ἀκατάκριτος (akatakritos)
akatakritos
uncondemned
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective akatakritos describes a state of being uncondemned or not yet judged. It appears only twice in the New Testament, both within Acts of the Apostles (16:37 and 22:25). In these instances, it functions as a legal term to assert innocence or procedural fairness.
Its structure combines a negative prefix with a root meaning judgment or condemnation. This creates a precise distinction: the person has not been found guilty. The sources note this aligns with classical usage where it means "without trial." Paul uses this word when reminding magistrates that he is a Roman citizen who has not received a fair hearing, emphasizing his legal rights.
Translators typically render akatakritos as "uncondemned" or "not tried." This choice highlights the procedural aspect of the narrative. The word does not merely describe a feeling of innocence but a formal status before a court. It underscores the importance of due process in the early Christian experience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word akatakritos describes a state of being uncondemned or not yet judged. It appears only twice in the New Testament, both within Acts of the Apostles (16:37 and 22:25). In these instances, it functions as a legal term to assert innocence or procedural fairness. Its structure combines a negative prefix with a root meaning judgment or condemnation. This creates a precise distinction: the person has not been found guilty.
The sources note this aligns with classical usage where it means "without trial." Paul uses this word when reminding magistrates that he is a Roman citizen who has not received a fair hearing, emphasizing his legal rights. Translators typically render akatakritos as "uncondemned" or "not tried." This choice highlights the procedural aspect of the narrative.
The word does not merely describe a feeling of innocence but a formal status before a court. It underscores the importance of due process in the early Christian experience. When you face unfair treatment, remember that your worth is not defined by unjust accusations. God sees your integrity even when human systems fail to recognize it. You are held secure in His justice, regardless of how others judge you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- uncondemned2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀκατάκριτον1×
- ἀκατακρίτους,1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 16:37
But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!”
Paul uses this term to assert that he was beaten without a formal trial, highlighting the violation of his rights as a Roman citizen.
-
Acts 22:25
When they had tied him up with straps, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?”
Paul questions the legality of scourging him while he is still uncondemned, emphasizing the procedural injustice being attempted against him.