Lexical Summary autou: his, its, of him, of it Original Word: αὐτοῦ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance here, there.Genitive (i.e. Possessive) of autos, used as an adverb of location; properly, belonging to the same spot, i.e. In this (or that) place -- (t-)here. see GREEK autos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originadverb from autos Definition there, here NASB Translation here (2), there (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 847: αὐτοῦαὐτοῦ, properly, neuter genitive of the pronoun αὐτός, in that place, there, here: Matthew 26:36; (Luke 9:27 (R L ὧδε)); Acts 15:34 (a spurious verse (see WH's Appendix, at the passage)); Acts 18:19. (L Tr marginal reading ἐκεῖ); Acts 21:4 (Lachmann αὐτοῖς). Topical Lexicon Contextual SnapshotStrong’s Greek 847 functions as a possessive or relational marker (“his,” “of him,” “belonging to him”) that binds a person, place, or action directly to Christ or to a primary subject in the narrative. Though a simple pronominal form, the word always serves to tether the surrounding sentence to a main figure, thereby clarifying ownership, presence, or personal involvement. Occurrences in the New Testament Matthew 26:36 – “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane and said to the disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ ” The pronoun secures the scene as Christ’s chosen place of vigil. Gethsemane becomes “His” location of surrender, underscoring the deeply personal nature of the coming atonement. Luke 9:27 – “But I tell you truthfully, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” The possessive sense highlights the eschatological certainty of the kingdom associated with Christ Himself, assuring the disciples of a pledge directly tied to Him. John 11:32 – “When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’ ” The expression “His feet” accentuates the posture of worship that precedes the climactic miracle, locating divine power squarely in the person of Jesus. Acts 15:34 – “But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.” The textual variant containing 847 (“to remain there”) cements Silas’s decision as one relationally connected to Paul’s ministry base, emphasizing unity of purpose. Acts 18:19 – “They reached Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.” The pronoun points to Paul’s direct engagement; the dialog at Ephesus is “his” initiative, foreshadowing a strategic center for Pauline mission. Acts 21:4 – “We sought out the disciples and stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to set foot in Jerusalem.” The possessive sense (“his journey”) heightens the personal resolve of Paul while accenting the Spirit-led counsel of the church. Narrative and Theological Significance 1. Personal Ownership of Redemptive Moments Each occurrence attaches pivotal events—Gethsemane’s submission, the kingdom’s unveiling, Lazarus’s resurrection—to Christ or His apostolic agents. The pronoun silently, yet forcefully, affirms divine sovereignty in the storyline. 2. Embodied Authority By anchoring actions to “His” presence or initiative, the text consistently presents authority as inseparable from the person of Christ or the Spirit‐guided apostle. The church’s confidence stems not from abstract principle but from belonging to Him. 3. Covenant Continuity In Acts, 847 links missionary decisions directly to Paul, illustrating continuity between the risen Lord’s mandate (Acts 1:8) and the church’s ongoing obedience. The possessive nuance preserves the unity of Scripture: one plan, one Lord, one unfolding mission. Historical Insights Early church fathers exploited such pronominal connections to combat docetism, insisting that the events of the passion and resurrection were experienced in Christ’s actual body—“His” sufferings, “His” triumphs. By fastening key texts to the tangible person of Jesus, the Greek pronoun served as grammatical evidence for orthodox Christology. Practical Ministry Applications • Worship leaders can draw attention to the personal pronouns of Scripture to foster a God‐centered vocabulary that emphasizes belonging and intimacy. Missional Reflection The possessive tie in Acts reinforces that local church movements and missionary journeys derive their legitimacy from being “His work.” Modern missions remain effective only to the extent they are grounded in allegiance to Christ’s lordship rather than human strategy. Doctrinal Anchor Points 1. Christ’s Personal Involvement – Salvation history is not impersonal; the grammar of Scripture keeps pointing back to Him. Summary Insight Though a modest pronoun, Strong’s Greek 847 functions as a linguistic thread that sews together key redemptive scenes, cancels any notion of detached theology, and calls the church to a ministry thoroughly marked as “His.” Forms and Transliterations αυτου αυτού αὐτοῦ autou autoûLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 26:36 AdvGRK: μαθηταῖς Καθίσατε αὐτοῦ ἕως οὗ NAS: Sit here while KJV: Sit ye here, while INT: disciples Sit here until that Luke 9:27 Adv John 11:32 PPro-GM3S Acts 15:34 Adv Acts 18:19 Adv Acts 21:4 Adv |