definition to come together, by ext. to accompany NASB Translation accompanied (2), assemble (2), assembled (3), assembles (1), came (3), came together (3), come (1), come together (7), coming together (1), gathered (1), gathered together (1), gathering (1), go (1), gone (1), meet (1), went (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4905: συνέρχομαισυνέρχομαι; imperfect συνηρχομην; 2 aorist συνῆλθον, once (Acts 10:45 T Tr WH) 3 person plural συνῆλθαν (see ἀπέρχομαι, at the beginning); perfect participle συνεληλυθως; pluperfect 3 person plural συνεληλύθεισαν; from Homer down (Iliad 10, 224 in tmesis); 1. to come together, i. e., a. to assemble: absolutely, Mark 3:20; Acts 1:6; Acts 2:6; Acts 10:27; Acts 16:13; Acts 19:32; Acts 21:22; ( b. Like the Latinconvenio equivalent tocoeo: of conjugal cohabitation, Matthew 1:18 (but cf. Weiss at the passage (and the opinions in Meyer)) (Xenophon, mem. 2, 2, 4; Diodorus 8, 58; Philo de caritat. § 14; de fortitud. § 7; de speciall. legg. § 4; Josephus, Antiquities 7, 8, 1 and 7, 9, 5; Apollod. Bibl. 1, 3, 3); with ἐπί τό αὐτό added, 1 Corinthians 7:5 Rec. 2. to go (depart) or come with one, to accompany one (see ἔρχομαι, II., p. 252a): τίνι, with one, Luke 23:55 (Tr text brackets the dative); Acts 1:21 (here A. V. company with); The verb translated “come together” or “gather” (Strong’s Greek 4905) portrays persons converging to one place for a shared purpose—whether curiosity, mourning, worship, deliberation, or judgment. The contexts range from domestic encounters to public assemblies and formal councils. By tracing its thirty New Testament occurrences, one sees a thread of God–directed convergence that advances revelation, mission, order, and fellowship. Gatherings Surrounding the Incarnation Matthew 1:18 uses the term to describe the stage at which Mary and Joseph were “pledged to be married … before they came together.” The phrase safeguards the virgin conception, underscoring divine initiative untouched by human agency. Even here, the word points beyond a mere physical meeting; it frames the mystery of the Word made flesh within the covenant structure of marriage. Crowds Drawn to Jesus’ Earthly Ministry Mark 3:20 and Luke 5:15 depict multitudes converging upon Jesus, so much so that “He and His disciples could not even eat” (Mark 3:20). The gatherings testify to the magnetic authority of Christ’s teaching and healing and preview the later church, where people would again assemble around His name. Witnesses at Calvary and the Empty Tomb Luke 23:55 records the women “who had come with Jesus from Galilee” observing His burial. Their shared journey and continued gathering supply eyewitness continuity between crucifixion and resurrection, cementing historical credibility. Grief and Consolation in Bethany At Lazarus’ tomb, John 11:33 notes the Jews “who had come with her” (Mary) weeping. Here the gathering becomes a setting for Jesus’ compassion and a prelude to resurrection power, illustrating how communal sorrow is transformed by His life-giving word. Pentecost and the Birth of the Church Acts 2:6: “When this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment.” The same verb that described miscellaneous crowds now marks the Spirit-formed congregation. Human convergence around Divine action births the multilingual proclamation of the gospel. Acts 10:45 shows Jewish believers who “had accompanied Peter” astonished at Gentile inclusion. The shared experience underlines the gospel’s boundary-breaking reach and the emerging unity of Jew and Gentile. Missionary Travel and Hospitality Peter’s stay in Caesarea (Acts 10:23, 27), Paul’s riverside prayer meeting at Philippi (Acts 16:13), and the mixed escort to Jerusalem (Acts 21:16) reveal gatherings that facilitate mission: lodging shared, households opened, disciples enlisted. Spiritual advance regularly rides on hospitable convergence. Councils and Deliberative Bodies From the Jerusalem debate over John Mark (Acts 15:38) to tribunals before Roman officials (Acts 22:30; 25:17; 28:17), the word frames occasions where evidence is weighed and decisions rendered. The narrative repeatedly contrasts orderly consultation with chaotic mobs (e.g., Acts 19:32), affirming that truth can stand transparent scrutiny. Orderly Worship in Corinth No passage applies the term more theologically than 1 Corinthians 11–14. These verses anchor ecclesiology: gathering is essential yet must be ordered by love, edification, remembrance of Christ, and doctrinal clarity. Legal and Civic Overtones Acts 19:32 depicts an Ephesian mob where “the assembly was in confusion.” The same verb can denote either holy convocation or civic tumult, reminding readers that gatherings mirror the hearts of those assembled; only submission to Christ converts disorder into worship. Theological Trajectory and Eschatological Glimpse Every occurrence pushes toward a consummate meeting when all believers will be “gathered together” to Christ (foreshadowed in 2 Thessalonians 2:1 with a cognate). The present assemblies, whether small house churches or large councils, are rehearsals for that final convocation. Practical Ministry Insights 1. Expect God to work where believers intentionally come together for prayer, teaching, and sacrament. In sum, Strong’s Greek 4905 sketches a divine strategy: the Lord draws people into shared space so His word can be heard, His power displayed, His body built, and His purposes advanced until the ultimate gathering in glory. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 1:18 V-ANAGRK: πρὶν ἢ συνελθεῖν αὐτοὺς εὑρέθη NAS: before they came together she was found KJV: they came together, she was found INT: before rather came together they she was found Mark 3:20 V-PIM/P-3S Mark 14:53 V-PIM/P-3P Luke 5:15 V-IIM/P-3P Luke 23:55 V-RPA-NFP John 11:33 V-APA-AMP John 18:20 V-PIM/P-3P Acts 1:6 V-APA-NMP Acts 1:21 V-APA-GMP Acts 2:6 V-AIA-3S Acts 5:16 V-IIM/P-3S Acts 9:39 V-AIA-3S Acts 10:23 V-AIA-3P Acts 10:27 V-RPA-AMP Acts 10:45 V-AIA-3P Acts 11:12 V-ANA Acts 15:38 V-APA-AMS Acts 16:13 V-APA-DFP Acts 19:32 V-LIA-3P Acts 21:16 V-AIA-3P Acts 22:30 V-ANA Acts 25:17 V-APA-GMP Acts 28:17 V-APA-GMP 1 Corinthians 11:17 V-PIM/P-2P 1 Corinthians 11:18 V-PPM/P-GMP Strong's Greek 4905 |
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