| 11. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the temporal dative phrase tē de epiousē nykti {Τῇ δὲ ἐπιούσῃ νυκτὶ | Tēi dè epioúsē nyktí} “but on the following night,” which situates the event as the immediate continuation of the previous scene. The aorist participle epistas {ἐπιστὰς | epistás} functions adverbially with the main verb eipen {εἶπεν | eîpen}, forming a circumstantial clause “having stood by, the Lord said,” emphasizing the Lord’s presence before speaking. The subject ho kyrios {ὁ κύριος | ho kýrios} introduces the divine speaker. The imperative Tharsei {Θάρσει | Thársei} issues a direct command of encouragement. A comparative clause hōs gar diemartyrō ta peri emou eis Ierousalēm {ὡς γὰρ διεμαρτύρω τὰ περὶ ἐμοῦ εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ | hōs gar diemartýrō tá peri emoû eis Ierousalḗm} “for just as you have solemnly testified about me in Jerusalem” links Paul’s past testimony to the forthcoming requirement. The adverb houtō {οὕτω | hoútō} mirrors the comparison, guiding the infinitival necessity construction se dei … martyresai {σε δεῖ … μαρτυρῆσαι | se deî … martyrêsai} “you must testify,” with the impersonal verb dei indicating divine necessity. The repeated preposition eis in eis Ierousalēm … kai eis Rōmēν {εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ … καὶ εἰς Ῥώμην | eis Ierousalḗm … kaí eis Rhṓmēn} sets the two locations as parallel arenas of witness, highlighting the mission’s geographical progression. |