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Both ἀγράμματος and ἰδιώτης are translated 'unlearned,' but there is a difference between them. Both words occur in Acts 4: 13; the rulers of Israel perceived Peter and John to be "unlearned (ἀγ.) and ignorant (ἰδ.) men. ἀγράμματος (from a neg. and γράμμα, 'a letter') occurs nowhere else in the N.T., but γράμμα occurs in John 7: 15: "how knoweth this man 'letters'?" and in Acts 26: 24; "much 'learning' doth make thee mad." These instances show that ἀγράμματος signifies 'unlettered.'
ἰδιώτης (from ἴδιος, 'one's own') has a different signification: it is applied to private persons in distinction from those who are officials or professionals, and so to simple or uninstructed persons. The apostle asks how such a one could say Amen to the giving of thanks by one speaking in a tongue, not understanding what was said, 1 Cor. 14: 16; and in 1 Cor. 14: 23, 24 he is classed with unbelievers. The word occurs also in 2 Cor. 11: 6, where Paul maintains that though he may be simple, or untrained, in speech, he is not so in regard to knowledge.