Lexical Summary chrós: Skin, complexion Original Word: χρώς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance skinProbably akin to the base of chraomai through the idea of handling; the body (properly, its surface or skin) -- body. see GREEK chraomai HELPS Word-studies 5559 xrṓs. 5559 (xrṓs) does not refer to the "body" in general, but rather the surface of the body. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition the surface of the body, skin NASB Translation body (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5559: χρώςχρώς, genitive χρωτός, ὁ (cf. χροιά, the skin (cf. Curtius, § 201)), from Homer down (who (generally) uses the genitive χρώς etc. (cf. Ebeling, Lex. Homer, or Liddell and Scott, under the word)), the surface of the body, the skin: Acts 19:12; the Sept. for בָּשָׂר, twice for עור, Exodus 34:29f, Alex.. Topical Lexicon Definition and Occurrence Strong’s Greek 5559 designates the outer surface of the human body, “skin” or “flesh.” It appears once in the New Testament, in Acts 19:12, describing cloths that had touched Paul’s skin. Context in Acts 19:11-12 “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits departed from them” (Acts 19:11-12). The setting is Ephesus, a center of magic arts. The Spirit’s power works through common work-cloths from Paul’s tentmaking, underscoring that the miracle is divine, not magical. Ministry Significance 1. Authentication of the apostolic message—These healings confirm Paul’s gospel before Jews and Gentiles (Hebrews 2:3-4; 2 Corinthians 12:12). Theological Themes • Incarnational principle—God often mediates spiritual power through physical means (John 1:14; 1 John 1:1). Biblical Parallels • Peter’s shadow healing the sick (Acts 5:15). Historical Reception Early believers cherished accounts of contact miracles, yet apostolic writers never exalt material objects themselves. Church history shows both appreciation (e.g., remembering martyrs) and excess (relic-veneration). Reformers cautioned against superstition, directing faith to Christ alone (Colossians 2:18-19). Practical Application • God may work through ordinary vocations—Paul’s tentmaking aprons became instruments of blessing. Summary The single New Testament use of Strong’s 5559 highlights the tangible reality of God’s power in advancing the gospel. Items that touched Paul’s skin became signs of Christ’s authority, encouraging faith, confronting superstition, and magnifying the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:17). Forms and Transliterations εχώλαναν εχωλάνθη χρως χρώτα χρωτος χρωτός χρωτὸς χυδαίοι χύμα χυτήν χυτός χύτρα χύτραν χύτρας χυτρόγαυλον χυτρόγαυλος χυτρογαύλους χυτρόποδες χυτών χωθαρώθ χωλανείτε chrotos chrotòs chrōtos chrōtòsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |