καὶ ἀνευρόντες τοὺς μαθητὰς ἐπεμείναμεν αὐτοῦ ἡμέρας ἑπτά· οἵτινες τῷ Παύλῳ ἔλεγον διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος μὴ ἀναβαίνειν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα. (Acts 21:4)
A Journey Paused, a Warning Issued
Acts 21:4 offers a quiet moment of dramatic tension in the unfolding journey of Paul toward Jerusalem. Luke recounts that, upon finding the disciples in Tyre, they stayed for seven days — and during that time, the disciples, through the Spirit, urged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
Behind this scene lies a tapestry of meaningful Greek grammar, including:
- An aorist participle expressing temporal sequence
- A first person plural verb of persistence
- A relative pronoun with clarifying nuance
- A present infinitive in negated form
- The powerful agency construction διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος
This verse blends syntax with spiritual urgency. Let’s examine how.
1. Aorist Participle: ἀνευρόντες
The participle ἀνευρόντες (“having found”) is:
- Aorist active participle, nominative plural masculine
- From the verb ἀνευρίσκω — “to discover, find out”
Because it’s a nominative plural, it agrees with the implied subject we (the narrator and companions), and it functions temporally:
“And having found the disciples…” (i.e., after we found them)
The aorist participle marks an action prior to the main verb ἐπεμείναμεν (“we remained”).
Translation Insight
This structure shows a completed action preceding the next — the group did not remain in Tyre before finding disciples; finding them led to the extended stay.
2. Main Verb: ἐπεμείναμεν
The verb ἐπεμείναμεν is:
- Aorist active indicative, 1st person plural
- From ἐπιμένω, “to stay on, remain longer”
It carries a sense of deliberate persistence — not a casual lodging, but a purposeful abiding.
Complement Phrase
- αὐτοῦ – “there” (in that place)
- ἡμέρας ἑπτά – “seven days” (accusative of extent of time)
The accusative here quantifies the duration of the staying.
Grammatically, this is a narrative of intentional lingering, not incidental rest.
3. Relative Clause with οἵτινες
The pronoun οἵτινες (not just οἱ) introduces a qualifying relative clause:
- οἵτινες: a relative pronoun, nominative masculine plural, emphasizing identity with clarification
- This pronoun often implies those of such a kind who…
Thus, the disciples weren’t just any group — they were the kind who warned Paul through the Spirit.
It’s a grammatical marker of spiritual alignment — those who speak in harmony with divine guidance.
4. Agency Construction: διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος
The phrase διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος means:
- “through the Spirit”
- διά with the genitive indicates means or agency
Grammatically, this emphasizes that the warning wasn’t based on mere human caution. It was Spirit-prompted:
- διά (with genitive) = “by means of”
- τοῦ Πνεύματος = “the Spirit” (genitive singular neuter)
The Spirit is grammatically marked as the channel or agent behind their speech.
5. Negated Present Infinitive: μὴ ἀναβαίνειν
The disciples’ warning is quoted indirectly:
- ἔλεγον – “they were saying” (imperfect active indicative)
- μὴ ἀναβαίνειν – “not to go up” (present active infinitive of ἀναβαίνω)
This is a negated complementary infinitive, used to express indirect speech following verbs of saying or thinking.
They kept saying not to go up — not as a one-time warning, but a continuous urging.
The present infinitive emphasizes ongoing or repeated action: they didn’t just say it once — they kept saying it.
Grammar Table: Key Structures in Acts 21:4
| Greek Form | Grammar | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἀνευρόντες | Aorist Active Participle (Nom. Pl.) | Temporal / Circumstantial | “having found” |
| ἐπεμείναμεν | Aorist Active Indicative (1st Pl.) | Main Verb | “we remained” / “we stayed on” |
| οἵτινες | Relative Pronoun (Nom. Pl.) | Introduces Qualifying Clause | “who (the kind that)” |
| διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος | Preposition + Genitive | Agency | “through the Spirit” |
| μὴ ἀναβαίνειν | Present Infinitive + Negative | Indirect Speech | “not to go up” |
Between Tyre and Jerusalem: A Syntax of Sacred Tension
The grammar of Acts 21:4 reflects both movement and resistance — the missionaries move forward, but the Spirit-filled community urges caution. Luke’s Greek captures this tension with precision:
- Temporal aorists frame the narrative chronology
- Infinitives frame the theological dilemma: should Paul ascend?
- The Spirit is grammatically woven into the very speech of the disciples
This is no mere travelogue. It is a moment of sacred drama, where participles and prepositions trace the path between divine prompting and human mission.
And grammar, here, helps us pause — just as Paul did — to consider what it truly means to walk by the Spirit.
