εὐεργετέω

From the study of Acts 10:38

Range of meaning

To do good to someone, confer a benefit, act as benefactor. It is the verb of euergetēs, 'benefactor', a title given in inscriptions to kings, city patrons and wealthy donors who provided grain, buildings, festivals, or relief from disaster.

Against the English

'Doing good' (KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV, NIV, NASB, NLT) is not wrong. But in modern English it sounds like general moral goodness or small acts of kindness. The Greek says that Jesus was a benefactor who handed out tangible gifts: health, freedom, restoration.

How it drifted

The English phrase 'do good' has drifted toward a general moral sense, 'being a good person'. Ancient benefaction was a public, visible, socially defined role, and that background is mostly unknown to modern readers.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the NT the verb appears only here. Related words: euergetai, 'benefactors', the title that 'kings of the Gentiles' claim (Luke 22:25), and euergesia, 'a good deed done', used of the healing of the lame man (Acts 4:9). In the Septuagint, Ps 13:6 [12:6 LXX] 'the Lord who has dealt bountifully with me'; Wis 3:5; 11:5; 16:2. Ptolemy III and Ptolemy VIII of Egypt were officially named Euergetēs. Honorary inscriptions throughout the Roman east praise emperors and local elites as 'savior and benefactor' (F. W. Danker, Benefactor).