| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The clause opens with the verb anthistato {ἀνθίστατο | anthístato} in initial position, a narrative imperfect that highlights ongoing resistance as the background action. The postpositive de {δὲ | dè} links this verse to the preceding context, while the dative autois {αὐτοῖς | autoîs} marks the indirect object, indicating the ones opposed (“to them,” namely Paul and his companions). The subject follows as Elymas ho magos {Ἐλύμας ὁ μάγος | Elýmas ho mágos}, with the appositional article–noun phrase ho magos specifying his role. A parenthetical explanatory clause is introduced by houtos gar {οὕτως γὰρ | hoútōs gár}, “for thus,” followed by methermeneuetai {μεθερμηνεύεται | methermēneútai} and its subject to onoma autou {τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ | tò ónoma autoû}, giving an internal gloss on the meaning of the name “Elymas.” The participle zeton {ζητῶν | zētōn}, nominative masculine singular, is circumstantial and contemporaneous with the main verb, describing the manner or purpose of his opposition. This participle governs the infinitive diastrepsai {διαστρέψαι | diastrépsai}, which takes ton anthypaton {τὸν ἀνθύπατον | tòn anthýpaton} as its object, forming a purpose-like construction, “seeking to turn the proconsul aside.” The prepositional phrase apo tes pisteos {ἀπὸ τῆς πίστεως | apó tês písteōs} specifies the source or sphere from which the proconsul is to be diverted, namely “the faith,” that is, the Christian message. In English, word order is rearranged to subject–verb–object for clarity, the parenthetical explanatory clause is preserved with a causal “for,” and the participle–infinitive chain is rendered with a finite verb plus an infinitival or gerundive construction to maintain the sense of ongoing attempt and intentional distortion. |