| 38. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the aorist verb apēngeilan {ἀπήγγειλαν | apḗngeilan} ‘they reported,’ establishing the primary narrative action. The coordinating particle de {δὲ | dé} links this event to prior context. The dative phrase tois stratēgois {τοῖς στρατηγοῖς | toîs stratēgoîs} indicates the recipients as magistrates, highlighting official authority. The subject hoí rhabdouchoi {οἱ ῥαβδοῦχοι | hoí rhabdoûchoi} follows, emphasizing the lictors who convey the report. The object ta rhēmata taûta {τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα | tá rhḗmata taûta} focuses on these specific statements. In the second clause, the aorist passive ephobēthēsan {ἐφοβήθησαν | ephobḗthēsan} expresses sudden alarm, with the participle akoúsantes {ἀκούσαντες | akoúsantes} indicating the circumstance ‘when they heard.’ The content clause introduced by hóti {ὅτι | hóti} and the predicate nominative Rhōmaîoi {Ῥωμαῖοί | Rhōmaîoi} underscores the legal status realized, and the present indicative eîsin {εἰσιν | eîsin} states the fact. |