Σαῦλος δὲ μᾶλλον ἐνεδυναμοῦτο καὶ συνέχυνε τοὺς Ἰουδαίους τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐν Δαμασκῷ, συμβιβάζων ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός. (Acts 9:22)
Modern Greek Pronunciation: Sávlōs de mállon enedynamoúto kai synéchyne tous Ioudaíous tous katoikoúntas en Damaskó̱, symvivázōn óti oútos estin o Christós.
Literal English Translation: But Saul was increasingly strengthened and was confounding the Jews living in Damascus, proving that this one is the Christ.
Koine Greek Structural Walkthrough
- Σαῦλος δὲ – “But Saul”; δὲ marks contrast or continuation in narrative.
- μᾶλλον – adverb, “even more, increasingly.”
- ἐνεδυναμοῦτο – imperfect passive indicative 3rd singular from ἐνδυναμόω, “was being strengthened, grew stronger.”
- καὶ συνέχυνε – imperfect active indicative 3rd singular from συγχύνω, “was confusing, confounding.”
- τοὺς Ἰουδαίους – accusative masculine plural noun, “the Jews” (object of συνέχυνε).
- τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐν Δαμασκῷ – participial phrase, “those dwelling in Damascus”;
– κατοικοῦντας is present active participle accusative plural masculine from κατοικέω (“to dwell”). - συμβιβάζων – present active participle nominative singular masculine from συμβιβάζω, “proving, demonstrating, bringing together (arguments).”
- ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός – direct speech content clause: “that this one is the Christ.”
Modern Greek Rendering
Ο Σαύλος όμως ενδυναμωνόταν όλο και περισσότερο και προκαλούσε σύγχυση στους Ιουδαίους που κατοικούσαν στη Δαμασκό, αποδεικνύοντας ότι αυτός είναι ο Χριστός.
Key Differences and Shifts
- μᾶλλον ἐνεδυναμοῦτο → ενδυναμωνόταν όλο και περισσότερο: Adverb “even more” expanded for clarity.
- συνέχυνε → προκαλούσε σύγχυση: Action verb replaced with causative structure (“causing confusion”).
- συμβιβάζων → αποδεικνύοντας: The sense of “proving” made more explicit and less metaphorical.
- κατοικοῦντας → κατοικούσαν: Present participle turned into a main verb.
Grammar Evolution Table
| Feature | Koine Greek | Modern Greek | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperfect Passive Growth | ἐνεδυναμοῦτο | ενδυναμωνόταν | Retained with slight stylistic expansion in Modern Greek |
| Confusion Verb | συνέχυνε | προκαλούσε σύγχυση | Shift from direct verb to causative expression |
| Proving Action | συμβιβάζων | αποδεικνύοντας | Modern Greek uses direct proof vocabulary |
| Participle for Dwellers | κατοικοῦντας | κατοικούσαν | Present participle replaced by a finite past verb |
Strengthening Language Across Time
Acts 9:22 captures a dynamic moment: Saul not just speaking, but actively growing and proving. Koine Greek packs meaning into participles, layering continuous action with grace. Modern Greek prefers to separate: strengthening, confusing, proving are all cleanly spelled out. The passion remains, but the grammatical cloak becomes lighter and more accessible for modern ears.
