Acts 15:5
Ἐξανέστησαν δέ τινες τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς αἱρέσεως τῶν Φαρισαίων πεπιστευκότες, λέγοντες ὅτι δεῖ περιτέμνειν αὐτοὺς παραγγέλλειν τε τηρεῖν τὸν νόμον Μωϋσέως.
Modern Greek Pronunciation: Exanésti̱san dé tines tōn apó ti̱s hairéseōs tōn Pharisaíōn pepistefkótes, légontes óti deí peritémnein aftoús, parangéllin te ti̱reín ton nómon Moïséōs.
Literal English Translation: But some from the sect of the Pharisees who had believed rose up, saying that it is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Koine Greek Morphological Analysis
- Ἐξανέστησαν – aorist active indicative 3rd plural of ἐξανίστημι, “they rose up.”
- δέ – contrastive particle, “but.”
- τινες – indefinite pronoun, “some.”
- τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς αἱρέσεως τῶν Φαρισαίων – genitive phrase, “from the sect of the Pharisees.”
- πεπιστευκότες – perfect active participle nominative masculine plural from πιστεύω, “having believed.”
- λέγοντες – present active participle nominative masculine plural from λέγω, “saying.”
- ὅτι δεῖ – ὅτι introduces indirect statement; δεῖ is impersonal verb, “it is necessary.”
- περιτέμνειν – present active infinitive from περιτέμνω, “to circumcise.”
- αὐτοὺς – accusative plural pronoun, “them.”
- παραγγέλλειν – present active infinitive from παραγγέλλω, “to command.”
- τε – enclitic conjunction, “and.”
- τηρεῖν – present active infinitive from τηρέω, “to keep, observe.”
- τὸν νόμον Μωϋσέως – accusative noun phrase, “the law of Moses.”
Modern Greek Version
Αλλά σηκώθηκαν μερικοί από την ομάδα των Φαρισαίων που είχαν πιστέψει, λέγοντας ότι πρέπει να τους περιτέμνουν και να τους διατάζουν να τηρούν τον νόμο του Μωυσή.
Key Grammatical Shifts
- Ἐξανέστησαν → σηκώθηκαν: More common Modern Greek verb for “rose up.”
- πεπιστευκότες → που είχαν πιστέψει: Perfect participle replaced with full relative clause.
- λέγοντες → λέγοντας: Participle retained but regularized in form.
- δεῖ περιτέμνειν → πρέπει να περιτέμνουν: Impersonal verb δεῖ becomes πρέπει + subjunctive.
- παραγγέλλειν τε τηρεῖν → να διατάζουν να τηρούν: Two infinitives replaced by nested clauses with να.
Side-by-Side Grammar Evolution
| Grammatical Feature | Koine Greek | Modern Greek | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verb: “rose up” | ἐξανέστησαν | σηκώθηκαν | More familiar verb in Modern Greek |
| Perfect Participle | πεπιστευκότες | που είχαν πιστέψει | Transformed into relative clause + past perfect |
| Infinitive with δεῖ | δεῖ περιτέμνειν | πρέπει να περιτέμνουν | Infinitive replaced by να + subjunctive |
| Series of Infinitives | παραγγέλλειν τε τηρεῖν | να διατάζουν να τηρούν | Complex clause structure broken into simpler verbal clauses |
When Language Rises with Meaning
This verse showcases the fullness of Koine syntax—compressed yet precise, where participles and infinitives string together layered ideas. Modern Greek opens these into clauses with που and να, trading compactness for accessibility. The essence remains: a group stands up and insists on ritual law. Yet how they say it—grammatically—has moved from elegant conciseness to explanatory clarity.
