Lexical Summary biaios: Violent, forceful Original Word: βίαιος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance mighty. From bia; violent -- mighty. see GREEK bia NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom bia Definition violent NASB Translation violent (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 972: βίαιοςβίαιος, βιαια, βίαιον (βία), violent, forcible: Acts 2:2 (A. V. mighty). (In Greek writings from Homer down.) Topical Lexicon Term and Single New Testament Occurrence βιαίας appears only once in the Greek New Testament, describing the “strong” or “violent” character of the wind that accompanied the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:2). Immediate Biblical Context (Acts 2:1-4) “Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2). Luke’s choice of βιαίας signals an event that was not gentle or merely symbolic; it was forceful, unmistakable, and divinely initiated. The same passage immediately records tongues of fire, Spirit-filled speech, and a gathered crowd. The adjective therefore frames the entire Pentecost narrative as an act of God that invades the natural order with irresistible power. Old Testament and Intertestamental Resonance Wind regularly accompanies theophany in the Hebrew Scriptures: The Septuagint often employs cognate terms to portray the overwhelming strength of divine intervention. By echoing this background, Luke positions Pentecost as the climactic fulfillment of prophetic expectation: the same God who once parted seas and raised armies now establishes His new covenant community. Theological Significance 1. Divine Initiative: βιαίας underscores that Pentecost was an act of God, not a humanly engineered revival. The Church’s birth is rooted in power from above. Historical Interpretation Early Church writers viewed the Pentecost wind as the same creative breath from Genesis 2:7, now recreating humanity in Christ. Medieval commentators emphasized its cleansing force, comparing it to the winnowing wind that separates chaff from grain (Psalm 1:4). Reformers highlighted the contrast between man-made ecclesiastical structures and the sovereign breath of God that cannot be contained. Implications for Preaching and Ministry • Expectant Prayer: The disciples were “all together in one place” (Acts 2:1) when the wind came. United, persevering prayer often precedes divine breakthrough. Pastoral Application Congregations facing spiritual lethargy may take comfort that the Lord is able to act suddenly and dramatically. Leaders can remind believers that the same Spirit who once shook Jerusalem now indwells every Christian (Romans 8:11), empowering holy living and courageous mission. Summary βιαίας, though appearing only once in the New Testament, carries rich theological weight. It portrays the Holy Spirit’s arrival as an overwhelmingly powerful, divinely orchestrated event that inaugurates the Church, fulfills Old Testament prophecy, and continues to inspire confident, Spirit-empowered ministry today. Forms and Transliterations βιαιας βιαίας βίαιον βιαίος βιαίω βιαίων βιαίως biaias biaíasLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
    |