The Greek arestos means pleasing, acceptable, or agreeable — that which finds favor. It is closely related to areskó (to please) and euarestos (well pleasing).
Arestos appears in Acts 6:2, 5 where the apostles said it was not 'arestos' (right/pleasing) for them to neglect the Word to serve tables — a statement that led to the institution of the diaconate. In John 8:29, Jesus declares, 'I always do what is pleasing (aresta) to him [the Father]' — perhaps the most complete statement of Christ's perfect obedience. In Acts 12:3, Herod saw that the arrest of James 'pleased' (arestos) the Jews — showing the word's neutral sense of approval. The believer's aim is to live what is arestos in God's sight (1 John 3:22).