A Word-Study Chart · Luke–Acts & the Epistles
dunamis · the root of "dynamite," "dynamo," "dynamic"
power · might · strength · ability · a mighty work, a miracle
One noun · and in the plural, "miracles"
Unlike a verb, δύναμις does not change tense or mood — it changes only its case ending (who is doing what to it in the sentence). The stem δυναμ- is constant throughout. One detail matters most for this study: in the plural, δυνάμεις means "mighty works" — that is, miracles. Same word; the miraculous is simply power, in the plural.
The power originates in God, is embodied in Jesus, promised to the witnesses, lodged in the gospel itself, expressed in the miraculous, perfected through weakness — and returns, in the end, to the glory of God.
It begins on the throne and is owed back to the throne.
ἄξιόν ἐστιν … λαβεῖν τὴν δύναμιν … καὶ δόξαν
labein tēn dunamin … kai doxan
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory.
Power and glory belong together, and both belong to God. Whatever power is given to us is borrowed and returns to Him in worship — the frame for everything that follows.
He did not heal by technique but by power resting on Him.
ἔχρισεν αὐτὸν … πνεύματι ἁγίῳ καὶ δυνάμει
pneumati hagiō kai dunamei
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed.
The pattern for all ministry: Spirit and power together, poured out, then spent on others. Luke 5:17 adds, "the power of the Lord was present to heal."
ἔγνων δύναμιν ἐξελθοῦσαν ἀπ' ἐμοῦ
egnōn dunamin exelēluthuian
Someone touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.
Power is not abstract — it goes out and heals. The bleeding woman drew on the same δύναμις the Father had anointed Him with.
And the very next word is witness — power is given for mission.
λήψεσθε δύναμιν ἐπελθόντος τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος
lēpsesthe dunamin
You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses … to the end of the earth.
The programmatic verse. Power and witness are welded together. The Spirit's power is not for private experience but for the gospel's reach to the nations. Luke 24:49: "until you are clothed with power from on high."
The message is not merely about power; it carries it.
εὐαγγέλιον … δύναμις … θεοῦ ἐστιν εἰς σωτηρίαν
euangelion … dunamis theou
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
The gospel is God's power — the saving force itself. 1 Cor 1:18 says the same of the cross. The plainest word can carry the greatest δύναμις.
ἐν ἀποδείξει πνεύματος καὶ δυνάμεως … ἐν δυνάμει θεοῦ
apodeixei … dunameōs … en dunamei theou
My speech and preaching were in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might rest in the power of God, not the wisdom of men.
Paul deliberately set aside rhetorical polish so the faith would stand on God's power, not human persuasion. 1 Thess 1:5: the gospel came "not in word only, but also in power."
In the plural, δύναμις simply means the mighty works themselves.
ἐν δυνάμει σημείων καὶ τεράτων, ἐν δυνάμει πνεύματος θεοῦ
en dunamei sēmeiōn … pneumatos
By the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God … I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
Exactly the union you asked about: the miraculous serving the spread of the gospel. Signs and wonders are not the goal; the fully-preached gospel is.
ἄλλῳ … ἐνεργήματα δυνάμεων
energēmata dunameōn
To another the working of miracles … all worked by one and the same Spirit, distributing as He wills.
Here the plural δυνάμεων = "miracles," a gift of the Spirit (also 1 Cor 12:28; Gal 3:5; Heb 2:4). The gifts are sovereignly distributed — never owned, never boasted.
καὶ μεγάλῃ δυνάμει ἀπεδίδουν τὸ μαρτύριον
kai megalē dunamei
With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
Power and witness again inseparable — and yoked to grace. Acts 6:8: Stephen, "full of grace and power," did great wonders.
It flows through the cracked vessel — so the glory is unmistakably God's.
ἡ … δύναμις ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελειοῦται … ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ
hē dunamis en astheneia teleioutai
My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness … that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
The decisive safeguard against pride: God deliberately routes His power through human weakness so that no one mistakes the source. Eph 3:20 — "according to the power that works in us," He does far more than we ask.
What began on the throne is rendered back to the throne.
κατὰ τὴν δύναμιν τὴν ἐνεργουμένην ἐν ἡμῖν … αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα
kata tēn dunamin … autō hē doxa
To Him who is able to do far more than we ask or think, according to the power at work within us — to Him be glory in the church.
The arc closes where it opened (stage I): the working power exists for His glory in the church. Power that does not return to God as glory has missed its purpose.
Because δύναμις is real and visible, it is also coveted and counterfeited. Scripture warns of those who want it for themselves, perform it without knowing Christ, or keep a religion that denies the very power it claims.
δότε κἀμοὶ τὴν ἐξουσίαν ταύτην … ἵνα … λαμβάνῃ πνεῦμα
"give me this power" — Simon the sorcerer
Give me this power too, so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.
Simon tries to buy the power ("simony"). Peter's rebuke is severe: the gift of God is not purchased and cannot be possessed for self-display.
ἔχοντες μόρφωσιν εὐσεβείας τὴν δὲ δύναμιν αὐτῆς ἠρνημένοι
tēn de dunamin autēs ērnēmenoi
Holding a form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid such people.
The opposite danger: a religion with the shape of godliness but no real power. Mark 6:5 shows even Jesus "could do no mighty work" where unbelief shut the door.
δύναμις is raw capacity — the power to do. ἐξουσία is delegated right — the authority to act. In Luke 9:1 Jesus gives the Twelve both: δύναμιν καὶ ἐξουσίαν over demons. You can have the right without the strength, or strength without the right; the gospel ministry needs both, and both are given.
Ephesians 1:19 deliberately stacks four: δύναμις (power), ἐνέργεια (active working), κράτος (dominion, strength to rule), ἰσχύς (might, inherent force). English often flattens them to "power / might." The piling-up is Paul straining language to describe the same power that raised Christ from the dead — now toward us who believe.
The noun appears about a hundred and twenty times in the New Testament. Below are those gathered in this study — one lemma, declined by case, plural when it means "miracles."
| Ref. | Form | Lemma | Case / No. | Sense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt 22:29 | δύναμιν | δύναμις | acc sg | "the power of God" (Scripture & power) |
| Lk 5:17 | δύναμις | δύναμις | nom sg | power of the Lord present to heal |
| Lk 8:46 | δύναμιν | δύναμις | acc sg | power went out from Him |
| Lk 9:1 | δύναμιν | δύναμις | acc sg | power & authority over demons |
| Lk 24:49 | δύναμιν | δύναμις | acc sg | "clothed with power from on high" |
| Acts 1:8 | δύναμιν | δύναμις | acc sg | "you shall receive power" → witness |
| Acts 4:33 | δυνάμει | δύναμις | dat sg | great power in witness |
| Acts 6:8 | δυνάμεως | δύναμις | gen sg | Stephen full of grace & power |
| Acts 10:38 | δυνάμει | δύναμις | dat sg | Jesus anointed with Spirit & power |
| Rom 1:16 | δύναμις | δύναμις | nom sg | gospel is the power of God |
| Rom 15:13 | δυνάμει | δύναμις | dat sg | abound in hope by power of Spirit |
| Rom 15:19 | δυνάμει | δύναμις | dat sg | signs & wonders → gospel preached |
| 1 Cor 1:18 | δύναμις | δύναμις | nom sg | the cross is the power of God |
| 1 Cor 2:5 | δυνάμει | δύναμις | dat sg | faith rests in the power of God |
| 1 Cor 4:20 | δυνάμει | δύναμις | dat sg | kingdom is in power, not talk |
| 1 Cor 12:10 | δυνάμεων | δύναμις | gen pl | "workings of miracles" (gift) |
| 2 Cor 12:9 | δύναμις | δύναμις | nom sg | power perfected in weakness |
| Eph 1:19 | δυνάμεως | δύναμις | gen sg | greatness of His power toward us |
| Eph 3:20 | δύναμιν | δύναμις | acc sg | power at work within us |
| Phil 3:10 | δύναμιν | δύναμις | acc sg | the power of His resurrection |
| 2 Tim 1:7 | δυνάμεως | δύναμις | gen sg | spirit of power, love, sound mind |
| 2 Tim 3:5 | δύναμιν | δύναμις | acc sg | form of godliness denying its power |
| Heb 2:4 | δυνάμεσιν | δύναμις | dat pl | God testifying by miracles |
| Rev 5:12 | δύναμιν | δύναμις | acc sg | "worthy… to receive power… and glory" |