ὁμιλέω

From the study of Luke 24:15

Range of meaning

To be in company with someone, to associate with, and especially to converse or talk with. The related noun ὁμιλία means company, association or conversation (1 Cor 15:33, 'bad company corrupts good morals').

Against the English

BSB, WEB and the modern versions say 'talked'. KJV says 'communed [together]', which in 1611 simply meant 'conversed' but now sounds like spiritual communion or sharing in the Lord's Supper. The English word 'homily' (a sermon) comes from this Greek root through church Latin, but in Luke's day the word meant conversation, not preaching.

How it drifted

Church usage later made ὁμιλία mean a familiar talk on Scripture, and then a sermon. Separately, the KJV's 'commune' narrowed in modern English to a religious or mystical sense.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in classical and Hellenistic Greek for conversation and social company. In the NT it is used only by Luke: Luke 24:14, 15; Acts 20:11 (Paul 'talked' with them until dawn); Acts 24:26 (Felix 'conversed' with Paul). In the Greek Old Testament: Dan 1:19 (Theodotion), Prov 15:12 (LXX), among others.

From the study of Acts 20:11

Range of meaning

To be in company with someone, to converse or talk with them. The related noun homilia means "company" or "association" (1 Cor 15:33, "bad company ruins good morals"). The word suggests conversation between people who are together, not a formal address.

Against the English

The KJV and WEB say "talked," the BSB "speaking," and some modern versions "conversed." All are fair. "Conversed" best keeps the back-and-forth sense. Readers who know the English word "homily" (a sermon), which comes from this word family, should not read a sermon back into it.

How it drifted

Later Christian Greek used homilia for a preacher's address to a congregation, and from that we get "homily" meaning sermon. That specialised sense developed after the New Testament period.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 24:14–15: the two disciples on the road to Emmaus "were talking with each other" (hōmiloun) when Jesus joined them. Acts 24:26: Felix often sent for Paul and "conversed with him." These four uses in Luke–Acts are the only ones in the New Testament. Classical writers such as Xenophon use it for keeping company and conversing.

From the study of Acts 24:26

Range of meaning

To be in company with, associate with, converse, talk together. The related noun homilia means "company, conversation," and the English "homily" comes from it.

Against the English

Most versions say "talked/conversed with him". KJV has "communed with him", which in 1611 meant simply "conversed".

How it drifted

In Christian usage "homily" came to mean a sermon, and "commune" came to suggest spiritual intimacy. Neither sense is present here.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 24:14–15 (the two disciples "talking with each other" on the Emmaus road), Acts 20:11 (Paul talking until daybreak) and 1 Corinthians 15:33 ("bad company" = homiliai).