Original Word: ἐννέος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: enneos
Pronunciation: en-neh'-os
Phonetic Spelling: (en-neh-os')
KJV: speechless
Word Origin: [from G1770 (ἐννεύω - made signs)]

1. dumb (as making signs), i.e. silent from astonishment

speechless.

From enneuo; dumb (as making signs), i.e. Silent from astonishment -- speechless.

see GREEK enneuo

Word Origin
variant reading for eneos, q.v.

STRONGS NT 1769: ἐνεός

ἐνεός, see ἐννεός.

STRONGS NT 1769: ἐννεόςἐννεός, more correctly ἐνεός (L T Tr WH (cf. the preceding word)), ἐννεου, ὁ (it seems to be identical with ἀνεως equivalent to unused ἀναυος, ἀναος, from ἄω, αὔω to cry out, hence, without sound, mute), dumb, mute, destitute of the power of speech (Plato, Aristotle): Isaiah 56:10, cf. Proverbs 17:28; ἐνεόν μή δυνάμενον λαλῆσαι, of an idol, Baruch 6:40 (Epistle Jer.); unable to speak for terror, struck dumb, astounded: so εἱστήκεισαν ἐνεοί, stood speechless (Vulg.stabantstupefacti), Acts 9:7; Hesychius ἐμβροντηθεντες. ἐνεοί γενόμενοι. Cf. Alberti, Glossary in N. T., p. 69. In the same sense ἀπηνεώθη, Daniel 4:16 Theod., from ἀπενεόω.

Overview

Strong’s Greek 1769 (ἐνεοί) presents the picture of sudden, involuntary silence brought on by the direct presence and power of God. Found once in the New Testament, it powerfully communicates the awe-filled muteness that overwhelms finite creatures when confronted with divine revelation.

Scriptural Usage

Acts 9:7 records the men traveling with Saul of Tarsus: “The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the voice but saw no one.” (Berean Standard Bible). Their inability to speak underscores a key motif in Luke–Acts: when the Lord acts decisively, human self-expression momentarily collapses, yielding to humble, stunned silence.

Context in Acts 9

1. Narrative Setting: On the Damascus road, Jesus Christ interrupts Saul’s persecuting mission with blinding glory and a personal call to apostleship.
2. Literary Function: The speechlessness of Saul’s companions confirms the objective nature of the encounter; it was neither hallucination nor private vision. Their mute astonishment functions as legal “witness” in narrative form, authenticating Saul’s subsequent testimony before both Jewish and Roman hearings (compare Acts 22:9; Acts 26:13–14).
3. Contrast: Saul speaks (“Who are You, Lord?”), while the others cannot. The one chosen for ministry engages; onlookers can only stand silent—a pattern mirrored throughout Scripture whenever God singles out a servant while others merely observe (e.g., Exodus 19:19, 1 Samuel 3:4).

Related Biblical Motifs

• Divine Theophany and Silence: Daniel is left “speechless” before the angel (Daniel 10:15 LXX). Zechariah emerges from the temple “unable to speak” after Gabriel’s announcement (Luke 1:22).
• Silence in Judgment and Worship: “The LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.” (Habakkuk 2:20). Heaven falls silent for half an hour when the seventh seal is opened (Revelation 8:1), prefiguring final judgment.
• Apostolic Authentication: Miraculous signs frequently silence observers, preparing them to heed apostolic preaching (Acts 2:6–7; Acts 3:10–11).

Old Testament Antecedents

The Septuagint employs cognate terms for stunned silence before divine disclosure (Job 29:9; Psalm 39:2). This continuity reinforces Luke’s portrayal of the early church as the fulfillment of prophetic expectation.

Synoptic Parallels and Distinctions

While the Synoptic Gospels use different vocabulary (e.g., ἀφώνους, σιωπᾶν) to describe silence before miracles, Luke alone preserves ἐνεοί in Acts 9, reserving the term for a unique watershed event in salvation history—the calling of the apostle to the Gentiles.

Doctrine and Theology

1. Revelation: God’s self-disclosure overwhelms human faculties.
2. Election: Christ addresses Saul personally, distinguishing him from the crowd.
3. Witness: Eyewitness silence may be as persuasive as verbal testimony, emphasizing the primacy of God’s act over human explanation.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Cultivate Reverence: Worship should allow space for wordless awe, recognizing that silence can honor God as effectively as song.
• Validate Conversion Testimony: Like Saul’s companions, corroborative evidence (changed life, fruit of ministry) substantiates personal claims of encounter with Christ.
• Pastoral Counseling: Moments of overwhelming grief or wonder often leave believers “speechless.” Pastors may reassure them that such experiences parallel biblical precedent and can signal God’s nearness.

Homiletical Observations

A sermon on Acts 9:1–9 might structure around three movements: (1) The Persecutor’s Course, (2) The Persecutor’s Collision, (3) The Persecutor’s Companions—Speechless Witnesses. The silent companions model the appropriate human response to sovereign intervention: stop, listen, and await further light.

Devotional Reflection

When was the last time God’s majesty rendered you wordless? Like those travelers, believers today occasionally need to “stand speechless,” letting awe give way to obedience. Moments of holy silence often precede the clearest directives for future service, just as Saul’s three quiet days in Damascus led to a lifetime of proclamation.

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