The verb apokrinomai appears 232 times in the New Testament, almost always in participial form (apokritheis, 'having answered') to introduce direct speech. While classical Greek used it for formal judicial or deliberative responses, New Testament usage follows a Hebraistic pattern where 'answering' can introduce speech even without a prior question, simply meaning 'to begin speaking in response to a situation' (Matt 11:25). It is the backbone of Gospel dialogue, structuring conversations between Jesus and his disciples, opponents, and crowds. Translations universally render it with their standard reply-verb: Spanish respondiendo, French repondre, German antwortet.