ἀγράμματος (agrammatos)
agrammatos
unschooled
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective agrammatos describes someone who is unschooled or unlettered. Derived from a negative prefix and the word for "letter," it literally means not knowing one's letters. In the New Testament, this term appears only once, in Acts 4:13, where the religious leaders observe the boldness of Peter and John and remark that they are "uneducated" men.
The sources suggest a specific nuance here: while it can mean general illiteracy, it often implies being unacquainted with formal Rabbinic training. These observers were surprised by the apostles' confidence, not because they lacked basic literacy, but because they had not studied under the recognized schools of Jewish law. The word highlights a contrast between formal religious education and the spontaneous authority of the gospel message.
Its single occurrence underscores how early Christian leadership often came from unexpected quarters. The term does not imply stupidity or moral failure, but rather a lack of academic pedigree. It serves as a reminder that spiritual insight and bold witness are not the exclusive property of the formally educated elite.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word agrammatos describes someone who is unschooled or unlettered. In Acts 4:13, religious leaders use it to describe Peter and John. They noticed the apostles’ boldness and realized these men had not received formal Rabbinic training. This observation highlights a key truth: spiritual authority does not depend on academic pedigree.
God often chooses the unexpected to display His power. The apostles were not experts in Jewish law, yet they spoke with confidence because they had been with Jesus. This reminds us that our value in God’s kingdom is not measured by our degrees or social status. Instead, it comes from our relationship with Christ.
If you feel unqualified to serve, take heart. Your lack of formal education does not disqualify you. The same Spirit who empowered Peter lives in you. You can share the gospel with boldness, trusting that God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- unschooled1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀγράμματοί1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 4:13
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus.
This verse captures the moment when religious leaders recognized that Peter and John’s boldness stemmed from their time with Jesus, not formal training.