[B-Greek] Word order, prominence, and Acts 28:31

Mike Sangrey MSangrey at BlueFeltHat.org
Thu Jun 30 12:26:06 EDT 2005


Acts 28:31

KHRUSSWN THN BASILEIAN TOU QEOU KAI DIDASKWN TA PERI TOU KURIOU IHSOU
CRISTOU META PASHS PARRHSIAS AKWLUTWS.

I was just reading an online article that referred to this verse and the
word order jumped out at me.

'Boldly' and 'Unhindered' appear to me to not be expected.  That's a
pragmatic issue.

The participles (KHRUSSWN and DIDASKWN) complete or clarify the
circumstances surrounding the verbs at the beginning of the sentence
(namely, EMMENW and APODECOMAI).  If one simply leaves off the META
prepositional phrase, one has a complete thought that ends Acts just
fine.  There's no reason to expect the next phrase.  However, adding the
phrase presents a surprise.  I would not have expected such confidence
and freedom from anyone who had just quite strongly confronted Jewish
leaders and was to stand before Caesar--especially given the nature of
his message!

The point I'm making is that there is a prominence to this phrase.  The
author appears to use two things to accomplish that:  one, the
surrounding context, and, two, holding off speaking the words until the
very end.

To clarify for you my thinking, let me offer an Englished rendition of
the text:
        ...declaring God's kingdom and teaching about the Lord and
        Messiah Jesus--fully confident and freely.
        

-- 
Mike Sangrey
msangrey AT BlueFeltHat.org
Landisburg, Pa.
                        "The first one last wins."
            "A net of highly cohesive details reveals the truth."




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