| 20. Linguistic Exegesis The sentence begins with the demonstrative plus participle construction ekeinoi de exelthontes {ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐξελθόντες | e-keî-noi dè ek-sel-THÓN-tes}, which functions as a circumstantial clause, “those, having gone out,” providing the temporal and situational frame for the main action. The aorist indicative ekeryxan {ἐκήρυξαν | e-kḗ-ru-xan} is the main verb, summarizing the disciples’ preaching activity, while pantachou {πανταχοῦ | pan-ta-KHOU} broadens the scope to “everywhere,” giving the verse a universal missionary horizon. The genitive absolute tou kyriou synergountos kai ton logon bebaiountos {τοῦ κυρίου συνεργοῦντος καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος | tou ku-rí-ou sy-ner-GOUN-tos kai ton ló-gon be-bai-OÚN-tos} introduces a parallel stream of action: while the disciples preach, the Lord simultaneously “works together” and “confirms the word.” The genitive absolute construction keeps the Lord’s activity grammatically distinct yet tightly coordinated with the disciples’, highlighting divine-human collaboration. The prepositional phrase dia ton epakolouthounton semeion {διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων | di-á tôn e-pa-ko-lou-THOÚN-ton sē-meí-on} expresses means: the confirmation happens “through the signs that accompany.” The participle epakolouthounton, placed with semeion in the genitive, underscores that these signs consistently “follow along after” the proclamation. In translation, the participles synergountos and bebaiountos are rendered with finite verbs (“working,” “confirming”) coordinated to preserve the sense of ongoing divine action alongside the completed missionary movement of the disciples. |