Lexical Summary anastatoó: To disturb, to unsettle, to stir up, to overthrow. Original Word: ἀναστατόω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance trouble, turn upside down, make an uproar. From a derivative of anistemi (in the sense of removal); properly, to drive out of home, i.e. (by implication) to disturb (literally or figuratively) -- trouble, turn upside down, make an uproar. see GREEK anistemi HELPS Word-studies 387 anastatóō (literally, "change standing from going up to down"; see the root, 450 /anístēmi) – properly, turn something over (up to down), i.e. to upset (up-set), raising one part up at the expense of another which results in dislocation (confusion); to unsettle, make disorderly (dis-orderly). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom anastatos (driven from one's home) Definition to stir up, unsettle NASB Translation stirred up a revolt (1), troubling (1), upset (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 387: ἀναστατόωἀναστατόω, ἀναστάτω; 1 aorist ἀνεστατωσα; a verb found nowhere in secular auth:, but (in Daniel 7:23 the Sept.; Deuteronomy 29:27 Graecus Venetus) several times in the O. T. fragments of Aq. (e. g. Psalm 10:1) and Symm. (e. g. Psalm 58:11; Isaiah 22:3), and in Eustathius (from ἀνάστατος, driven from one's abode, outcast, or roused up from one's situation; accordingly equivalent to ἀναστατον ποιῶ), to stir up, excite, unsettle; followed by an accusative a. to excite tumults and seditions in the State: Acts 17:6; Acts 21:38. b. to upset, unsettle, minds by disseminating religious error: Galatians 5:12. Strong’s Greek 387 depicts the intense unsettling of settled order—socially, politically, or spiritually. In every New Testament occurrence it describes disruptive forces that oppose the gospel’s advance or corrupt its purity. The verb paints a picture of people “turning things inside out,” whether destabilizing whole cities, fomenting political revolt, or disturbing a congregation’s doctrinal peace. Usage in Acts: Civic and Political Tumult 1. Acts 17:6 shows the accusation leveled against Paul and Silas in Thessalonica: “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here as well.” The city authorities fear civic upheaval. Ironically, the charge is simultaneously false and true—false because the missionaries seek no civil disorder, true because the gospel does overturn spiritual allegiances and the idols that underpin society. 2. Acts 21:38 records the Roman commander’s question to Paul: “Are you not the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the ‘Assassins’ into the wilderness?” Here the word recalls a real insurrection in A.D. 54–56, highlighting Rome’s anxiety over revolutionary agitators. Luke’s narrative contrasts Paul’s gospel mission with violent zealotry; Christianity spreads by proclamation, not by the sword. In Acts, then, the term underscores how easily apostolic ministry can be misread as subversive sedition. The gospel challenges prevailing worldviews, yet it does so through persuasive truth rather than political upheaval. Usage in Galatians: Doctrinal Agitation Galatians 5:12 shifts the setting from city streets to church life: “As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves!” Paul applies the verb to Judaizers who unsettle believers with legalistic demands. Their teaching confuses conscience, undermines liberty in Christ, and distorts the gospel’s sufficiency. The apostle’s severe wish exposes the gravity of doctrinal disturbance: spiritual upheaval is as destructive as civic unrest. Historical Insight First-century Mediterranean culture valued κοινωνία (social harmony). Whether the Roman peace or Jewish synagogue order, stability was prized. Thus accusations of “unsettling” carried weight. Luke’s careful record shows how quickly political authorities moved against perceived agitators, and Paul’s pastoral passion reveals how seriously the early church guarded gospel purity. Theological Significance • Spiritual Upset: The gospel inevitably confronts entrenched sin and idolatry; lives truly converted will “turn the world upside down.” Implications for Ministry Today 1. Expect Misunderstanding. Faithful proclamation may still be branded as social disruption. Believers should respond with clarity and peace, not retaliation. Practical Application • Evaluate movements—political or religious—by their fruit. Do they rely on coercion or on the persuasion of truth? Summary Strong’s Greek 387 serves as a vivid reminder that the gospel is both disruptive and peace-producing: disruptive to darkness, peace-producing to those who embrace Christ. Whether in public squares or church gatherings, the term challenges believers to discern true spiritual upheaval, resist false agitation, and faithfully proclaim the message that alone can reorder human hearts. Englishman's Concordance Acts 17:6 V-APA-NMPGRK: τὴν οἰκουμένην ἀναστατώσαντες οὗτοι καὶ NAS: These men who have upset the world KJV: the world upside down are come INT: the habitable world have set in confusion these also Acts 21:38 V-APA-NMS Galatians 5:12 V-PPA-NMP Strong's Greek 387 |
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