“In one accord” (ὁμοθυμαδόν) is a derivative of anger (θυμος), which expresses an inner burning heat combined with homogenize. By merging “thumos” (θυμος) with “same” (ομοιος), “in one accord” (ὁμοθυμαδόν) does not hold onto the concept of anger; rather, it only retains the intensity that thumos (θυμος) expresses.
This together intensity can be seen with those who do not want to hear the truth, Acts 7:57, and those who believed because of the signs and wonders being done through the Apostles at the beginning of the Church, Acts 8:6. In the secular realm “in one accord (ὁμοθυμαδόν)” is used of the people of Tyre and Sidon coming to Herod to retain peace, for their country was supplied with food from Herod, Acts 12:20. We also encounter this concept when Gallio was proconsul in Achaia, the Jews in one accord rose up against Paul, for they were angry that he was having such success with teaching the Jewish people about the resurrected Christ, along with all the Gentiles that were coming to salvation through the gospel Paul was proclaiming. They express their intense togetherness against Paul to Gallio, who dismisses them because it is not a matter of wrongdoing or a wicked crime being committed, Acts 18:12. This act from Gallio finally gave Paul time to rest from the persecution by the Jews. As the gospel of Christ spread through Ephesus, the silversmith Demetrius, whose primary business was selling idols of Diana, stirred up the city because the prosperity of the gospel of Christ was so predominant that it negatively impacted his business. Demetrius persuaded the other silversmiths of their dilemma, and in their wrath, they confused the city as they all, in one accord, rushed into the theater while claiming Diana of Ephesus is great, Acts 19:28.
On the day of Pentecost after the death and resurrection of Christ, many of the saints are in an upper room in Jerusalem, including the apostles. They are all together in one accord and, therefore, have the same type of intensity within them, Acts 1:14. This is a very tense time for the saints. As Christ prepared to ascend for the final time before sending the Holy Spirit, He instructed the Apostles to stay in Jerusalem until they received the promise from the Father, Acts 1:4. The promise is the Comforter Who He said, during the time of the last supper, that He would send after He leaves to return to the Father, John 14:16. Now, they are all together waiting; however, they do not know when this will happen, although they knew it would be within a short period of time, Acts 1:5. Therefore, “in one accord” is expressing their intensity caused by not only the atmosphere, for the leaders of Israel had just crucified the Messiah and God raised Him three days later from the dead, but also the anticipation of the promise coming, which is shown by their continual participation in worship and supplication. On the day of Pentecost, they were all together again in this same state when the promise came. In His coming, the Holy Spirit mentally controlled them to speak in tongues of other nations as a sign to the Jews in Jerusalem that what was happening was from God, Acts 2:1.
Out from the sign given to the Jews on the day of Pentecost at the beginning of the Church when the Holy Spirit came upon those in the upper room, over three thousand devout Jews in Jerusalem believed that Jesus is the Messiah, Who died on behalf of the sins of the people and was raised from the dead three days later, just as Scripture stated. Therefore, they were all in one accord in the Temple as the apostles taught. In addition, each day they were breaking bread and fellowshipping with each other, for great respect towards God had come upon all of them because of the signs the Apostles were performing, Acts 2:46. During this time, while the Apostles were teaching the Jews in the Temple concerning what Christ had told them before His death and resurrection about the age and dispensation to come, the Priests and the Sadducees were greatly troubled by what they were saying; therefore, they had Peter and John arrested. Standing before Anas, the High Priest, and the elders of Israel, the Holy Spirit mentally controlled Peter to speak boldly the truth of the resurrected Christ, the One they had crucified, but God raised from the dead. After the leaders of Israel threatened and released them, the saints, in one accord, raised their voices to God, giving Him worship and expressing how the Scriptures revealed the nations and rulers would stand against the Messiah. As a result of their communication to God, the whole place was shaken, and they were all mentally controlled by the Holy Spirit to speak boldly, Acts 4:24. This togetherness was not expressing that they were all of one mind; rather, it signifies the burning intensity they all had due to the threat from the leaders of Israel.
In dealing with the heresy that a Christian must be circumcised and, therefore, follow the Mosaic law to be saved, which was brought to Galatia by men claiming to represent the assembly in Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to discuss the matter with the Apostles. The entire council determined that it is clear by how God is saving the Gentiles that He does not require circumcision for them. In agreement, they were of one accord in sending a group of men back with them to clearly express that it is not appropriate to teach such things and those who do are not from them, Acts 15:25. Therefore, along with being in agreement, they were intensely burning together to ensure the saints knew the outcome of their decision on this matter so they were not deceived.
As Christians, we are to have a shared intensity when it comes to bearing with one another, leading to the edification of the assembly, Romans 15:5-6. This comes from a love for each other that is expressed through ensuring we are looking after the weaknesses of others so that they do not fall. The strong, watching out for the frail in the faith, and the weak, not judging the strong in the faith. For we are all part of one body in Christ.
“In one accord” (ὁμοθυμαδόν) expresses a togetherness in the same burning intensity, not just simply doing things together, being in agreement, or having the same mindset. Even though it is derived from the Greek word for “an inner burning anger”, it does not retain the anger articulated by thumos (θυμος); however, it does retain the intensity of the inner burning to convey an intense burning togetherness due to opposition from others or for the care of the saints.
