In Acts 21:18, Luke describes Paul’s formal visit to James in Jerusalem. The verse — τῇ δὲ ἐπιούσῃ εἰσῄει ὁ Παῦλος σὺν ἡμῖν πρὸς Ἰάκωβον, πάντες τε παρεγένοντο οἱ πρεσβύτεροι — uses temporal participles, motion verbs, and collective subjects to capture a moment of leadership convergence. The grammar here emphasizes not only chronology, but the solemnity and unity of the church leaders in action.
The Greek Text in Focus
τῇ δὲ ἐπιούσῃ εἰσῄει ὁ Παῦλος σὺν ἡμῖν πρὸς Ἰάκωβον, πάντες τε παρεγένοντο οἱ πρεσβύτεροι (Acts 21:18)
“And on the next day, Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.”
Grammatical Highlights
- τῇ δὲ ἐπιούσῃ — dative feminine singular participle; “on the next day.”
- εἰσῄει — imperfect indicative active, 3rd singular; “he was going in / went in.”
- ὁ Παῦλος — nominative masculine singular; subject.
- σὺν ἡμῖν — preposition + dative; “with us.”
- πρὸς Ἰάκωβον — preposition + accusative; “to James.”
- πάντες — nominative masculine plural; “all.”
- παρεγένοντο — aorist indicative middle, 3rd plural; “they were present / appeared.”
- οἱ πρεσβύτεροι — nominative masculine plural; “the elders,” appositional to πάντες.
Temporal Dative + Participle: τῇ ἐπιούσῃ
The phrase τῇ ἐπιούσῃ uses a dative participle (from ἐπέρχομαι, “to come upon”) to mark time: “on the following day.” This is a standard idiom in Luke-Acts to denote the next calendar day (see also Acts 7:26, 16:11). The participle functions adjectivally, modifying an implied noun like “day.”
Imperfect Action: εἰσῄει
The verb εἰσῄει is imperfect, describing Paul’s action as a scene in motion — “he was going in” or “he entered.” The use of the imperfect may convey the ceremonial or formal nature of the visit, unfolding in real time. It is framed by the accompanying group: σὺν ἡμῖν.
Aorist Gathering: παρεγένοντο οἱ πρεσβύτεροι
The verb παρεγένοντο (from παραγίνομαι) in the aorist middle means “they arrived” or “they were present.” It describes a completed action — the elders came and were gathered. The subject οἱ πρεσβύτεροι is modified by πάντες (“all”), emphasizing full participation. This highlights the official nature of the meeting.
| Phrase | Form | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| τῇ ἐπιούσῃ | Dative Feminine Participle | Temporal phrase | On the next day |
| εἰσῄει | Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Sing. | Main narrative verb | He was going in |
| σὺν ἡμῖν | Preposition + Dative | Companionship phrase | With us |
| πρὸς Ἰάκωβον | Preposition + Accusative | Direction of motion | To James |
| πάντες οἱ πρεσβύτεροι | Nominative Plural | Subject of verb | All the elders |
| παρεγένοντο | Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Plural | Completed action | They were present / appeared |
The Grammar of Leadership and Fellowship
Acts 21:18 brings together leaders through time-marking grammar and collective subjects. The dative participle sets the day. The imperfect verb walks Paul into James’ presence. The aorist gathers the elders — all of them. The grammar is not just descriptive; it reflects a church unified in oversight and a missionary welcomed home. The meeting is not casual — it’s linguistic liturgy.
