| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The conjunction kai {καὶ | kaì} links this response to the preceding dialog, indicating continuity. The construction ho Iesous {ὁ Ἰησοῦς | ho Iē-soûs} with article and proper name introduces the speaker, followed by the aorist eipen {εἶπεν | eî-pen}, establishing the narrative frame. The dative autois {αὐτοῖς | au-toîs} marks the recipients. Within the quotation, oude {οὐδὲ | ou-dé} precedes the emphatic ego {ἐγὼ | egṓ}, conveying the force “nor I either,” reflecting Jesus’ retaliatory withholding. The present lego {λέγω | lé-gō} governs humin {ὑμῖν | hu-mîn}, presenting the act of telling as a potential that is deliberately withheld. The phrase en poia exousia {ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ | en poí-ā ex-ou-sí-ā} specifies the basis of His actions with an interrogative adjective plus noun, and tauta poio {ταῦτα ποιῶ | taû-ta poi-ô} with the present indicative indicates ongoing ministry actions. The overall structure functions as a conditional-retaliatory response to the authorities’ earlier evasiveness, withholding revelation of His source of power. |