| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with a genitive absolute, genomenes de staseos kai zeteseos {γενομένης δὲ στάσεως καὶ ζητήσεως | geno-mé-nēs dè stá-se-ōs kai zē-tḗ-se-ōs} ‘when dissension and debate had arisen’, providing a temporal background for the main action. The litotic phrase ouk oliges {οὐκ ὀλίγης | ouk olí-gēs} intensifies both staseos and zeteseos, highlighting the seriousness of the conflict. The dative phrase tō Paulo kai tō Barnaba {τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ τῷ Βαρναβᾷ | tō Paú-lō kaí tō Bar-na-bâ} identifies the principal parties, while pros autous {πρὸς αὐτοὺς | pròs au-toús} marks their interlocutors. The main finite verb etaxan {ἔταξαν | é-ta-xan} ‘they appointed’ governs the infinitive anabainein {ἀναβαίνειν | a-na-baí-nein} ‘to go up’, selecting Paulon, Barnaban, kai tinas allous {Παῦλον, Βαρναβᾶν, καὶ τινας ἄλλους | Paû-lon, Bar-na-bân, kaí tí-nas ál-lous} as its accusative objects. The phrases pros tous apostolous kai presbyterous {πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους καὶ πρεσβυτέρους | pròs toús a-po-stó-lous kaí pres-byu-té-rous} and eis Hierosoluma {εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα | eis Hi-e-ro-só-ly-ma} specify the addressees and destination, and peri tou zetematos toutou {περὶ τοῦ ζητήματος τούτου | pe-rí tou zē-tḗ-ma-tos toú-tou} defines the topic of inquiry. In rendering, the genitive absolute becomes a temporal clause (“when … had arisen”/“since … became serious”), etaxan is preserved as “appointed” in the formal version to reflect official designation, and “it was decided” in the dynamic version conveys communal resolution more naturally. |