| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with hos de {ὡς δέ | hōs dé} introducing a temporal clause that also carries a mild adversative force, setting a contrast with the preceding positive response to teaching. The plural subject tines {τινες | tínes} is followed by two imperfect verbs, esklerynonto {ἐσκληρύνοντο | esklērýnonto} and epeithoun {ἠπείθουν | ēpeíthoun}, which describe an ongoing process of internal hardening and active refusal to be persuaded. The participle kakologountes {κακολογοῦντες | kakologoûntes} is circumstantial, further characterizing these opponents as they malign tēn hodon {τὴν ὁδὸν | tḗn hodón}, “the Way,” a technical term for the Christian message and community. The prepositional phrase enopion tou plethous {ἐνώπιον τοῦ πλήθους | enṓpion tou plḗthous} marks the public setting, heightening the seriousness of the opposition by locating it “before the crowd.” The aorist participle apostas {ἀποστὰς | apostás}, modified by the prepositional phrase ap' auton {ἀπ’ αὐτῶν | ap' autôn}, expresses antecedent action to the main verb aphorisen {ἀφώρισεν | aphṓrisen}; he first withdraws from the hostile group and then decisively separates tous mathetas {τοὺς μαθητὰς | toús mathētás} from them. The participle dialegomenos {διαλεγόμενος | dialegómenos} is present and modal, indicating the manner of his continued activity: ongoing, reasoned discourse. The phrase kath' hemeran {καθ’ ἡμέραν | kath' hēméran} functions adverbially to denote frequency (“day by day”), and the prepositional phrase en tē schole Turannou {ἐν τῇ σχολῇ Τυράννου | en tē̂ scholē̂ Tyránnou} specifies the new, more controlled teaching venue. The structure moves from escalating public opposition to deliberate separation and organized instruction, marking a shift in missionary strategy. |