Lexical Summary Hellénistés: Hellenistic Original Word: Ἑλληνιστής Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Grecian. From a derivative of Hellen; a Hellenist or Greek-speaking Jew -- Grecian. see GREEK Hellen NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Hellénizó (to Hellenize) Definition a Hellenist (Greek-speaking Jew) NASB Translation Hellenistic (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1675: ἙλληνιστήςἙλληνιστής, ἑλληνιστου, ὁ (from ἑλληνίζω to copy the manners and worship of the Greeks or to use the Greek language (Winers Grammar, 94 (89f), cf. 28)), a Hellenist, i. e. one who imitates the manners and customs or the worship of the Greeks, and uses the Greek tongue; employed in the N. T. of Jews born in foreign lands and speaking Greek (Grecian Jews): Acts 11:20 R (WH; see in Ἕλλην, 2); Acts 9:29; the name adhered to them even after they had embraced Christianity, Acts 6:1, where it is opposed to οἱ Ἑβραῖοί, which see Cf. Winers RWB, under the word Hellenisten; Reuss in Herzog see p. 701ff; (BB. DD., under the word Topical Lexicon Cultural Background Following the conquests of Alexander the Great, Greek language and customs permeated the eastern Mediterranean. Many Jews of the Diaspora adopted Greek as their mother-tongue, frequented Greek synagogues, and read the Scriptures in the Septuagint. In Jerusalem itself sizeable numbers of these Greek-speaking Jews gathered, especially during the feasts. They were fully Jewish in faith and practice, yet culturally distinct from the Aramaic-speaking “Hebrews,” and this bilingual environment formed the backdrop for every New-Testament mention of the Hellenists. Occurrences in Acts Acts 6:1 records the first internal tension in the church: “In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenistic Jews began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food”. Acts 9:29 shows how the same group reacted to Saul’s conversion: “He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him”. Acts 11:20, in the best manuscript tradition, speaks of believers from Cyprus and Cyrene who “began to speak to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus”. Whether Luke intended “Hellenists” or “Greeks,” the verse highlights evangelistic initiative that arose from a culturally mixed church. Distinctives of the Hellenists 1. Language and Education: Their primary tongue was Koine Greek, granting them easy access to the Greco-Roman world. Role in Early Church Tensions The overlooked widows of Acts 6 exposed an administrative blind spot and threatened the unity for which Jesus had prayed (John 17). The apostles’ Spirit-led solution—appointing seven reputable men, all bearing Greek names—affirmed both the dignity of the Hellenists and the importance of equitable care. This incident produced the church’s first formal ministry structure, freeing the Twelve for prayer and the ministry of the word and demonstrating that cultural grievances can be resolved biblically without compromising doctrine. Catalyst for Gospel Expansion Stephen, the most prominent of the Seven, preached with power to the Hellenistic synagogue community (Acts 6:9-10). His martyrdom scattered believers “throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria” (Acts 8:1), fulfilling Acts 1:8. Philip, another of the Seven, carried the message to Samaria and to an Ethiopian court official. Thus God used a Hellenistic initiative to propel the church outward. In Antioch, Hellenistic believers again blazed a trail, intentionally evangelizing non-Jews (Acts 11:20-21). The church that resulted became the missionary base for Barnabas and Saul, sent by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:1-3). It is no coincidence that the first use of the term “Christians” arose in that multicultural setting (Acts 11:26). Interaction with Saul (Paul) Saul himself was a Greek-speaking Jew from Tarsus. His initial clashes with Jerusalem’s Hellenists (Acts 9:29) hint at vigorous theological debate within familiar cultural parameters. After his conversion he possessed the same linguistic and philosophical tools they wielded, but now redeemed for Christ’s mission. The attempted assassination forced Saul to leave Jerusalem, yet the Lord used that setback to prepare the apostle to the Gentiles. Theological Significance 1. Unity in Diversity: The inclusion of Hellenists proves the gospel’s power to reconcile believers of differing cultures without erasing ethnic identity (Ephesians 2:14-18). Lessons for Contemporary Ministry • Language and culture are gifts, not obstacles. Congregations should cultivate multilingual, multicultural witness while holding fast to apostolic truth. The brief references to the Hellenists therefore open a window onto the New Testament church’s earliest cross-cultural challenges and victories, illustrating how the Spirit orchestrates both mercy and mission through a people shaped by Scripture yet scattered among the nations. Forms and Transliterations Ελληνιστας Ἑλληνιστάς Ελληνιστων Ἑλληνιστῶν Ellenistas Ellēnistas Elleniston Ellēnistōn Hellenistas Hellenistás Hellēnistas Hellēnistás Helleniston Hellenistôn Hellēnistōn Hellēnistō̂nLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 6:1 N-GMPGRK: γογγυσμὸς τῶν Ἑλληνιστῶν πρὸς τοὺς NAS: arose on the part of the Hellenistic [Jews] against KJV: a murmuring of the Grecians against INT: a grumbling of the Hellenists against the Acts 9:29 N-AMP Acts 11:20 N-AMP Strong's Greek 1675 |
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