| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with kai {καὶ | kaí} as a connective, linking this statement closely to the surrounding trial narrative. The imperfect verb katēgoroun {κατηγόρουν | katēgóroun} portrays ongoing or repeated action, suggesting a stream of accusations rather than a single charge. The genitive pronoun autou {αὐτοῦ | autoû} functions as an objective genitive after the verb of accusation, referring contextually to Jesus as the one against whom the charges are brought. The nominative phrase hoi archiereis {οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς | hoi archiereîs} serves as the explicit subject, emphasizing the corporate role of the religious leadership. The accusative neuter plural polla {πολλά | pollá}, used substantively, stands as the internal object of the accusing, placed at the end of the clause for emphasis on the sheer number and variety of charges. In translation, the imperfect is rendered with a progressive aspect (“were accusing,” “kept on accusing”) to reflect the durative force, while the word order is smoothed into natural English while preserving the focus on the chief priests as agents and the multiplicity of accusations. |