This middle voice verb captures the act of pretending or making a false show of something. In classical Greek it could mean to claim or procure for oneself, but the New Testament usage focuses on feigning or acting as if something were true when it is not. Luke employs this term to describe Jesus' behavior on the road to Emmaus, where he 'acted as if' he were going farther, creating a moment of suspense that invites the disciples to press him to stay. The multilingual evidence (Spanish 'aparentó', French 'faire-semblant') consistently points to this sense of pretense or outward appearance.