Lexical Summary phasis: Appearance, Manifestation Original Word: φάσις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance tidings. From phemi (not the same as "phase", which is from phaino); a saying, i.e. Report -- tidings. see GREEK phemi see GREEK phaino NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom phémi Definition information, a report NASB Translation report (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5334: φάσιςφάσις, φασεως, ἡ (from φαίνω); 1. in the Attic orators, "the exposure of (informing against) those who have embezzled the property of the state, or violated the laws respecting the importation or exportation of merchandise, or defrauded their wards". 2. universally, a disclosure of secret crime (κοινῶς δέ φασεις ἐκαλουντο πᾶσαι αἱ μηνυσεις τῶν λανθανοντων ἀδικημάτων, Pollux 8, 6, 47): Susanna, 55, Theod.; of information by report (A. V. tidings), Acts 21:31. φάσις carries the sense of a spoken or transmitted “report,” “news,” or “public declaration.” In secular Greek it ranges from an authoritative statement to a circulating rumor. The single New Testament occurrence retains this breadth by denoting information that has traveled quickly and provoked decisive action. Usage in Acts 21:31 “While they were trying to kill him, the report reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar” (Acts 21:31). Here φάσις is the urgent notification delivered to the military tribune stationed at the Fortress Antonia. The word emphasizes: Historical Background Jerusalem during the feast season was volatile. Rome maintained a cohort nearby precisely to quell disturbances. Roman military culture valued prompt, reliable reports; φάσις fits that milieu. Luke, as a meticulous historian, selects this term to signal how secular authority unexpectedly serves God’s providential purposes (compare Proverbs 21:1). Theological Significance 1. Divine Sovereignty over Human Communication: The same God who commissions the “good news” (εὐαγγέλιον) can employ a secular φάσις to safeguard His messenger. Parallels in the Hebrew Scriptures The Septuagint uses cognate terms for “report” in passages like 2 Samuel 4:4 and Jeremiah 10:22, where news of tragedy or invasion moves kings and nations. φάσις in Acts echoes these Old Testament patterns: momentous reports that change destinies and reveal divine oversight. Practical Ministry Applications • Integrity in Communication: Believers are stewards of information. Accurate reporting can protect lives and reputations; careless gossip can destroy both. Interrelated New Testament Concepts – Witness (μαρτυρία): Both involve conveying truth that demands response. – Proclamation (κήρυγμα): Whereas φάσις can be secular or sacred, κήρυγμα is explicitly the heralding of God’s message. – Rumor (ἀκοή, Matthew 24:6): Jesus foretells a flood of reports in the last days, underscoring the need for discernment. Summary φάσις, though appearing only once, illustrates the biblical theme that God works through everyday channels of news and report. He harnesses even military communications to advance the spread of the gospel and to protect His servants, urging believers to value truth, speed, and responsibility in all their speech. |
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