Greek word · G209

ἀκωλύτως

akōlytōs

freely

"Without hindrance, unhindered, without let or obstruction." It is the adverb from a- ("not") + kōlyō ("to hinder, prevent, forbid"). In everyday Greek it often had a legal sense: an action that no one has the right or power to block.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀκωλύτως

adv. (κωλύω), [in Sm.: Job 34:31 * ;]

without hindrance (so frequently in legal documents; MM, VGT, see word): Acts 28:31.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Acts 28:31

Range of meaning

"Without hindrance, unhindered, without let or obstruction." It is the adverb from a- ("not") + kōlyō ("to hinder, prevent, forbid"). In everyday Greek it often had a legal sense: an action that no one has the right or power to block.

Against the English

KJV "no man forbidding him" and YLT "unforbidden" keep the sense of no one stopping him, which is close to the legal flavour. "Without hindrance" (WEB) and "unhindered" are accurate. BSB "freely", placed at the start of the sentence, is correct in meaning but loses the force of the word's position as the final word of the whole book.

Used elsewhere in the period

Moulton & Milligan document the adverb often in the papyri, especially in contracts and leases, for the right to use or enjoy something "without hindrance". It appears only here in the New Testament. The verb kōlyō is a thread through Luke–Acts: "do not hinder them" (Luke 18:16, the children); "what hinders me from being baptized?" (Acts 8:36); "can anyone withhold the water?" (10:47); "who was I to hinder God?" (11:17).

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 28:31 ἀκωλύτως.¶ unhinderedly.

    Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Here: "Unhindered". It is the last word of Acts. The word was common in legal documents for activity that faced no legal obstacle, and it picks up Luke's repeated theme that nothing can "hinder" God's purpose. Paul is bound, but the word is not.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.