The Greek word phásis, represented by G5334, is a specific term for a saying or report, and is translated as tidings. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible, making its single usage particularly significant within its narrative context. The word is derived from φημί, meaning a saying.
The sole appearance of G5334 is found in Acts 21:31, where it plays a critical role in the narrative of the Apostle Paul in Jerusalem. As a mob went about to kill him, tidings came to the Roman chief captain of the band that the entire city was in chaos. The verse states, "And as they went about to kill him, tidings G5334 came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar" Acts 21:31. This report is the catalyst for the Roman military's intervention.
Several related words from its context illuminate the meaning and urgency of these "tidings":
- G5506 chilíarchos (chief captain): The commander of a thousand soldiers, this was the high-ranking official who received the report. The destination of the tidings underscores the severity of the situation.
- G4797 synchéō (be in an uproar): This describes the content of the tidings—that all of Jerusalem was stirred up and confused, indicating widespread civil unrest.
- G2212 zētéō (to seek, plot): This word reveals the reason for the uproar. The tidings conveyed that a group was actively seeking to kill Paul, highlighting the life-threatening nature of the report Acts 21:31.
- G4686 speîra (band): This refers to the Roman military cohort or squad of soldiers under the chief captain's command, the very force mobilized by the arrival of the tidings.
While not a common theological term, the significance of G5334 is found in its narrative function as a mechanism for deliverance.
- Catalyst for Intervention: The arrival of these tidings is the pivotal event that prompts the Roman authorities to act, ultimately saving Paul from being killed by the mob Acts 21:31.
- Conveying Crisis: The word is used to communicate a state of total chaos. The report specified that "all G3650 Jerusalem G2419 was in an uproar G4797," establishing the scale of the threat.
- Urgent Communication: The context of a plot to "kill G615" Paul shows that G5334 functions as an emergency alert, conveying life-or-death information that required an immediate response from authority.
In summary, G5334 phásis is a rare but impactful word. Its single use in scripture is not abstract but deeply embedded in a moment of crisis. As "tidings," it functions as the critical report that brings a lethal threat to the attention of a military commander, setting in motion the events that would preserve Paul's life. This demonstrates how even a word used only once can carry significant weight in the biblical narrative.
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