What Does Acts 11:23 Mean in the King James?
Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
God’s favor is seen, joy rises from that sight, and the heart answers by remaining with the Lord.
THE MEANING
When God’s favor becomes visible to you, joy rises from what you recognize. The verse describes a heart whose intention is set toward the Lord and whose bond with him takes the shape of remaining with him.
THE ROOT
χάριν
charin
GROWS FROM
χαρ-
char-
Favor and gracious goodwill; its word family also carries rejoicing and joy.
“grace” in this verse is charin. Greek places χάρις (charis, favor) beside ἐχάρη (echarē, rejoiced), words from the same χαρ- family. The verse lets the sight of God’s favor and the rising of gladness resonate as one movement.
ALSO GROWS
chairō: Rejoice; be glad.
χαίρω
The verse’s “was glad” is ἐχάρη (echarē), from this same word family, linking the sight of favor with rejoicing.
chara: Joy.
χαρά
This related word makes the joy implicit in the χαρ- family explicit: favor is met with gladness.
προσμένειν
pros-menein
GROWS FROM
μένω
menō
Remain, stay, abide.
The Greek behind “cleave” carries the sense of continuing to remain with someone. Its root μένω (menō) also appears in words for abiding and continuing, so the verse describes an ongoing orientation toward the Lord.
ALSO GROWS
menō: Remain, stay, abide.
μένω
This is the root sense beneath “cleave”: a continuing presence with the Lord.
epimenō: Continue, remain in.
ἐπιμένω
This branch shows the root’s sense of staying on, illuminating the enduring quality of the heart’s purpose.
προθέσει
prothesei
GROWS FROM
τίθημι
tithēmi
Set, place.
The word rendered “purpose” carries the image of a setting forth: πρόθεσις (prothesis) is related to τίθημι (tithēmi, set or place). The heart’s intention is presented as a settled direction, and the following verb names that direction: remaining with the Lord.
ALSO GROWS
tithēmi: Set, place, lay down.
τίθημι
The root gives “purpose” the concrete sense of something set in place before the heart.
protithēmi: Set before; propose or intend.
προτίθημι
This related form makes the forward direction in “purpose of heart” visible.
THE PATTERN
Recognized favor flowers into joy, while joy’s lasting form is a heart that remains oriented toward the Lord.
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.THE THREAD
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.Acts uses προσμένω (prosmenō, remain with), built on μένω (menō), the root John uses in “abide.” One describes the heart’s directed resolve to remain with the Lord; the other opens that same staying as mutual life, with the Lord in the reader and the reader in him.
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