626. apologeomai

Lexical Summary

apologeomai: To defend oneself, to make a defense, to give an account

Original Word: ἀπολογέομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: apologeomai
Pronunciation: ap-ol-og-eh'-om-ahee
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ol-og-eh'-om-ahee)
KJV: answer (for self), make defence, excuse (self), speak for self
NASB: Make defense, defending, defend, make a defense, said in defense, saying in defense, speak in defense
Word Origin: [middle voice from a compound of G575 (ἀπό - since) and G3056 (λόγος - word)]

1. to give an account of oneself
2. (legally) to make a plea
3. (by extension) to justify oneself (exonerate)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

answer for oneself, make defense.

Middle voice from a compound of apo and logos; to give an account (legal plea) of oneself, i.e. Exculpate (self) -- answer (for self), make defence, excuse (self), speak for self.

see GREEK apo

see GREEK logos

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 626 apologéomai – properly, to reason from solid proof (sound logic); to make a compelling defense with sound logic (argumentation). See 627 (apologia).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from apo and logos
Definition
to give an account of oneself, hence to defend oneself
NASB Translation
defend (1), defending (2), make a defense (1), make...defense (3), said in...defense (1), saying in...defense (1), speak in...defense (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 626: ἀπολογέομαι

ἀπολογέομαι, ἀπολογοῦμαι; imperfect ἀπελογουμην (Acts 26:1); 1 aorist ἀπελογησαμην; 1 aorist passive infinitive ἀπολογηθῆναι, in a reflexive sense (Luke 21:14); a deponent middle verb (from λόγος), properly, "to speak so as to absolve (ἀπό) oneself, talk oneself off" of a charge etc.;

1. to defend oneself, make one's defense: absolutely, Luke 21:14; Acts 26:1; followed by ὅτι, Acts 25:8; τί, to bring forward something in defense of oneself, Luke 12:11; Acts 26:24 (often so in Greek writings also); τά περί ἐμαυτοῦ ἀπολογοῦμαι either I bring forward what contributes to my defense (?), or I plead my own cause (R. V. make my defense), Acts 24:10; περί with the genitive of the thing and ἐπί with the genitive of person, concerning a thing before one's tribunal, Acts 26:2; with the dative of the person whom by my defense I strive to convince that I am innocent or upright, to defend or justify myself in one's eyes (A. V. unto), Acts 19:33; 2 Corinthians 12:19 (Plato, Prot., p. 859 a.; often in Lucian, Plutarch; (cf. Buttmann, 172 (149))).

2. to defend a person or a thing (so not infrequent in secular authors): Romans 2:15 (where according to the context the deeds of men must be understood as defended); τά περί ἐμοῦ, Acts 26:2 (but see under 1).

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Strong’s Greek 626 (ἀπολογέομαι, apologeomai) describes the act of offering an ordered defense—normally a spoken reply made in a court or other public arena when one’s conduct or teaching is under scrutiny. Although the term appears only ten times in the Greek New Testament, those occurrences provide a rich portrait of evangelistic boldness, pastoral care, and personal integrity in times of opposition.

Forensic Setting and Nuances

1. Legal defense before civic authorities: Acts 19:33; Acts 24:10; Acts 25:8; Acts 26:1-2, 24 all place the speaker in a formal judicial setting. The verb underscores that Christianity never feared rigorous examination; rather, believers welcomed the opportunity to clarify the gospel.
2. Public defense before hostile crowds: Acts 19:33 pictures an attempted rebuttal to a riot in Ephesus, showing the faith’s capacity to engage cultural turmoil with reasoned speech.
3. Internal defense of conscience: Romans 2:15 moves the concept from a courtroom to the inner tribunal of conscience, illustrating that even Gentiles possess a moral barometer that alternately accuses or “defends” (ἀπολογουμένων) their thoughts.
4. Pastoral or apostolic self-vindication: 2 Corinthians 12:19 reveals Paul’s concern to maintain transparent credibility before the church: “All this time have you been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of it, beloved, is to build you up.”
5. Prepared yet Spirit-led testimony: Luke 12:11 and Luke 21:14 show Christ instructing disciples not to succumb to anxiety about their upcoming defenses, because the Holy Spirit would give the needed words. The verb therefore carries both preparedness and reliance on divine aid.

Representative Passages

• Acts 26:1-2: “Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You are permitted to speak for yourself.’ Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense… ‘I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, to be making my defense today.’”
• Luke 12:11: “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.”
• Acts 25:8: “Paul said in his defense, ‘I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against Caesar.’”
• Romans 2:15: “…their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, and even defending them.”
• 2 Corinthians 12:19: “All this time have you been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of it, beloved, is to build you up.”

Theological Themes

1. Christ-centered apologetics: The verb highlights that Christian defense is not mere self-preservation; it strives to clarify and commend the truth of Jesus Christ.
2. Providence and inspiration: Luke’s two warnings (Luke 12:11; 21:14) balance responsible preparation with absolute dependence on the Spirit’s guidance.
3. Suffering and witness: Defenses are most often offered in contexts of persecution, fulfilling Jesus’ promise that “you will be my witnesses” even before kings (Acts 1:8; cf. Acts 26).
4. Integrity of life and doctrine: Paul’s repeated use emphasizes consistency between message and conduct; a credible defense rests on a blameless life (Acts 24:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:10).
5. Universal accountability: Romans 2:15 confirms that all humanity possesses an internal moral witness, so no one is exempt from God’s judgment; even the conscience “mounts a defense” when actions align with His law.

Historical and Ministry Significance

• Apostolic precedent for Christian apologetics: Paul’s speeches in Acts form the prototype for reasoned gospel proclamation before varied audiences—Jewish, Gentile, and governmental.
• Legitimacy in Roman courts: Luke records each defense to show that Christianity was not a political threat; believers were typically acquitted or judged harmless, strengthening the church’s legal standing in the Empire.
• Formation of creeds and confessions: The early church learned to crystallize core doctrines precisely because public challenges demanded clear answers.
• Model for pastoral leadership: Paul’s transparency in 2 Corinthians illustrates how spiritual leaders may need to “defend” motives and methods to safeguard flock unity.
• Evangelistic opportunity amid hostility: Every occurrence demonstrates that opposition can become a pulpit; a defense becomes proclamation when Christ is central.

Practical Application for Believers Today

1. Cultivate a clear conscience so that any required defense rests on moral credibility (1 Peter 3:16).
2. Study Scripture diligently, yet trust the Holy Spirit for timely words and calm composure.
3. View trials as strategic platforms for gospel witness rather than mere injustices to escape.
4. Maintain humility; a defense aims to win hearers to Christ, not simply to win arguments.
5. Encourage fellow believers who face legal or societal pressure, reminding them of the apostolic pattern and divine aid.

Summary

ἀπολογέομαι portrays the spirit-empowered, Christ-honoring defense of the faith—whether before courts, crowds, congregations, or one’s own conscience. In every setting it calls believers to combine readiness, integrity, and reliance on the Spirit, turning potential accusations into occasions for the advance of the gospel.

Forms and Transliterations

απελογειτο απελογείτο ἀπελογεῖτο απολογεισθαι απολογείσθαι ἀπολογεῖσθαι απολογηθηναι απολογηθήναι ἀπολογηθῆναι απολογήματά απολογησησθε απολογήσησθε ἀπολογήσησθε απολογήσομαι απολογουμαι απολογούμαι ἀπολογοῦμαι απολογουμεθα απολογούμεθα ἀπολογούμεθα απολογουμενου απολογουμένου ἀπολογουμένου απολογουμενων απολογουμένων ἀπολογουμένων apelogeito apelogeîto apologeisthai apologeîsthai apologesesthe apologēsēsthe apologḗsesthe apologḗsēsthe apologethenai apologethênai apologēthēnai apologēthē̂nai apologoumai apologoûmai apologoumenon apologoumenōn apologouménon apologouménōn apologoumenou apologouménou apologoumetha apologoúmetha

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 12:11 V-ASM-2P
GRK: ἢ τί ἀπολογήσησθε ἢ τί
NAS: what you are to speak in your defense, or
KJV: or what thing ye shall answer, or what
INT: or what you shall reply in defense or what

Luke 21:14 V-ANP
GRK: μὴ προμελετᾷν ἀπολογηθῆναι
NAS: not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;
KJV: to meditate before what ye shall answer:
INT: not to premeditate to make a defense

Acts 19:33 V-PNM/P
GRK: χεῖρα ἤθελεν ἀπολογεῖσθαι τῷ δήμῳ
NAS: was intending to make a defense to the assembly.
KJV: and would have made his defence unto the people.
INT: hand wished to make a defense to the people

Acts 24:10 V-PIM/P-1S
GRK: περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ ἀπολογοῦμαι
NAS: nation, I cheerfully make my defense,
KJV: the more cheerfully answer for
INT: concerning myself I make defense

Acts 25:8 V-PPM/P-GMS
GRK: τοῦ Παύλου ἀπολογουμένου ὅτι Οὔτε
NAS: while Paul said in his own defense, I have committed
KJV: While he answered for himself, Neither
INT: Paul said in his own defense Neither

Acts 26:1 V-IIM/P-3S
GRK: τὴν χεῖρα ἀπελογεῖτο
NAS: out his hand and [proceeded] to make his defense:
KJV: the hand, and answered for himself:
INT: the hand made a defense

Acts 26:2 V-PNM/P
GRK: μέλλων σήμερον ἀπολογεῖσθαι
NAS: that I am about to make my defense before
KJV: because I shall answer for myself this day
INT: being about today to make defense

Acts 26:24 V-PPM/P-GMS
GRK: δὲ αὐτοῦ ἀπολογουμένου ὁ Φῆστος
NAS: While [Paul] was saying this
KJV: thus spake for himself, Festus
INT: moreover of him uttering in his defense Festus

Romans 2:15 V-PPM/P-GMP
GRK: ἢ καὶ ἀπολογουμένων
NAS: or else defending them,
KJV: or else excusing one another;)
INT: or also defending

2 Corinthians 12:19 V-PIM/P-1P
GRK: ὅτι ὑμῖν ἀπολογούμεθα κατέναντι θεοῦ
NAS: you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. [Actually], it is in the sight
KJV: that we excuse ourselves unto you?
INT: that to you we are making a defense before God

Strong's Greek 626
10 Occurrences

ἀπελογεῖτο — 1 Occ.
ἀπολογήσησθε — 1 Occ.
ἀπολογηθῆναι — 1 Occ.
ἀπολογεῖσθαι — 2 Occ.
ἀπολογοῦμαι — 1 Occ.
ἀπολογουμένων — 1 Occ.
ἀπολογουμένου — 2 Occ.
ἀπολογούμεθα — 1 Occ.