Strong’s Greek 4871 (συναλίζω) appears a single time in the New Testament—Acts 1:4—where it describes the risen Lord Jesus gathering with His disciples before the ascension.

Immediate Context in Acts 1

Acts 1:4: “And when they had gathered together, He commanded them, ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss.’”

The participle portrays an event during the forty-day post-resurrection ministry (Acts 1:3). Luke places this gathering just before the charge to be witnesses “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) and immediately prior to the ascension (Acts 1:9-11). Thus the term frames the moment as both intimate fellowship and strategic instruction.

Nuances of Fellowship and Table Communion

Ancient usage allows the idea of “eating with” or “sharing salt,” underlining covenantal overtones. Luke elsewhere notes Jesus eating fish in the disciples’ presence (Luke 24:42-43), and John records a shared breakfast by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:12-14). The Acts 1 gathering, therefore, likely involved a meal that authenticated His bodily resurrection (cf. Luke 24:39) and continued the pattern of table fellowship begun during His earthly ministry (Luke 15:2; 22:14-20).

Unity Before Empowerment

The corporate nature of συναλίζω highlights the necessity of unity before Pentecost. Jesus does not send them out individually; He assembles them so they might receive the Spirit together (Acts 2:1-4). The sequence—gathering, promise, empowerment, mission—establishes a paradigm for the Church: fellowship precedes effective witness (Hebrews 10:24-25).

The Promised Gift and Biblical Continuity

Jesus links the gathering to “the promise of the Father,” echoing:
• Luke 24:49—“I am sending upon you what My Father promised.”
• Joel 2:28—outpouring of the Spirit on “all people.”
• Ezekiel 36:27—Spirit enabling obedience.

Thus συναλίζω stands at the intersection of Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment, demonstrating the reliability of God’s covenantal plan.

Typological Resonances

As Moses assembled Israel at Sinai to receive the law (Exodus 19:17), so the greater Mediator gathers His followers to receive the Spirit who writes the law on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; 2 Corinthians 3:3). The parallel underscores Jesus as the new and better Moses.

Practical Ministry Application

1. Corporate Waiting: Believers are encouraged to seek the Lord together for guidance and empowerment rather than acting independently.
2. Table Fellowship: Shared meals remain a powerful means of nurturing faith and unity (Acts 2:42, 46).
3. Obedient Expectation: The disciples’ compliance models patient trust in divine timing—a lesson for modern ministry planning and decision-making.

Missional Outcome

The single use of συναλίζω directly precedes the church’s birth at Pentecost. Luke presents gathering with Christ as the springboard for global witness: Jerusalem (Acts 2-7), Judea and Samaria (Acts 8-12), and the ends of the earth (Acts 13-28). Every missionary advance in Acts finds its genesis in this initial, Christ-centered assembly.

Summary

συναλίζω in Acts 1:4 captures a pivotal moment when the risen Christ intimately gathers His disciples, both verifying His resurrection and preparing them for Spirit-empowered mission. The term intertwines fellowship, covenant, and commissioning, providing a lasting template for Christian community and outreach.