What Does Acts 10:32 Mean in the King James?

Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

Acts 10:32 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The command to call Simon and the statement that he is called Peter repeat one Greek root, so English “surname” conceals a call embedded in his name.

THE MEANING

The promised message reaches you through a particular person: the one summoned from where he is staying comes and speaks to you. Understanding here arrives in a voice attached to a named person and a real place.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This undoes the belief that a message from God must come without a human voice: here, the hearer is directed to someone who will speak.

THE ROOT

μετακάλεσαι

metakalesai

GROWS FROM

καλ-

kal-

Call, summon, or name.

“call / is called” in this verse is metakalesai. The command “summon” and the phrase “is called” both carry the Greek ⁨καλέω⁩ (kaleō, “to call”) root. The repetition joins the summons to the naming: the person being sought is identified by name.

ALSO GROWS

metakaleō: Summon, call to oneself.

μετακαλέω

This compound appears in the command to call Simon hither.

epikaleō: Call upon, name, or invoke.

ἐπικαλέω

This compound describes Simon as the one called Peter, repeating the call-root in his name.

THE PATTERN

A message reaches its hearer through a person who is called or sent to speak.

And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

1 Samuel 3:10 · KJVThe call addresses a person by name, and the encounter turns toward hearing speech.

But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

Jeremiah 1:7 · KJVThe one sent carries words to others, just as the summoned person here comes to speak.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20 · KJVThe message reaches its hearers through human voices, with God making an appeal through them.

THE THREAD

To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

John 10:3 · KJV

Here the same Greek ⁨καλέω⁩ (kaleō, “to call”) root appears in the shepherd’s calling of each sheep by name. Acts 10:32 echoes that joining of call and name: the person summoned is also personally identified.

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