| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The reply begins with the subject–verb unit hoi de eipan {οἱ δὲ εἶπαν | hoí dè eîpan} introducing the Jewish leaders’ statement. The pronoun hemeis {Ἡμεῖς | hēmeîs} “we” emphasizes their perspective. A correlative negative structure oute…oute {οὔτε…οὔτε | oúte…oúte} coordinates two denials: the first clause (oute grammata peri sou edexámetha apo tês Ioudaías | οὔτε γράμματα περὶ σοῦ ἐδεξάμεθα ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰουδαίας) denies any written communication from Judea, with apo tês Ioudaías marking the source region. The second clause employs a circumstantial participle paragenómenos tis tôn adelphōn {παραγενόμενός τις τῶν ἀδελφῶν | para-ge-nó-me-nos tis tôn a-del-phōn} “any of the brothers having arrived” as the logical subject of the aorist verbs apḗn-geilen ē e-lálēsen {ἀπήγγειλεν ἢ ἐλάλησέν | apḗn-gei-len ḕ e-lá-lē-sen} “reported or spoke.” The object phrase ti peri sou ponērón {τι περὶ σοῦ πονηρόν | ti perí soû po-nē-rón} concludes the verse, emphasizing the absence of any harmful report about him. |