G1618 ἐκτενής (ektenḗs)

Fervent (1618) (ektenes from ek = out + teÃno = stretch; English = tension, etc) (see study of related word ektenos) is literally the picture of one who is stretched out. It pictures "an intense strain" and unceasing activity which normally involving a degree of intensity and/or perseverance. Ektenes was used to describe a horse whose legs are fully extended while galloping. Ektenes, was used as a medical term describing the stretching of a muscle to its limits and in Grecian athletics described a runner with the taut muscles moving at maximum output, straining and stretching to the limit in order to win the race! It pictures one "stretching out" to love others! The only other NT use of ektenes is Luke 22:44 And being in agony (Greek = agona = speaks of combat, giving prominence to the pain and labor of the conflict and in classic Greek referred to fear but not a phobos fear but the fear that shrinks and would flee, but the fear that trembles as to the issue, an emotion which spurs on to the uttermost) He was praying very fervently (ektenes); and His sweat became like drops of blood (a condition known as hematidrosis., the effusion of blood in one’s perspiration), falling down upon the ground. In Acts Luke uses the adverb ektenos describing the prayers of the church for Peter who was imprisoned ("prayer for him was being made fervent by the church to God" in Acts 12:5). John Macarthur has an insightful note on this use of ektenos in Acts writing that the church... knew only God had the power to release Peter... The church poured the maximum effort they were capable of into their prayers for Peter. They knew the truth James was later to express, that “the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16). The ektenes word group describes three essential elements of the Christian life: love (1Peter 4:8), service (Acts 26:7), and, in the present passage (Acts 12:5), prayer." (MacArthur, J: Acts 1-12; Acts 13-28 Moody Press or Logos) (Bolding and Greek word notes added) Peter calls us to a love which is "fully stretched out” or manifested “in an all-out manner, with an intense strain”. Wuest writes that the picture of ektenes is... of a love that is extended to reach the one loved. It is the act of one who, instead of living a self-centered life, gives of himself to others." (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos) W E Vine adds that... the thought is of the runner with outstretched head and hand, the mind’s concentration on the goal imparting energy to the whole body." (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos) Like an old television commercial used to say Reach out and touch someone! William Barclay adds that ektenes... means outstretching in the sense of consistent; our love must be the love that never fails. It also means stretching out as a runner stretches out. As C. E. B. Cranfield reminds us it describes a horse at full gallop and denotes “the taut muscle of strenuous and sustained effort, as of an athlete.” Our love must be energetic. Here is a fundamental Christian truth. Christian love is not an easy, sentimental reaction. It demands everything a man has of mental and spiritual energy. It means loving the unlovely and the unlovable; it means loving in spite of insult and injury; it means loving when love is not returned. Bengel translates ektenes by the Latin vehemens, vehement. Christian love is the love which never fails and into which every atom of man’s strength is directed. (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press or Logos) This type of love is the act of one who, instead of living a self-centered life, gives of himself or herself to others. Christian love is something we have to work at, just the way an athlete works on his skills. It is not a matter of emotional feeling, though that is included, but of dedicated will. Christian love means that we treat others the way God treats us, obeying His commandments in the Word. It is even possible to love people that we do not like! This kind of love requires the Christian to put another’s spiritual good ahead of his own desires in spite of being treated unkindly, ungraciously, or even with hostility. This kind of love is not blind to a brother or sister's faults but sees them and accepts them. Such a love will not publicize the faults and failings of other believers, but will protect them from public view. Someone has said Hatred makes the worst of everything. Love is entitled to bury things out of sight. BECAUSE LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS: hoti agaphe kaluptei (3SPAI) plethos hamartion: (Pr 12:16; 17:9; 18:13; 1Co 13:7; Jas 5:20)