ξενίζω

G3579, xenízō, is a Greek verb whose range turns on welcome and strangeness. In Acts it describes staying in someone's home, inviting visitors in, receiving travelers, or entertaining them hospitably. In Hebrews it names entertaining strangers. In Acts 17 and First Peter it describes ideas, conduct, or suffering being regarded as strange, surprising, or unfamiliar. The same word family can therefore portray an unfamiliar person being given a place and an unfamiliar event being met with surprise. Voice, grammar, and context decide which movement is present.

Acts uses hospitality to move the gospel across social and geographic boundaries. Peter is hosted by Simon the tanner, then receives Cornelius's messengers as his own guests before entering a Gentile household. Mnason receives traveling disciples, and Publius welcomes shipwrecked strangers on Malta with generous care. These scenes depend on actual homes, food, time, travel, introductions, and risk-bearing service. They also show reciprocal agency: guests listen, hosts decide, companions travel, and relationships change. Hebrews turns the pattern into an exhortation not to neglect hospitality, invoking the scriptural memory of people who received angels without recognizing them.

The surprise sense requires equal care. Athenians hear Paul's claims as strange and ask what they mean. Former companions find Christian nonparticipation in reckless behavior strange and respond with abuse. Believers undergoing a fiery trial are told not to treat the trial as though something alien to discipleship were happening. None of these passages makes surprise sinful by itself or requires passive acceptance of abuse. Pastoral teaching should cultivate curious listening, sober discernment, resilient hope, and safe hospitality. It should never use the word to shame trauma responses, force households to host, or dismiss genuinely dangerous events as normal Christian suffering.

G3579 traces being hosted, inviting guests, receiving travelers, hearing unfamiliar claims, extending hospitality, being regarded as strange for changed conduct, and refusing to interpret persecution as alien to discipleship.