Attest

Greek Word Pronunciation: apo-DEIK-numi
Strong’s Number: 584
Goodrich/Kohlenberger Number: 617
Key Verse: “… Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God …” -- Acts 2:22

Apodeiknumi is a compound word, comprised of apo, meaning “forth,” and deiknumi, meaning “to show.” Thus, its meaning is “expose to view, declare, approve, or prove.” In classical Greek, it is used of publishing a law; displaying treasure; or creating a king or military leader. This verb appears only 4 times in the New Testament, with a variety of translations.

In Acts 25:7, the Jewish leaders made accusations against Paul which they could not prove.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:4, the reference is to the Antichrist “displaying himself as being God,” attempting to usurp God’s authority.

In 1 Corinthians 4:9, Paul says, “God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death because we have become a spectacle to the world.” The word is used for exhibiting gladiators in the arena of an amphitheater, or in a public festival where criminals were on their way to the arena, being the last in the rear march to the arena. Paul seems to say that God exhibited the apostles as a “grand finale.” The apostles followed the path of Christ’s humiliation. They lived out the message of the cross.

This word was used in the papyri in the sense of proclaiming an appointment to public office. This usage can be seen in the key verse, ACTS 2:22. Jesus’ miracles were His divine credentials. God would not confer such power on an imposter. The fact that this verb is in perfect tense, indicating a past action with present results, testifies that Jesus was a Man marked out by God in the past, with the present result of God's proclamation of Him as Messiah.