643. aposkeuazó

Lexical Summary

aposkeuazó: To pack up, to prepare for departure, to remove baggage.

Original Word: ἀποσκευάζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: aposkeuazó
Pronunciation: ah-pos-kyoo-ad'-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-osk-yoo-ad'-zo)
KJV: take up carriages
Word Origin: [from G575 (ἀπό - since) and a derivative of G4632 (σκεῦος - vessels)]

1. to pack up (one's) baggage

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

prepare, equip

From apo and a derivative of skeuos; to pack up (one's) baggage -- take up... Carriages.

see GREEK apo

see GREEK skeuos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
variant reading for episkeuazó, q.v.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 643: ἀποσκευάζω

ἀποσκευάζω: 1 aorist middle ἀπεσκευασαμην; (σκευάζω to prepare, provide, from σκεῦος a utensil), to carry off goods and chattels; to pack up and carry off; middle to carry off one's personal property or provide for its carrying away (Polybius 4, 81, 11; Diodorus 13, 91; Dionysius Halicarnassus 9, 23, etc.): ἀποσκευασάμενοι having collected and removed our baggage Acts 21:15; but L T Tr WH read ἐπισκευασάμενοι (which see).

Topical Lexicon

Root Idea

Strong’s Greek 643 pictures the act of making the final, concrete preparations that precede a journey—gathering belongings, arranging provisions, putting everything in order so that travel can begin without delay. While the term itself is rare, the concept of readiness echoes throughout Scripture, where God’s people are repeatedly called to prepare both physically and spiritually for His purposes.

New Testament Occurrence

Acts 21:15 records the only use of the word: “After these days, we packed up and went on to Jerusalem.”. Luke, writing as an eyewitness, notes that Paul and his companions did not move on impulse; they deliberately organized their affairs before taking the decisive step toward Jerusalem.

Context in Acts 21:15

1. Missional Transition
• Paul had just concluded a fruitful season of ministry in Caesarea (Acts 21:8–14).
• Prophetic warnings had confirmed that imprisonment awaited him in Jerusalem, yet Paul remained resolute (Acts 20:22–24; 21:11–13).
• The act of “packing up” signals that every member of the missionary band agreed to accompany Paul despite imminent danger.

2. Fellowship and Support
• The phrase implies shared labor. Each traveler contributed to collecting supplies, demonstrating unity (compare Ecclesiastes 4:9–12).
• Such cooperation anticipates the larger body of Christ in Jerusalem, who would later rejoice over “all that God had done among the Gentiles through them” (Acts 21:19).

Connection with Missions and Ministry

Preparation is integral to biblical mission. Jesus instructed His disciples: “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts” (Matthew 10:9), not to discourage planning but to cultivate dependence on God. Paul, however, models balanced stewardship—planning responsibly without compromising faith. The blend of prudent organization (Acts 21:15) and unwavering trust (Acts 21:13) sets a template for modern ministry teams that must raise funds, secure visas, arrange housing, and still rely on the Lord’s provision.

Spiritual Overtones of Preparation

1. Readiness for Obedience
• Believers are exhorted to “be ready in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).
• The “packed-up” posture mirrors the Passover command: “you must eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover” (Exodus 12:11), signaling alertness to God’s timing.

2. Eschatological Expectation
• Jesus likened faithful servants to people prepared for their master’s return (Luke 12:35–36).
• Spiritual “packing” involves laying aside every weight (Hebrews 12:1) and storing up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:20).

Illustrations in Old Testament and Intertestamental Usage

Though the specific Greek verb is absent from the Septuagint, the idea appears when Israel “set out” from Sinai (Numbers 10:14), or when Ezra “arranged” the temple vessels for safe transport (Ezra 8:24–30). Each episode underscores that orderly preparation enables safe passage and faithful worship.

Historical Background of Travel Preparations in the First Century

• Journeys were arduous: roads were rough, inns scarce, hazards common (2 Corinthians 11:26).
• Travelers packed food, bedding, manuscripts, money, and letters of commendation (Romans 16:1–2).
• Porters or pack animals were hired when possible, but missionary teams often carried their own loads, heightening the significance of the shared effort in Acts 21:15.

Theological Reflections

Packing up for Jerusalem mirrored Christ’s own march toward the city to accomplish redemption (Luke 9:51). Paul, who sought “to know Christ… and the fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3:10), now embodies that resolve. The simple act of preparation therefore becomes a living parable of surrender: readiness to lose personal liberty for the sake of the gospel.

Practical Application for Believers

• Plan thoroughly, trusting God completely.
• Cultivate a flexible heart that can pivot when God calls.
• Serve alongside others; shared preparation for ministry forges deeper fellowship.
• Travel light in a material sense, but be rich in spiritual resources—Scripture, prayer, and mutual encouragement.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 643 highlights more than packing luggage; it portrays a life poised for obedient action. Paul’s example in Acts 21:15 invites every follower of Christ to order his or her affairs—temporal and spiritual—so that when the Lord says, “Go,” the only remaining step is to move forward in faith.

Forms and Transliterations

αποσκευαίς αποσκευάσαι αποσκευή αποσκευήν αποσκευής αποσκηνώσας επισκευασαμενοι ἐπισκευασάμενοι episkeuasamenoi episkeuasámenoi

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 21:15 V-APM-NMP
GRK: ἡμέρας ταύτας ἐπισκευασάμενοι ἀνεβαίνομεν εἰς
KJV: days we took up our carriages, and went up
INT: days these having packed the baggage we went up to

Strong's Greek 643
1 Occurrence

ἐπισκευασάμενοι — 1 Occ.