| 6. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the genitive absolute antitassomenon {ἀντιτασσομένων | antitassoménōn} ‘opposing’ and blasphēmounton {βλασφημούντων | blasphēmoúntōn} ‘blaspheming’, establishing the hostile backdrop. The aorist middle participle ektinaxamenos {ἐκτιναξάμενος | ektinaxámenos} ‘having shaken out’ precedes the main verb eipen {εἶπεν | eîpen} ‘he said’, marking a symbolic gesture. In the direct speech, the fronted accusative haima {αἷμα | haîma} ‘blood’ plus epi tēn kephalēn hymōn {ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν ὑμῶν | epí tḕn kephalḕn hymṓn} ‘upon your heads’ conveys personal liability. The verbless clause katharos egō {καθαρὸς ἐγώ | katharós egṓ} intensifies his declaration of innocence. The adverbial phrase apo tou nūn {ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν | apó toû nŷn} ‘from now’ signals a temporal break governing the future poreusomai {πορεύσομαι | poreúsomai} ‘I will go’, culminating in the climactic destination eis ta ethnē {εἰς τὰ ἔθνη | eis tà éthnē} ‘into the nations/Gentiles’, underscoring the shift of his mission. |