sumbouleuo denotes collective deliberation toward an action or counsel directed to another person.

The attested uses divide evenly between collective deliberation directed toward an intended action and active counsel given to others: the former concerns plans to kill, while the latter presents advice about one man’s death or an exhortation to obtain what is needed.

1. Deliberating together toward an action · dominant

   In Acts 9:23 and Matthew 26:4, the aorist middle plural form occurs in clauses describing a group’s plan to kill; the APB renders the respective clauses “the Jews plotted to kill him” and “they plotted in order that they might seize Jesus by deceit and kill him.”

   Acts 9:23Matthew 26:4
2. Giving directed counsel · common

   In John 18:14, the aorist active participle identifies Caiaphas in relation to his advice that one man should die for the people. In Revelation 3:18, the present active first-person form introduces counsel to buy refined gold, white clothing, and eye-salve; the APB renders the clauses “had advised” and “I counsel you.”

   John 18:14Revelation 3:18

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the middle plural instances as “plotted,” while it renders the active forms as “had advised” and “I counsel you.” These renderings confirm the clauses’ overall presentation rather than establish a precise English equivalent in every instance.