Lexical Definition

‎ἐπικαλέομαι‎ epikaléomai (ep-ee-kal-eh'-om-ahee) to call (on)/name ^G:V
middle voice from ‎ἐπί‎ and ‎καλέω‎

appeal (unto), call (on, upon), surname.

• to entitle
• by implication, to invoke (for aid, worship, testimony, decision, etc.)

Abbott-Smith

ἐπι-καλέω, -ῶ [in LXX chiefly for קָרָא ;]
1. to call, name, surname: c. acc (cl.), Mt 10:25; pass., Ac 1:23 4:36 10:5, 18, 32 11:13 12:12, 25, He 11:16; τ. ὄνομα, seq. ἐπί (denoting possession, as Heb. . עַל נִקְרָא שֵׁם .), Ac 15:17 (LXX), Ja 2:7 (see. CB on Am 9:12).
2. Mid. (so also act.; cl., LXX), to call upon, invoke, appeal to (θεόν, θεούς, Hdt., Xen., al.; cf. Deiss., LAE, 426): Καίσαρα (Σεβαστόν, Ac 25:25), Ac 25:11, 12, 21 26:32 28:19; sc. τ. Κύριον Ἰησοῦν, Ac 7:59; μάρτυρα (cl.) τ. θεόν, II Co 1:23; πατέρα, I Pe 1:17; τ. κύριον, Ro 10:12, II Ti 2:22; τ. ὄνομα κυρίου (μου, σου; like Heb. בְּשֵׁם יְהֹוָה קָרָא ), Ac 2:21 (LXX) Ac 9:14, 21 22:16, Ro 10:13, 14 (LXX) I Co 1:2 (Cremer, 335, 742).†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἐπικαλέω,

summon a god to a sacrifice or as witness to an oath, etc., invoke, θεόν [NT+5th c.BC+]; ἐ. θεόν τινι invoke a god over one, to be gracious to him, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; or, watch over his good faith, [Refs]:— middle,[Refs 1st c.BC+]

__b. pray for, πρὸ καιροῦ τὸν θάνατον “PLond.” 5.1676.24 [Refs 6th c.AD+]
__2. invite, γέροντας ἐπὶ πλέονας καλέσαντες 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 7.189:—middle, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II. middle, call in as a helper or ally, ἐπικαλεῖσθαί τινα σύμμαχον [Refs]: c.infinitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2. call in as witness, μάρτυρας ἐ. τινάς [Refs 5th c.BC+]: c.infinitive, ἐ. θεοὺς.. καθορᾶν τὰ γιγνόμενα 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Historia Graeca (Hellenica)” 2.3.55: with neuter adjective, ταῦτα ἐ[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2.b. appeal to, σύνεσιν καὶ παιδείαν 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 18.127 (hence, = Latin appello, provoco, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; τὸν δῆμον ἀπὸ τῶν δικαστῶν [Refs]
__II.3. call before one, summon, of the Ephors, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.4. challenge, [Refs]
__III. call by surname, Δίων ὃν ἐπεκάλουν Χρυσόστομον 4th-5th c.AD: Eunapius Historicus “Vitae Sophistarum” p.454 B.:—more frequently passive, to be called by surname, ἐπεκλήθησαν Κεκροπίδαι 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 8.44; to be nicknamed, Ἀριστόδημον τὸν μικρὸν ἐπικαλούμενον 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Memorabilia” 1.4.2 [LXX]; ἐπικληθήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸ ὄνομάμου[LXX]
__IV. bring as an accusation against, τινί τι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐ. τινί, with infinitive, accuse one of doing, [Refs]; ἐ. τὴν ἀπόστασιν ὅτι.. ἐποιήσαντο 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 3.36; ἐ. τινὶ πάντα ὅσα ἠδίκητο 2nd-3rd c.AD: Dio Cassius Historicus 37.6; ταῦτ᾽ ἐπικαλεῖ; is this your charge? [Refs]; ἐ. ἀρχαιότητα objecting to its obsoleteness, [Refs] let him bring his action, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ ἐπικαλῶν the plaintiff, [Refs 3rd c.BC+] —passive, τὰ ἐπικαλεύμενα χρήματα the money imputed to him, i.e. which he was charged with having, [Refs 5th c.BC+] the sums claimed, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]active λείαν ἐ[Refs]; περὶ δανείου “PGrenf.” 2.31.15 [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
__IV.2. with dative person only, ἐπικαλεῖν τινί quarrel, dispute with, ἀλλήλοις 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Leges” 766e.

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Acts.7.59 ☩ LXX.Deut.28.10 ☩ LXX.Gen.48.16}