Teresis denotes custody of persons and, in one clause, the keeping of God’s commandments.

The dominant attested use concerns holding people in custody, as in the detention of those seized in Acts; a further use names the keeping of God’s commandments in 1 Corinthians.

1. Custody or detention · dominant

   In Acts 4:3, the accusative singular form occurs in the clause about laying hands on people and holding them until the next day; the APB renders the action as placing them “in custody.” In Acts 5:18, the dative singular form occurs after the apostles are seized, and the APB renders their placement as “in public keeping.”

   Acts 4:3Acts 5:18
2. Keeping God’s commandments · occasional

   In 1 Corinthians 7:19, the nominative singular form stands in the contrast where circumcision and uncircumcision are called nothing, while the APB renders the remaining clause “keeping the commandments of God.”

   1 Corinthians 7:19

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the Acts clauses with “custody” and “public keeping,” while 1 Corinthians 7:19 has “keeping the commandments of God.” These renderings confirm the clauses’ overall presentation rather than establish exact English equivalents.