Pronunciation Guide: ice-kal-EH-oh-my
Basic Definition
Strong’s G1528: Εἰσκαλέομαι (eiskaleomai) is a compound Greek verb meaning “to call in” or “to invite inside.” It signifies the act of summoning or inviting someone to enter from outside to inside, particularly into one’s home or dwelling. This word carries connotations of hospitality, welcome, and the transition from exclusion to inclusion within a household or community.
Etymology and Morphology
- Verb (Middle Voice)
- Compound of two elements: εἰς (eis, “into”) + καλέω (kaleo, “to call”)
- Appears primarily in narrative sections
- Used in contexts of hospitality and social customs
- Middle voice usage emphasizes personal involvement of the subject
Εἰσκαλέομαι Morphology:
- εἰσκαλέομαι (present middle indicative, 1st person singular) – I call in
- εἰσκαλεσάμην (aorist middle indicative, 1st person singular) – I called in
- εἰσκαλεσάμενος (aorist middle participle, nominative masculine singular) – having called in
- εἰσκαλεῖται (present middle indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it calls in
Origin & History
The compound verb εἰσκαλέομαι emerges from the combination of the preposition εἰς (into) and the verb καλέω (to call), creating a vivid picture of calling someone from outside to come inside. In classical Greek literature, similar compound verbs with καλέω were used to describe formal invitations to gatherings, official summons, and expressions of hospitality. Herodotus, in his “Histories,” uses similar compound forms to describe Persian kings summoning advisors into their presence.
In the Septuagint, the simple form καλέω appears frequently, often portraying יהוה (Yahweh)’s calling of His people or specific individuals into relationship and service. However, the specific compound εἰσκαλέομαι is rare, highlighting its specialized meaning in contexts of hospitality. The early church father Chrysostom, in his homilies on Acts, emphasizes the significance of Peter’s act of “calling in” the messengers as a first step toward breaking down barriers between Jews and Gentiles.
Expanded Definitions & Translation Options
- To call someone from outside to come inside a dwelling or space
- To invite someone into one’s home as an act of hospitality
- To welcome someone across a threshold into a previously inaccessible space
- To summon someone into one’s presence with positive intent
Εἰσκαλέομαι Translation Options:
- “To invite inside” – emphasizes the hospitable nature of the action and personal agency
- “To call in” – highlights the directional aspect (from outside to inside)
- “To welcome across the threshold” – captures the cultural significance of inviting someone into one’s personal space
- “To summon within” – conveys the authoritative aspect while maintaining the spatial movement
Biblical Usage
Εἰσκαλέομαι appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 10:23, at a pivotal moment in salvation history. The context is Peter’s encounter with Cornelius’s messengers, where the Jewish apostle must decide whether to extend hospitality to Gentiles—something previously forbidden by Jewish custom. This singular usage marks a profound theological turning point as Peter “invited them in” (εἰσκαλεσάμενος) to be his guests, breaking centuries of social and religious separation between Jews and Gentiles.
The rarity of this term and its strategic placement in Acts 10 highlights its theological significance. Luke, with his careful attention to detail, chose this specific compound verb to emphasize not just a casual invitation but a deliberate act of bringing outsiders inside—paralleling the larger narrative of Gentile inclusion in God’s covenant community. This verb serves as a linguistic bridge, mirroring the relational bridge being built between Jewish and Gentile believers.
- “Then Peter invited them in [εἰσκαλεσάμενος] and gave them lodging.” Acts 10:23
Cultural Insights
In the ancient Mediterranean world, hospitality (φιλοξενία, philoxenia) was considered a sacred duty, yet there were strict boundaries about whom one could welcome into one’s home. For Jewish people in the first century, inviting Gentiles into their homes would render them ceremonially unclean. The simple act described by εἰσκαλέομαι in Acts 10:23 represents a profound cultural transformation—it was not merely offering shelter but crossing a deeply entrenched social and religious boundary.
The threshold of a home held significant symbolic meaning in ancient Near Eastern culture. To invite someone across your threshold was to extend protection, provision, and recognition of their humanity. In Jewish households, the mezuzah on the doorpost marked the transition from the outside world to the sacred space of family life. Peter’s act of εἰσκαλέομαι therefore represents not just physical hospitality but a radical redefinition of who belongs within the household of God—a theme that becomes central to the emerging theology of the early Messianic community.
Theological Significance
Εἰσκαλέομαι in Acts 10 functions as a powerful theological symbol of the inclusive nature of God’s kingdom. Peter’s action of “calling in” the Gentile messengers mirrors God’s larger activity of calling the nations into covenant relationship. This singular verbal act anticipates the theological declaration that would soon follow at the Jerusalem Council: that God “made no distinction between us and them” (Acts 15:9).
The directional movement embedded in εἰσκαλέομαι—from outside to inside—reflects the fundamental pattern of salvation history. God consistently invites those who were “far off” to come “near” (Ephesians 2:13). This verb captures יהוה (Yahweh)’s heart to transform strangers into family members, outsiders into insiders. The middle voice form emphasizes Peter’s personal investment in this act—he wasn’t merely following protocol but engaging his whole self in this boundary-crossing welcome, reflecting the personal nature of divine hospitality.
Personal Application
When we understand εἰσκαλέομαι, we’re challenged to examine our own practices of hospitality and inclusion. Who remains “outside” our circles of fellowship that God might be calling us to “invite in”? Just as Peter had to overcome cultural prejudices to extend this invitation, we too may need to identify and dismantle barriers that prevent us from fully expressing God’s inclusive love to those different from ourselves.
The singular appearance of this word reminds us that seemingly small acts of welcome can have profound kingdom implications. Your decision to “call in” someone who has been marginalized—whether through a meal, a conversation, or inclusion in community—might be the pivotal moment that God uses to transform not only their life but your understanding of His expansive grace. Like Peter, we’re invited to participate in God’s boundary-crossing welcome that transforms outsiders into family members.
Related Words
- καλέω (kaleo, “to call”) – The base verb from which εἰσκαλέομαι derives, often used for divine calling or invitation without the specific “into” component. See G2564
- προσκαλέομαι (proskaleomai, “to call to oneself”) – Similar compound with προς instead of εἰς, emphasizing calling someone to be near you rather than specifically inside. See G4341
- ξενίζω (xenizo, “to receive as a guest”) – Related to hospitality but focusing on the treatment of someone already inside rather than the invitation. See G3579
- ὑποδέχομαι (hupodechomai, “to welcome under one’s roof”) – Another hospitality term emphasizing shelter and protection. See G5264
- συνάγω (sunago, “to gather together”) – Used for bringing people into assembly, with emphasis on collective gathering rather than individual invitation. See G4863
Did you Know?
- Did you know that Peter’s act of “calling in” (εἰσκαλέομαι) Cornelius’s messengers in Acts 10:23 directly contradicted rabbinic teachings of the time? The Mishnah later codified what was already common practice: “The dwelling-places of gentiles are unclean” (Oholot 18:7). By using this specific verb, Luke highlights just how revolutionary Peter’s hospitality was—it wasn’t merely being nice, but deliberately violating cultural taboos in response to divine guidance.
- Did you know that in modern Greek, the related word “εισκαλώ” is still used in formal contexts to describe inviting someone into a professional setting or institutional space? This preserves the sense of authorized entry that the biblical word carries, reminding us that Peter’s invitation wasn’t merely personal but represented his apostolic authority to redefine community boundaries.
- Did you know that archaeological discoveries in first-century Joppa (modern Jaffa), where Peter’s εἰσκαλέομαι took place, reveal distinct Jewish quarters with architectural features designed to maintain separation from gentile areas? Peter’s act of calling gentiles into his Jewish lodging crossed physical boundaries that were literally built into the urban landscape of the time, making the use of this compound verb even more significant.
Remember This
Εἰσκαλέομαι reminds us that the gospel often advances not through grand proclamations but through simple acts of welcome that defy cultural barriers and open doors where walls once stood.
