Lexical Summary archomai: to begin, to commence Original Word: ἄρχομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance commence, ruleMiddle voice of archo (through the implication, of precedence); to commence (in order of time) -- (rehearse from the) begin(-ning). see GREEK archo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originmid. of archó, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 756: ἄρχομαιἄρχομαι, see ἄρχω. Topical Lexicon General Meaning and Theological Nuance The verb translated “to begin” consistently marks a decisive point where intention turns into action. Whether the action proves good or evil, temporary or enduring, ἄρχομαι signals a threshold moment in God’s unfolding plan. It routinely appears in the middle voice, stressing the subject’s personal engagement in what is commencing. Distribution in the Canon Eighty-four occurrences span the Synoptic Gospels, John, Acts, Paul, and Peter. Luke–Acts employs the word most (forty-three times), underscoring Luke’s interest in historical transitions. Mark follows (twenty-eight times), characteristically highlighting pivotal shifts in Jesus’ ministry. Matthew (nine), John (two), Paul (one), and Peter (one) round out the usage. Christological Turning Points • Luke 3:23: “Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry”. The verb anchors the Incarnation in real time, affirming both historicity and messianic purpose. Spirit-Empowered Initiatives Acts stresses beginnings birthed by the Holy Spirit: Eschatological Onsets • Luke 21:28: “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Warnings Concerning Sinful Beginnings Negative uses remind readers that small starts can snowball into grave sin: Progress of Revelation and Instruction Luke notes how Jesus “began to speak first to His disciples” (Luke 12:1), and later “began with Moses and all the Prophets” to explain Scripture (Luke 24:27). The verb frames divine revelation as progressive yet coherent, moving from promise to fulfillment. Pastoral and Missional Implications 1. Ministry Launch: Leaders find precedent for Spirit-directed beginnings (Acts 13:2–3). Historical and Cultural Background In Greek narrative style, ἄρχομαι serves as the storyteller’s signal that a new episode is unfolding. Luke appropriates this literary device to present salvation history as an orderly, researched sequence (Luke 1:3). The verb therefore bridges Greco-Roman historiography with Hebrew redemptive chronology. Contemporary Application Believers are called to discern God-ordained beginnings—personal, congregational, or cultural—trusting that He who initiates also completes (Philippians 1:6). Careful attention to the Scriptural pattern of ἄρχομαι instills faith that every Spirit-led start is grounded in the unchanging counsel of God and aims toward His consummate glory. Forms and Transliterations άρξαι αρξαμενοι αρξάμενοι ἀρξάμενοι αρξάμενον αρξαμενος αρξάμενος ἀρξάμενος αρξαμενου αρξαμένου ἀρξαμένου άρξαντες αρξασθαι άρξασθαι άρξασθαί ἄρξασθαι ἄρξασθαί άρξασθε άρξε άρξει αρξεις άρξεις αρξεσθε άρξεσθε ἄρξεσθε άρξεται αρξη άρξη ἄρξῃ αρξησθε άρξησθε ἄρξησθε αρξηται άρξηται ἄρξηται άρξομαι αρξονται άρξονται ἄρξονται άρξουσι άρξωμαι αρξωνται άρξωνται ἄρξωνται άρχει άρχειν άρχετε αρχέτωσαν άρχομαι Αρχομεθα αρχόμεθα Ἀρχόμεθα αρχομένης αρχομενος αρχόμενος ἀρχόμενος Αρχομενων αρχομένων Ἀρχομένων άρχου άρχουσα άρχουσαι αρχούσας αρχουσών αὐτῷ ήργμαι ήρκται ηρξάμην ήρξαν ηρξαντο ήρξαντο ήρξαντό ἤρξαντο ἤρξαντό ήρξας ηρξατο ήρξατο ἤρξατο ήρξεν ήρξω Archomenon Archomenōn Archoménon Archoménōn archomenos archómenos Archometha Archómetha arxamenoi arxámenoi arxamenos arxámenos arxamenou arxaménou arxasthai árxasthai árxasthaí arxe arxē árxei árxēi arxesthe arxēsthe árxesthe árxēsthe arxetai arxētai árxetai árxētai arxontai arxōntai árxontai árxōntai auto autō erxanto ērxanto ḗrxanto ḗrxantó erxato ērxato ḗrxatoLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 4:17 V-AIM-3SGRK: ΑΠΟ ΤΟΤΕ ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς KJV: that time Jesus began to preach, and INT: From that time began Jesus Matthew 11:7 V-AIM-3S Matthew 11:20 V-AIM-3S Matthew 12:1 V-AIM-3P Matthew 14:30 V-APM-NMS Matthew 16:21 V-AIM-3S Matthew 16:22 V-AIM-3S Matthew 18:24 V-APM-GMS Matthew 20:8 V-APM-NMS Matthew 24:49 V-ASM-3S Matthew 26:22 V-AIM-3P Matthew 26:37 V-AIM-3S Matthew 26:74 V-AIM-3S Mark 1:45 V-AIM-3S Mark 2:23 V-AIM-3P Mark 4:1 V-AIM-3S Mark 5:17 V-AIM-3P Mark 5:20 V-AIM-3S Mark 6:2 V-AIM-3S Mark 6:7 V-AIM-3S Mark 6:34 V-AIM-3S Mark 6:55 V-AIM-3P Mark 8:11 V-AIM-3P Mark 8:31 V-AIM-3S Mark 8:32 V-AIM-3S Strong's Greek 756 |