Expert: Dean Gade - 6/20/2010

Question
Hi,the Greek meaning for "shadow" is skee-ah but I have been told the real meaning means "effulgence",a radiance, a shining forth of divine energy, which would make more sense for that scripture, but could you tell me if this is so and if yes what is the proper word in Greek writing for that word. Thanks

Answer
I'm sorry for the delay.  Have been having some computor problems.

The Greed word for "shadow" in Acts 5:15 IS skeea.   

The meanings for that Greek word are:   "shade caused by the interception of light or shadow"

Here are the only other places where this Greek word is used in the Bible.  By looking at them you are able to see a fuller picture of its use.

Mark 4:30-32
31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."
NIV

Matt 4:16
16 the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."
NIV

Luke 1:79
79 to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace
NIV

Col 2:17
17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
NIV

Heb 8:4-5
5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.
NIV

Heb 10:1
10:1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming — not the realities themselves.
NIV

I found nothing in the Bible OR in the Greek secular writings that use it to mean the other definitions you were given.
What you were told sounds more like the "shikana" glory which some Bible teachers speak of when describing the bright glory of God which was in the Old Testament temple.... and sometimes in other places where God was present.

God's healing power is still with us today and is wonderful enough that we don't need to embelish the accounts then or now.