"to speak plainly, freely, boldly, and confidently, Acts 13:46; 14:3"
Definition and meaning
to speak plainly, freely, boldly, and confidently, Acts 13:46; 14:3
In the original Greek the word is written: παρρησιάζομαι
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of parresiazomai (G3955) across the King James Bible.
But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
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Common questions
Strong's G3955 (parresiazomai) is a Greek word that means: to speak plainly, freely, boldly, and confidently, Acts 13:46; 14:3 It appears 9 times in the King James Bible.
The word parresiazomai (G3955) appears 9 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3955 is parresiazomai, a Greek word defined as: to speak plainly, freely, boldly, and confidently, Acts 13:46; 14:3. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
parresiazomai is a Greek word found in the New Testament.