[B-Greek] re: epi tau auto in Acts 2:44
Lloyd, Scott
scott.lloyd at cincybible.edu
Fri Sep 12 14:08:23 EDT 2003
Greetings,
In describing the situation of the early believers in Acts 2:44,
Luke uses the phrase "HSAN EPI TAU AUTO", which the NASB renders "[the
believers] were together." This phrase is also used by Luke in Acts 1:15
and 2:1 (also in Luke 17:35), and I believe is generally rendered in those
two passages something like "together in the same place."
At least some commentators (e.g. I. H. Marshall) conclude from
Luke's narration in Acts 2:44 that the early believers lived together. My
question is: is there anything about the phrase "EPI TAU AUTO" itself that
suggests this idea--either in the Biblical literature itself, and/or in
extra-biblical literature?
In fact, I'm wondering if this phrase necessarily has a literal
spatial connotation each time it is used. In other words, does the phrase
always suggest that the members of an "EPI TAU AUTO" group are always
located in the same geographic space? Or, is there any textual evidence
that this phrase could be used metaphorically to simply suggest a close or
"tightly-knit" (to use another metaphor) community?
Thanks,
Scott Lloyd
Information Services Specialist
Cincinnati Bible College & Seminary Library
2700 Glenway Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45204
Scott.Lloyd at cincybible.edu
More information about the B-Greek
mailing list