| 22. Linguistic Exegesis The verse unfolds as a sequence of coordinated actions linked by kai {καὶ | kaí} “and,” driving the narrative forward. In the first clause, the verb synepeste {συνεπέστη | sy-ne-pé-stē} “rose up together,” with ho ochlos {ὁ ὄχλος | ho óch-los} “the crowd” as subject, is followed by the prepositional phrase katʼ autōn {κατʼ αὐτῶν | katá au-tôn} “against them,” marking the crowd’s hostile movement toward Paul and Silas. The second clause begins with the same conjunction and features hoi strategoi {οἱ στρατηγοὶ | hoi stra-tē-goí} “the magistrates” as subject. The aorist participle perirēxantes {περιρήξαντες | pe-ri-rḗ-xan-tes} “having torn off” indicates an action completed before the main verb. In the formal rendering, this is expressed by the simple past verb “tore off” to enhance clarity while preserving event order. The object autōn ta himatia {αὐτῶν τὰ ἱμάτια | au-tôn tà hi-má-ti-a} “their garments” underscores the victims’ stripped clothing. The imperfect ekeleuon {ἐκέλευον | e-ke-léu-on} “they were commanding” conveys a sustained command, rendered formally as “ordered that they be beaten,” reflecting the act of issuing an order. The infinitive rhabdizein {ῥαβδίζειν | rhab-dí-zein} “to beat with rods” states the content of that command. The dynamic translation streamlines the sequence into a natural flow (“united,” “tore away,” “gave orders”) while maintaining the distinction between mob aggression and official judicial action. |