| 25. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the prepositional phrase peri {περὶ | perì} ‘concerning’, introducing a new topic, followed by the postpositive conjunction de {δὲ | dè} to signal contrast. The genitive phrase tōn pepisteukótōn ethnōn {τῶν πεπιστευκότων ἐθνῶν | tôn pepisteukótōn ethnôn} depends on peri to identify “the Gentiles who have believed.” The explicit pronoun hēmeis {ἡμεῖς | hēmeîs} emphasizes the authority of the senders. The main verb apesteílamen {ἀπεστείλαμεν | apesteílamen} “sent word” is modified by the attendant-circumstance participle krínantes {κρίναντες | krínantes}, conveying the decision aspect. The infinitive phylássesthai autoús {φυλάσσεσθαι αὐτούς | phylássesthai autoús} expresses indirect command “that they should keep themselves,” with autoús as its object. The neuter singular articular tó {τό | tó} plus enclitic te {τε | te} introduce a collective series of prohibitions. The coordinated list eidōlóthyton kaí haîma kaí pniktón kaí porneían {εἰδωλόθυτον καὶ αἷμα καὶ πνικτὸν καὶ πορνείαν | eidōlóthyton kaí haîma kaí pniktón kaí porneían} employs polysyndeton, giving weight to each prohibition. In English, the structures are rendered to preserve topical shift (“concerning”), the participial nuance (“having decided”), and the reflexive infinitive sense (“keep themselves”), while the neuter plural sense is maintained through indefinite collective terms. |