Lexical Summary trischilioi: Three thousand Original Word: τρισχίλιοι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance three thousand. From tris and chilioi; three times a thousand -- three thousand. see GREEK tris see GREEK chilioi NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tris and chilioi Definition three thousand NASB Translation three thousand (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5153: τρισχίλιοιτρισχίλιοι, τρισχίλιαι, τρισχίλια (τρίς and χίλιοι), three thousand: Acts 2:41. (From Homer down.) Topical Lexicon Occurrences in the New Testament Acts 2:41 contains the lone New-Testament use of τρισχίλιαι, recording the immediate harvest that followed Peter’s Pentecost sermon: “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day” (Acts 2:41). Pentecost and the Birth of the Church Three thousand converts signal the inauguration of the age of the Spirit. The number stresses the magnitude of divine power accompanying the gospel’s first public proclamation. Luke’s careful notation underscores that the church was not an obscure sect but began with thousands openly confessing Jesus as Messiah within the heart of Jerusalem (Acts 2:5, Acts 2:14). Their baptism on that same day demonstrates the apostolic practice of immediate identification with Christ and His body, setting a pattern for subsequent evangelistic ministry. Old Testament Parallels 1. Sinai Contrast (Exodus 32:28). When Israel broke covenant with the golden calf, “about three thousand of the people fell that day.” At Sinai, three thousand die; at Pentecost—fifty days after the true Passover Lamb has been slain—three thousand live. The juxtaposition illustrates the apostolic claim that “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). Theological Significance of the Number Three Thousand • Fulness and completeness multiplied: three (often symbolizing divine perfection) is magnified to a thousand (a term of immensity), portraying a superlative work of God. Implications for Evangelism and Discipleship 1. Expectant preaching. The Spirit may grant immediate, large-scale response when Christ is proclaimed with bold clarity (Acts 2:36-40). Liturgical and Missionary Reflections Pentecost reinforces that true revival is both word-centered and Spirit-empowered. The church’s liturgy should retain the apostolic balance: proclamation, sacrament, and communal life. Mission strategy likewise embraces the possibility of rapid multiplication yet commits to continued teaching and pastoral care. Related Numerals in Biblical Thought Other multiples of a thousand—such as the 144,000 of Revelation 7:4 or the thousand-year reign of Revelation 20:4—regularly point to vastness under God’s sovereign hand. Within that symbolic framework, the specific three thousand of Acts 2 represents a tangible firstfruits pledge of the “great multitude” promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:5; Revelation 7:9). Summary Strong’s Greek 5153 marks a decisive breakthrough in redemption history: three thousand souls transformed from listeners into disciples, from death in sin to life in Christ, heralding the worldwide advance of the gospel and showcasing the life-giving ministry of the Holy Spirit. Forms and Transliterations τρισχίλια τρισχιλιαι τρισχίλιαι τρισχίλιοι τρισχιλίους τριταίος τριταίων trischiliai trischíliaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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