| 15. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the combination nyn oun {νῦν οὖν | nûn oûn} “now therefore,” which links this instruction logically and temporally to what precedes, giving a sense of urgency. The second person plural imperative emphanisate {ἐμφανίσατε | emphanísate} “make known” issues a direct command to the listeners. This is followed by the dative phrase tō chiliarchō syn tō synedriō {τῷ χιλιάρχῳ σὺν τῷ συνεδρίῳ | tô khiliárchō syn tô synedríō}, in which the preposition syn marks cooperation with the council, depicting an orchestrated approach to the military commander. The purpose conjunction hopōs {ὅπως | hópōs} introduces the clause katagagē auton eis hymas {καταγάγῃ αὐτὸν εἰς ὑμᾶς | katagágē autón eis hymâs}, expressing the intended result that the commander bring “him” down to the conspirators. The following comparative construction hōs mellontas diaginōskein akribesteron {ὡς μέλλοντας διαγινώσκειν ἀκριβέστερον | hōs méllontas diaginṓskein akribésteron} uses hōs “as if” with a participle plus infinitive to cast the supposed examination as a mere pretext for the request. The contrastive hēmeis de {ἡμεῖς δὲ | hēmeis de} “but we” shifts focus from the pretense to the conspirators’ real plan. That plan is framed by two genitive articular infinitive constructions: pro tou engisai auton {πρὸ τοῦ ἐγγίσαι αὐτὸν | pro tou engísai autón} “before he comes near” establishes a temporal boundary, while hetoimoi esmen tou anelein auton {ἕτοιμοί ἐσμεν τοῦ ἀνελεῖν αὐτόν | hétoimoi esmen tou aneleîn autón} “we are ready to kill him” expresses intended action as purpose or resolve. In translation, these participial and infinitival structures are recast as finite clauses (“as though you are about to examine,” “before he comes near,” “to kill him”) to preserve the sequence of purpose, pretense, and murderous readiness in clear, natural English. |