to plead/comfort
Parakaleo means to urge or appeal toward a response, and also to give strengthening comfort in distress.
The verb most often marks an earnest urging toward a stated response, such as unity, faithful conduct, teaching, or a requested action. It also describes encouragement that strengthens people in pressure or grief, and direct appeals or pleas made to another person.
Senses in use
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Urging toward conduct or response · dominant
In 1 Corinthians 1:10, the present active first-person singular form introduces an appeal for the hearers to speak the same thing and avoid divisions. In 1 Thessalonians 4:1 and 1 Thessalonians 4:10, present active first-person plural forms press the brothers to abound further; Acts 14:22 uses a present active participle as the disciples are strengthened and urged to continue in the faith.
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Encouraging and consoling · common
The passive forms in 1 Thessalonians 3:7 and 2 Corinthians 7:13 describe recipients who have been comforted amid pressure or whose spirits were refreshed. In 2 Corinthians 2:7, the aorist active infinitive concerns comforting a person so that excessive grief does not overwhelm him, while 1 Thessalonians 4:18 directs mutual encouragement with the preceding words.
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Making an earnest request or plea · occasional
In Acts 13:42, an imperfect active plural form occurs as people ask for the words to be spoken again; Acts 21:12 has the same tense and voice as local residents and companions beg someone not to go to Jerusalem. In Acts 16:15, the aorist active form accompanies Lydia's invitation to stay at her house, and Luke 15:28 describes a father pleading with his angry son to enter.
In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses the APB variously uses “urge,” “plead,” “encourage,” “comfort,” “appeal,” and “beg.” These renderings reflect the differing clauses and situations.