| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the subordinating conjunction hos de {ὡς δὲ | hōs dè} linking this clause to the preceding narrative and marking simultaneous actions. The imperfect middle verb dieporeúonto {διεπορεύοντο | dieporeúonto} “they were going through” expresses ongoing travel through multiple cities (tas póleis {τὰς πόλεις | tàs pó-leis}). The coordinated imperfect paredídosan {παρεδίδοσαν | paredídosan} “they were delivering” highlights habitual distribution to local recipients (autoîs {αὐτοῖς | au-toîs}). The infinitive phylássein {φυλάσσειν | phylássein} “to keep” conveys purpose. Its direct object, ta dógmata {τὰ δόγματα | tà dóg-ma-ta} “the decrees,” is qualified by the perfect passive participle kekrimena {κεκριμένα | ke-krí-me-na} “having been decided,” signifying settled, binding rulings. The agents are marked by hypó tôn apostólōn kaí presbý-te-rōn {ὑπὸ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ πρεσβυτέρων | hupo tôn apó-sto-lōn kaí pres-bý-te-rōn}, and their location is specified by tôn en Hierosolúmois {τῶν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις | tôn en Hierosolúmois}, situating the authoritative council in Jerusalem. The translation retains the temporal link, the continuous aspect of the imperfect verbs, and the purposive nuance of the infinitive while adjusting word order for clarity. |