| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The opening verb eipen {εἶπεν | eî-pen} introduces divine speech, with de {δὲ | dè} linking to the preceding narrative. The subject ho kyrios {ὁ κύριος | ho ký-ri-os} follows the verb, emphasizing the divine speaker. The temporal phrase en nykti {ἐν νυκτὶ | en nyk-tì} marks when the message comes, and diʼ horamatos {διʼ ὁράματος | di ho-rá-ma-tos} employs the genitive to indicate the means. The dative tō Paulō {τῷ Παύλῳ | tô Paú-lō} identifies Paul as recipient. The prohibitive present imperative mē phobou {Μὴ φοβοῦ | mḕ pho-boû} forbids yielding to fear. The adversative conjunction alla {ἀλλὰ | allà}, rendered “instead” in English, links this to the positive imperative lalei {λάλει | lá-lei}, calling for ongoing speech. Finally, kai mē siōpēsēs {καὶ μὴ σιωπήσῃς | kaí mḕ si-ō-pé-sēs} uses the aorist subjunctive for a strong prohibition against silence, preserving the urgency of proclamation. |