γερουσία (gerousia)
gerousia
council of elders
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun gerousia refers to a formal council of elders, functioning as a governing senate. In classical Greek, it described the ruling bodies of various cities and nations. The New Testament uses this term specifically to identify the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish court in Jerusalem that held authority over religious and civil matters.
This word appears only once in Scripture, in Acts 5:21, where the high priest orders the apostles to be brought before "the council." By using gerousia rather than a more general term for assembly, the text emphasizes the official, legal status of the body. It signals that the apostles are facing not just a mob, but the established judicial authority of the Jewish people.
The term derives from geron, meaning "old man" or elder, highlighting the wisdom and seniority associated with these leaders. While other words describe gatherings or meetings, gerousia conveys a sense of structured power and institutional weight. It reminds readers that the early church’s message was proclaimed directly into the heart of established religious authority.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gerousia points to a formal gathering of leaders, specifically the ruling council in Jerusalem during the New Testament era. It carries weight, suggesting that the apostles were not merely facing a disorganized crowd but the highest legal authority of their people. This context highlights the courage required to stand before established power structures and speak truth with clarity.
For your faith life, this reminds us that our witness often happens in spaces of official scrutiny or resistance. The early believers did not shy away from the most powerful rooms; they returned to the temple to teach despite orders to stop. We can take heart knowing that God’s message is not silenced by human decrees.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Senate1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- γερουσίαν1×
Key Verses
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Acts 5:21
When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest and those who were with him came and called the council together, with all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
This verse identifies the specific judicial body summoned by the high priest, emphasizing the legal gravity of the apostles' confrontation with religious leadership.