Speaking Freely in the Grace of the Lord: A Koine and Classical Greek Comparison of Acts 14:3

Ἱκανὸν μὲν οὖν χρόνον διέτριψαν παρρησιαζόμενοι ἐπὶ τῷ Κυρίῳ τῷ μαρτυροῦντι τῷ λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, διδόντι σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα γίνεσθαι διὰ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν.

So they spent a considerable time speaking freely, relying on the Lord who bore witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to happen through their hands. (Acts 14:3)

Koine Greek Grammar and Syntax Analysis

• Ἱκανὸν…χρόνον — Accusative of duration of time. The adjective ἱκανός (“considerable, sufficient”) modifies χρόνον (“time”).
• μὲν οὖν — Though μέν…δέ is classical, the pairing μὲν οὖν often functions as a resumptive or transitional marker in Koine narrative. This specific usage becomes more stylistically prevalent in Koine, though not unknown in Classical prose.
• διέτριψαν — Aorist active indicative, 3rd person plural of διατρίβω, meaning “they spent time.” Narrative aorist marks the completed action.
• παρρησιαζόμενοι — Present middle/passive participle, nominative masculine plural, from παρρησιάζομαι (“to speak freely/boldly”). Modifies the implied subject (“they”) and explains *how* they spent time.
• ἐπὶ τῷ Κυρίῳ — Preposition ἐπί + dative expresses reliance or basis. While this use is frequent in Koine, it is also attested in Classical Greek in expressions of foundation or support—though less often paired with boldness verbs like παρρησιάζομαι. Here, the theological overtone sharpens the distinction.
• τῷ μαρτυροῦντι — Present active participle, dative masculine singular. Modifies τῷ Κυρίῳ: “the Lord who is bearing witness.”
• τῷ λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ — Dative object of the participle μαρτυροῦντι: “bearing witness to the word of His grace.” Complex noun phrase with article repetition (typical in Koine).
• διδόντι…γίνεσθαι — διδόντι is another dative present active participle modifying τῷ Κυρίῳ: “granting.” γίνεσθαι is present middle infinitive, complementary to διδόντι: “to happen.”
• σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα — Accusative plural objects of the infinitive: “signs and wonders.” A frequent pairing in NT miracle descriptions.
• διὰ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν — Instrumental prepositional phrase: “through their hands.” Expresses agency or means.

Comparison with Classical Greek Usage

• διέτριψαν παρρησιαζόμενοι — Classical Greek might separate these with more elaborate subordination or participial constructions. The Koine parataxis is more linear and action-driven.
• ἐπὶ τῷ Κυρίῳ — While Classical Greek does occasionally use ἐπί with the dative to express foundational support, its use with boldness-related verbs is rare. Koine expands this into theological territory, merging trust and divine empowerment.
• τῷ μαρτυροῦντι…διδόντι — Although participles modifying a single noun exist in Classical Greek, the stylistic tendency is toward subordination or greater syntactic separation. Koine’s participial chaining here emphasizes parallel divine actions with narrative efficiency.
• σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα — This pair, while found in Hellenistic texts, has strong Semitic resonance. Classical authors typically avoided such miraculously charged language unless in mythological context.
• γίνεσθαι…διὰ τῶν χειρῶν — Koine’s expression of divine action “through hands” is Semitic-influenced. Classical style would more likely use agents in the dative or avoid anthropomorphic phrasing.

Semantic and Stylistic Shifts

• Parataxis over Hypotaxis — Koine’s preference for linked participles and juxtaposed elements creates faster, more narrative-focused flow than Classical embedded constructions.
• Divine agency expressed physically — The use of “through their hands” marks a theological and stylistic move toward embodiment of divine power, not common in Classical rational or philosophical prose.
• Religious vocabulary — Words like χάρις, σημεῖον, τέρας shift in meaning. In Classical, χάρις connotes favor or charm, while here it is theological “grace.”
• Functional participles — The present participles modify and explain ongoing divine action in Koine. Classical usage might divide these into full clauses.

Koine and Classical Comparison Table