The Greek adverb asmenos (ἀσμένως) means "gladly, with delight, joyfully" — expressing the quality of doing something with eager pleasure. It comes from a classical Greek root expressing the feeling of welcome relief or delight. The word appears only once in the New Testament.
In Acts 21:17, when Paul and his companions arrive in Jerusalem: "When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us gladly (asmenōs)." This warm welcome stands in contrast to what follows — the controversy over Paul's ministry to Gentiles and the events leading to his arrest. The gladness of the Jerusalem church at Paul's arrival reflects the genuine affection of the body of Christ across cultural divides. That this joy preceded conflict is itself instructive: the Christian community is called to receive one another with delight even when disagreement lurks nearby. Love must come before debate.