Greek noun (masculine) · G652
ἀπόστολος
apostolosap-os'-tol-os
a fleet, an expedition (Dem.).; a messenger, one sent on a mission (Hdt., LXX, l.with, and π.; In NT, an Apostle of Christ
79 uses in the Greek text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: apóstolos
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's G652is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 20 of 27New Testament books
- 8spellings
- 3meanings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · G652
a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers)
The King James renders it: apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
apostolos is rendered "a fleet, an expedition (Dem.).; a messenger, one sent on a mission (Hdt., LXX, l.with, and π.; In NT, an Apostle of Christ". It stands 79 times in the Greek text, across twenty books.
- Twenty-eight of the uses stand in Acts, more than in any other book.
- The lexicon lists three meanings for it, beginning with "a fleet, an expedition (Dem.).".
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Matthew 10:2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
- The Greek text spells it eight different ways.
The first use
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Matthew 10:2ἀποστόλων
The first use, in the order of the New Testament's books.
Where the word stands
Twenty-eight of the word's seventy-nine uses are in Acts.
What the word means
The word carries three meanings: a fleet, an expedition (Dem.)., and a messenger, one sent on a mission (Hdt., LXX, l.with, and π., and In NT, an Apostle of Christ.
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
| Meaning | Tagged as | Where |
|---|---|---|
| a fleet, an expedition (Dem.). | Tagged as
| WhereMatthew 10:2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew… |
| a messenger, one sent on a mission (Hdt., LXX, l.with, and π.see M, Pr., 37 f.; MM, see word | Tagged as
| WhereJohn 13:16Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master… |
| In NT, an Apostle of Christ__(a) with special ref. to the Twelve | Tagged as
| WhereMatthew 10:2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew… |
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
| Word | Written | Meaning | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἀποστέλλω | apostello | to send | Uses132 |
| ἀποστρέφω | apostrepho | to turn away | Uses9 |
| ἀποστερέω | apostereo | to defraud | Uses6 |
| ἀποσπάω | apospao | to draw away | Uses4 |
| ἀποστολή | apostole | apostleship | Uses4 |
| ἀποστάσιον | apostasion | divorce | Uses3 |
| ἀποσυνάγωγος | aposynagogos | excommunicated | Uses3 |
| ἀποστασία | apostasia | apostasy | Uses2 |
| ἀποστυγέω | apostygeo | to abhor | Uses1 |
| ἀποσκευάζω | aposkeuazo | to pack up | Uses1 |
| ἀποσκίασμα | aposkiasma | shadow | Uses1 |
| ἀποστεγάζω | apostegazo | to unroof | Uses1 |
and 1 more on the stem.
All 79, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
8 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- ἀποστόλων19
- ἀπόστολος18
- ἀπόστολοι15
- ἀποστόλους15
- ἀποστόλοις6
- ἀποστόλων.¶3
- ἀπόστολον2
- ἀποστόλου1
The grammar of each form
- noun · genitive (“of”) · masculine plural22N-GPM
- noun · nominative (subject) · masculine singular18N-NSM
- noun · accusative (object) · masculine plural15N-APM
- noun · nominative (subject) · masculine plural14N-NPM
- noun · dative (“to / for”) · masculine plural6N-DPM
- noun · accusative (object) · masculine singular2N-ASM
- noun · genitive (“of”) · masculine singular1N-GSM
- noun · vocative (address) · masculine plural1N-VPM
Matthew
one use
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Mark
two uses
He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach,
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Luke
six uses
When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles:
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done. Taking them away privately, He withdrew to a town called Bethsaida.
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles.
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
John
one use
Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: a messenger
Acts
twenty-eight uses
until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.
- ἀποστόλοιςapostoloisnoun · dative (“to / for”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
- ἀποστόλων.¶apostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
- ἀποστόλων.¶apostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
- ἀποστόλων.¶apostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
The apostles and brothers throughout Judea soon heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.
- ἀποστόλοιςapostoloisnoun · dative (“to / for”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
- ἀποστόλοιςapostoloisnoun · dative (“to / for”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Romans
three uses
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God—
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: apostle
I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: apostle
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
- ἀποστόλοιςapostoloisnoun · dative (“to / for”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
1 Corinthians
ten uses
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: apostle
For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: an apostle
Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: an apostle
Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
- ἀποστόλοιςapostoloisnoun · dative (“to / for”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: an apostle
2 Corinthians
six uses
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: apostle
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, to the glory of Christ.
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
The true marks of an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.
- ἀποστόλουapostolounoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine singulartagged: apostle
Galatians
three uses
Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead—
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: an apostle
nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Ephesians
four uses
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: an apostle
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
- ἀποστόλοιςapostoloisnoun · dative (“to / for”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Philippians
one use
But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs.
- ἀπόστολονapostolonnoun · accusative (object) · masculine singulartagged: messenger
Colossians
one use
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: an apostle
1 Timothy
two uses
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: an apostle
For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: an apostle —
2 Timothy
two uses
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: an apostle
to which I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: an apostle
Titus
one use
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: an apostle
Hebrews
one use
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
- ἀπόστολονapostolonnoun · accusative (object) · masculine singulartagged: apostle
1 Peter
one use
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: an apostle
2 Peter
two uses
Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
- ἀπόστολοςapostolosnoun · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: apostle
by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Jude
one use
But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Revelation
three uses
I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.
- ἀποστόλουςapostolousnoun · accusative (object) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Rejoice over her, O heaven, O saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced for you His judgment against her.
- ἀπόστολοιapostoloinoun · vocative (address) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
- ἀποστόλωνapostolonnoun · genitive (“of”) · masculine pluraltagged: apostles
Where it leads
Studies that open this word2
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.
The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.
