| 26. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the adverb aphnō {ἄφνω | áph-nō} 'suddenly', fronted to mark a dramatic shift in the narrative. It is followed by the conjunction de {δὲ | dè}, linking this event to the preceding context. The nominative subject seismos paired with the predicate verb egeneto {ἐγένετο | egé-ne-to} and modifier megas {μέγας | mé-gas} foregrounds the magnitude of the seismic event. The subordinating conjunction hōste {ὥστε | hṓ-ste} introduces a result clause, where the aorist passive infinitive saleuthēnai {σαλευθῆναι | sa-leu-thê-nai} takes ta themelia tou desmōtēriou {τὰ θεμέλια τοῦ δεσμωτηρίου | tà the-ME-li-a toû des-mō-tē-RI-ou} as its grammatical object, indicating that the prison's foundations were shaken. A following aorist passive clause ēneōichthēsan {ἠνεῴχθησαν | ē-ne-OICH-thē-san} with the adverb parachrēma {παραχρῆμα | pa-ra-CHRĒ-ma} signals an instantaneous action: hai thyrai pasai {αἱ θύραι πᾶσαι | hai THÝ-rai PÂ-sai} ('all the doors') become the subject of 'were opened'. The coordinated phrase kai pantōn ta desma anethē {καὶ πάντων τὰ δεσμὰ ἀνέθη | kaí PÁN-ton tà DES-ma a-NÉ-thē} presents a parallel result with pantōn ('of all') modifying desma ('the bonds'), summarizing the total liberation. The English reconstructions mirror this clause structure, first stating the cosmic disturbance, then the shaking result, and finally the liberating actions to preserve narrative flow and the emphasis on sudden deliverance. |