| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse consists of a participial clause followed by a main finite verb. The aorist participle akousantes {ἀκούσαντες | a-koú-san-tes} precedes the main verb and, with the connective de {δὲ | dé}, functions temporally and causally, giving the sense “when they heard.” The implied subject of both the participle and the indicative ebaptisthesan {ἐβαπτίσθησαν | e-bap-TÍS-thē-san} is the same group referenced in the previous context. The aorist passive indicative ebaptisthesan serves as the main event, portraying baptism as an action performed upon them, likely by human agents under divine commission. The prepositional phrase eis to onoma {εἰς τὸ ὄνομα | eís tò Ó-no-ma} uses eis with the accusative to indicate movement or transition “into the name,” expressing entry into a new sphere of allegiance or relationship. The genitive phrase tou kuriou Iesou {τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ | toû kuríou Iēsoû} depends on onoma, identifying whose name defines this new allegiance: that of the Lord Jesus. In translation, the temporal participle is rendered with “when they heard” to preserve its prior, enabling action, while eis to onoma is kept as “into the name” to retain the relational and initiatory nuance of baptism into the authority and person of the Lord. |