### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb συνοδεύω (synodeúō, `{{G4922}}`) is a compound word derived from the preposition σύν (syn, `{{G4862}}`), meaning "with" or "together," and the verb ὁδεύω (hodeúō, `{{G3597}}`), meaning "to travel" or "to journey." The latter is itself rooted in ὁδός (hodos, `{{G3598}}`), "way" or "road." Thus, the base definition of συνοδεύω is precisely "to travel in company with" or "to journey together." The semantic range is quite narrow and literal, emphasizing the physical act of accompanying someone on a path or road. It denotes shared movement and companionship during a journey, without necessarily implying a shared purpose beyond the act of traveling together.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb συνοδεύω (synodeúō, `{{G4922}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, specifically in the book of Acts:
* **[[Acts 9:7]]**: "And the men who *journeyed with* him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one."
This sole occurrence is found in the pivotal narrative of Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus. Saul (who would become Paul) is struck by a blinding light and hears a voice, identified as Jesus. The significance of συνοδεύω here lies in the presence of companions. These men were literally traveling alongside Saul. Their shared journey makes them immediate, albeit partial, witnesses to the miraculous event. While they heard a sound ("the voice"), they did not perceive the speaker or the full revelation as Saul did. Their presence, however, serves to corroborate the external reality of the event, distinguishing it from a mere internal vision or hallucination. The use of συνοδεύω underscores the objective, rather than purely subjective, nature of God's intervention in Saul's life, even if the experience was interpreted differently by those present.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several Greek words share etymological or conceptual links with συνοδεύω (synodeúō, `{{G4922}}`):
* **σύν (syn, `{{G4862}}`)**: The foundational preposition "with," indicating association, union, or companionship. This prefix is crucial to the meaning of accompanying another.
* **ὁδός (hodos, `{{G3598}}`)**: "Way," "road," or "path." This noun is fundamental to the concept of travel and journeying. Metaphorically, it often refers to a course of life, a doctrine, or God's will (e.g., "the Way" as a designation for early Christianity).
* **ὁδεύω (hodeúō, `{{G3597}}`)**: The base verb "to travel" or "to journey."
* **συμπορεύομαι (symporeúomai, `{{G4848}}`)**: "To go along with," "to accompany." This verb is very close in meaning and often used interchangeably with συνοδεύω in contexts of shared travel. It appears more frequently than συνοδεύω in the New Testament (e.g., [[Mark 10:1]], [[Luke 7:11]], [[Luke 14:25]]).
* **συνεργός (synergos, `{{G4900}}`)**: "Fellow worker," "companion in labor." While not directly related to physical travel, it shares the σύν prefix and denotes a shared activity or purpose, highlighting the broader biblical theme of companionship and collaboration in God's work.
* **κοινωνία (koinōnia, `{{G2842}}`)**: "Fellowship," "participation," "communion." This term captures the deeper theological concept of shared life and experience, which can be seen as an extension of the literal "journeying together."
The core concept underscored by συνοδεύω and its related terms is that of companionship and shared experience, particularly within the context of a journey.
### Theological Significance
Despite its singular occurrence, the theological significance of συνοδεύω (synodeúō, `{{G4922}}`) is profound within the narrative of Acts 9:7.
1. **Corroboration of Divine Encounter**: The presence of companions who "journeyed with" Saul serves as crucial external validation for the reality of his encounter with the risen Christ. It prevents the event from being dismissed as a mere subjective vision. While the companions did not see Jesus or fully comprehend the voice, their sensory experience (hearing a sound, witnessing Saul's blindness) confirms that something extraordinary and objective transpired. This lends credibility to Saul's subsequent testimony and the foundational event of his apostleship.
2. **Communal Aspect of Revelation**: Even though the primary revelation was for Saul, the fact that others were present and affected by the event highlights a communal dimension to God's workings. Divine activity often impacts not only the individual recipient but also those in their immediate sphere, inviting them, even if indirectly, into the periphery of God's unfolding plan.
3. **The Christian Life as a Shared Journey**: While the word itself is literal, its underlying concept resonates with the broader biblical theme of the Christian life as a pilgrimage or journey. Believers are called not to walk alone but to "journey with" one another, offering support, witness, and fellowship along the "way" (ὁδός, `{{G3598}}`), which often refers to the Christian path ([[Acts 19:9]], [[Acts 24:14]]). The shared experience, even of challenging or mysterious divine encounters, strengthens the communal fabric of faith.
### Summary
The Greek verb συνοδεύω (synodeúō, `{{G4922}}`) literally means "to travel in company with" or "to journey together," combining the concepts of companionship (σύν, `{{G4862}}`) and travel (ὁδεύω, `{{G3597}}`). Its sole appearance in the New Testament in [[Acts 9:7]] is highly significant, describing the men who accompanied Saul on the road to Damascus during his conversion. Their presence, as those who "journeyed with" him, provides vital external corroboration for the objective reality of Saul's encounter with the risen Christ, even if their understanding of the event was incomplete. The word thus subtly underscores the communal dimension of divine revelation and prefigures the concept of the Christian life as a shared pilgrimage, where believers accompany one another on the path of faith.
TRV