Greek word · G588

ἀποδέχομαι

apodechomai

to receive

To receive, welcome, accept favourably, approve.

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀπο-δέχομαι

[in LXX: Tobit 7:17, Judith 13:13; Judith 13.1, 4Mac.10:1-21 * ;]

to accept gladly, welcome, receive: Luke 8:40 9:11, Acts 18:27 21:17 28:30; metaphorically, with accusative of thing(s), Acts 2:41 24:3 (MM, see word; Cremer, 688).†

(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 1 Maccabees 9:71

Range of meaning

To receive, welcome, accept favourably, approve.

Against the English

'Accepted' is accurate.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in Hellenistic Greek for accepting proposals or guests; in Luke-Acts for welcoming people (Luke 8:40; Acts 2:41, 'received his word').

From the study of Acts 18:27

Range of meaning

To welcome, receive favorably, accept gladly. It can also mean to approve of or accept what someone says.

Against the English

BSB and NIV 'welcome' catch the warmth. 'Receive' (KJV, WEB, YLT, ESV) is correct but flatter, and could sound like mere acknowledgment.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament the word occurs only in Luke and Acts. The crowds welcome Jesus (Luke 8:40; 9:11), people accept Peter's message (Acts 2:41), the brothers in Jerusalem receive Paul's party gladly (21:17), and Paul welcomes all who come to him in Rome (28:30).

From the study of Acts 2:41

Range of meaning

To receive someone favourably or welcome them as a guest. Also to accept an idea, statement or proposal as valid, to approve it (BDAG: 'to receive favorably, welcome; accept, recognize'). It is warmer than the plain δέχομαι ('receive').

Against the English

KJV/ESV/WEB 'received' can sound passive, like a parcel delivered. NIV 'accepted' catches the agreement. BSB 'embraced' catches the warmth. NLT 'believed' captures the result but loses the picture of hospitality.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the NT it is almost only Luke's word. Luke 8:40, the crowd welcomed Jesus. Luke 9:11, Jesus welcomed the crowds. Acts 18:27, the believers in Achaia were urged to welcome Apollos. Acts 21:17, 'the brothers welcomed us gladly'. Acts 24:3, Tertullus 'accepts' Felix's reforms. Acts 28:30, Paul welcomed all who came. In Greek writers generally it means accepting an argument or approving a person.

Where it appears

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 8:40 ἀπεδέξατο received

    When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him.

    Here: "Welcomed." A warm word in Luke for a glad, hospitable reception. The single past-tense form presents the welcome as one event at his landing.

  2. Luke 9:11 ἀποδεξάμενος having received

    But the crowds found out and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and He healed those who needed healing.

Acts · 5

  1. Acts 2:41 ἀποδεξάμενοι having received

    Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.

    Here: 'Having welcomed'. This is the word Luke uses for receiving a guest or a visitor warmly. They didn't just hear the message; they took it in as true and made it their own. The aorist (simple past) tense presents it as a decisive act that came before the baptism.

  2. Acts 18:27 ἀποδέξασθαι to welcome

    When Apollos resolved to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.

    Here: To take someone in warmly. For a traveling stranger this would mean a real reception: a hearing, trust, and very likely a place to stay.

  3. Acts 21:17 ἀπεδέξαντο received

    When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us joyfully.

  4. Acts 24:3 ἀποδεχόμεθα, we gladly accept [it],

    In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude.

  5. Acts 28:30 ἀπεδέχετο was welcoming

    Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.

    Here: A warm word, used for welcoming guests. Luke uses it of Jesus welcoming the crowds (Luke 9:11) and of the Jerusalem believers welcoming Paul (Acts 21:17). The imperfect tense pictures an ongoing habit: he kept welcoming people, day after day.

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