What Does Acts 11:4 Mean in the King James?

But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

Acts 11:4 · 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.

THE KEY

Peter sets the account out in sequence so its meaning can be seen in the path, not only in the conclusion.

THE MEANING

You encounter an account laid out step by step. Its meaning comes into view through the order of what happened, rather than through a bare conclusion.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The bare conclusion should be enough; the path that led to it does not matter.

THE ROOT

ἐξετίθετο

exetitheto

GROWS FROM

τίθημι

tithēmi

to put, place, or set

The Greek word translated “expounded” is built on the idea of setting something out. Peter places the account before his hearers in order, making its sequence visible along with its conclusion.

ALSO GROWS

ektithēmi: to set out, explain

ἐκτίθημι

This is the verb used here: the account is set out for the hearers.

epitithēmi: to put or lay upon

ἐπιτίθημι

This compound shares the root idea of placing; the added prefix changes the relation, while the common seed remains setting something in place.

THE PATTERN

An account becomes easier to understand when its parts are presented in their sequence.

It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

Luke 1:3 · KJVThe account is presented in order so its sequence can be followed.

And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

Exodus 18:8 · KJVThe telling gathers the events and hardship into a sequence that makes the deliverance visible.

Let all things be done decently and in order.

1 Corinthians 14:40 · KJVOrder lets the shared life of the assembly become clear and intelligible.

THE THREAD

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Acts 28:23 · KJV

Acts 28:23 uses the same Greek verb translated “expounded”: the speaker sets the matter out before his hearers. The repeated word links understanding with making the account visible, piece by piece.

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