1675. Hellénistés
Lexical Summary
Hellénistés: Hellenistic

Original Word: Ἑλληνιστής
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Hellénistés
Pronunciation: hel-lay-nis-TACE
Phonetic Spelling: (hel-lay-nis-tace')
KJV: Grecian
NASB: Hellenistic
Word Origin: [from a derivative of G1672 (Ἕλλην - Greeks)]

1. a Hellenist or Greek-speaking Jew

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Grecian.

From a derivative of Hellen; a Hellenist or Greek-speaking Jew -- Grecian.

see GREEK Hellen

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from Hellénizó (to Hellenize)
Definition
a Hellenist (Greek-speaking Jew)
NASB Translation
Hellenistic (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1675: Ἑλληνιστής

Ἑλληνιστής, ἑλληνιστου, (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 ; Farrar, St. Paul, chapter vii.; Wetstein (1752) on Acts 6:1).

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.
2. Scripture Usage: They relied on the Septuagint, a translation later cited throughout the New Testament.
3. Openness to Wider Society: Daily interaction with Gentiles trained them to think beyond the borders of Judea, preparing them, often unwittingly, to become bridges for the gospel.

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).
2. Sovereign Advancement: God turned internal conflict and external persecution into vehicles for worldwide witness.
3. Scripture’s Sufficiency: Guided by apostolic wisdom and empowered by the Spirit, the church resolved cultural disputes without extra-biblical innovations, modeling how doctrine governs practice.

Lessons for Contemporary Ministry

• Language and culture are gifts, not obstacles. Congregations should cultivate multilingual, multicultural witness while holding fast to apostolic truth.
• Administrative faithfulness safeguards gospel unity; neglected practical needs can jeopardize doctrinal harmony.
• Persecution or displacement often enlarges the church’s mission field; what seems destructive may be divine preparation for wider harvest.
• Leaders who understand more than one culture—like Stephen, Philip, Barnabas, and Paul—remain indispensable for bridging communities today.

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 Hellēnistō̂n
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 6:1 N-GMP
GRK: 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
GRK: πρὸς τοὺς Ἑλληνιστάς οἱ δὲ
NAS: and arguing with the Hellenistic [Jews]; but they were attempting
KJV: against the Grecians: but
INT: with the Hellenists moreover

Acts 11:20 N-AMP
GRK: πρὸς τοὺς Ἑλληνιστάς εὐαγγελιζόμενοι τὸν
KJV: unto the Grecians, preaching
INT: to the Hellenists proclaiming the gospel [of] the

Strong's Greek 1675
3 Occurrences


Ἑλληνιστάς — 2 Occ.
Ἑλληνιστῶν — 1 Occ.

1674
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