23
1 Ἀτενίσας δὲ ὁ Παῦλος τῷ συνεδρίῳ* ο παυλος τω συνεδριω f35 (85.9%) HF,RP,OC,TR,NU ¦ 234 B (9%) CP ¦ ~ 3412 ℵA,C (5%) εἶπεν, «Ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ἐγὼ πάσῃ συνειδήσει ἀγαθῇ πεπολίτευμαι τῷ Θεῷ ἄχρι ταύτης τῆς ἡμέρας.» 2 Ὁ δὲ ἀρχιερεὺς Ἀνανίας ἐπέταξεν τοῖς παρεστῶσιν αὐτῷ τύπτειν αὐτοῦ τὸ στόμα. 3 Τότε ὁ Παῦλος πρὸς αὐτὸν εἶπεν· «Τύπτειν σε μέλλει ὁ Θεός, τοῖχε κεκονιαμένε· καὶ σὺ κάθῃ κρίνων† κρινων rell ¦ κρινον [20%] με κατὰ τὸν νόμον, καὶ παρανομῶν κελεύεις με τύπτεσθαι.» 4 Οἱ δὲ παρεστῶτες εἶπον,‡ ειπον rell ¦ ειπαν ℵB [5%] NU «Τὸν ἀρχιερέα τοῦ Θεοῦ λοιδορεῖς;» 5 Ἔφη τε ὁ Παῦλος· «Οὐκ ᾔδειν, ἀδελφοί, ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀρχιερεύς· γέγραπται γάρ,§ γαρ f35 C [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ 1 οτι ℵA,B [5%] NU ‹Ἄρχοντα τοῦ λαοῦ σου οὐκ ἐρεῖς κακῶς.› »
6 Γνοὺς δὲ ὁ Παῦλος ὅτι τὸ ἓν μέρος ἐστὶν Φαρισαίων, τὸ δὲ ἕτερον Σαδδουκαίων,* φαρισαιων το δε ετερον σαδδουκαιων f35 [20%] ¦ ~ 52341 ℵA,B,C [80%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP,NU ἔκραξεν† εκραξεν f35 A [98%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ εκραζεν ℵB,C [2%] NU ἐν τῷ συνεδρίῳ, «Ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ἐγὼ Φαρισαῖός εἰμι, υἱὸς Φαρισαίου·‡ φαρισαιου f35 [97%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ φαρισαιων ℵA(B)C [3%] NU περὶ ἐλπίδος καὶ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν ἐγὼ§ εγω f35 ℵA [99%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP[NU] ¦ — B,C [1%] κρίνομαι.» 7 Τοῦτο δὲ αὐτοῦ λαλήσαντος,* λαλησαντος f35 C [86%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ λαλουντος B [10%] ¦ ειποντος (ℵ)A [4%] NU ἐγένετο στάσις τῶν Φαρισαίων καὶ τῶν Σαδδουκαίων,† φαρισαιων και των σαδδουκαιων f35 [48%] HF,OC,TR ¦ 1 [25%] RP ¦ ~ 4231 [7%] ¦ 124 A(B)C [15%] NU ¦ ~ 421 ℵ [5%] CP καὶ ἐσχίσθη τὸ πλῆθος. 8 (Σαδδουκαῖοι μὲν γὰρ λέγουσιν μὴ εἶναι ἀνάστασιν, μήτε‡ μητε f35 ℵA,B,C [25%] OC,NU ¦ μηδε [75%] HF,RP,TR,CP ἄγγελον μήτε πνεῦμα, Φαρισαῖοι δὲ ὁμολογοῦσιν τὰ ἀμφότερα.) 9 Ἐγένετο δὲ κραυγὴ μεγάλη, καὶ ἀναστάντες§ ανασταντες f35 [93%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ 1 τινες ℵA,B(C) [7%] NU οἱ γραμματεῖς* οι γραμματεις f35 [49%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ 2 [45%] ¦ των γραμματεων ℵB(C) [4%] NU ¦ — A [2%] τοῦ μέρους τῶν Φαρισαίων διεμάχοντο λέγοντες, «Οὐδὲν κακὸν εὑρίσκομεν ἐν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τούτῳ· εἰ δὲ† δε rell ¦ 1 και CP πνεῦμα ἐλάλησεν αὐτῷ ἢ ἄγγελος, μὴ θεομαχῶμεν.»‡ μη θεομαχωμεν f35 (95.6%) HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B,C (4.4%) NU 10 Πολλῆς δὲ γενομένης στάσεως,§ γενομενης στασεως f35 [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ~ 21 A,C ¦ γινομενης 2 (ℵ)(B) [5%] NU εὐλαβηθεὶς* ευλαβηθεις f35 [93%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ φοβηθεις (ℵ)A,B,C [7%] NU ὁ χιλίαρχος μὴ διασπασθῇ ὁ Παῦλος ὑπ᾿ αὐτῶν, ἐκέλευσεν τὸ στράτευμα καταβῆναι καὶ† καταβηναι και f35 [95%] HF,RP,OC,CP ¦ καταβαν ℵA,B,C [5%] TR,NU ἁρπάσαι αὐτὸν ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν, ἄγειν τε εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν.
A plot exposed
11 Τῇ δὲ ἐπιούσῃ νυκτὶ ἐπιστὰς αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος εἶπεν, «Θάρσει Παῦλε,‡ παυλε f35 [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B,C [5%] NU ὡς γὰρ διεμαρτύρω τὰ περὶ ἐμοῦ εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, οὕτως σε δεῖ§ σε δει rell ¦ ~ 21 CP καὶ εἰς Ῥώμην μαρτυρῆσαι.» 12 Γενομένης δὲ ἡμέρας, ποιήσαντές τινες τῶν Ἰουδαίων συστροφήν,* τινες των ιουδαιων συστροφην f35 [86%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ~ 4123 (𝕻48) [4%] ¦ ~ 4 οι ιουδαιοι ℵA,B,C [10%] NU ἀνεθεμάτισαν ἑαυτοὺς† εαυτους f35 C [25%] ¦ 1 λεγοντες 𝕻48ℵA,B [75%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP,NU μήτε φαγεῖν μήτε πιεῖν ἕως οὗ ἀνέλωσιν‡ ανελωσιν f35 (A) [20%] ¦ αποκτεινωσιν (ℵ)B,C [80%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP,NU ¦ απεκτεινας 𝕻48 τὸν Παῦλον. 13 Ἦσαν δὲ πλείους τεσσαράκοντα§ τεσσαρακοντα f35 [97%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ τεσσερακοντα ℵA,B,C [3%] NU οἱ ταύτην τὴν συνωμοσίαν* συνωμοσιαν rell ¦ συνομοσιαν [35%] ¦ two other variants ¦ — 𝕻48 is wild πεποιηκότες·† πεποιηκοτες f35 [85%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ποιησαμενοι ℵA,B,C [5%] NU ¦ ποιησαντες [9%] ¦ three other variants 𝕻48 [1%] 14 οἵτινες προσελθόντες τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσιν καὶ τοῖς‡ τοις rell ¦ — CP πρεσβυτέροις εἶπον·§ ειπον rell ¦ ειπαν 𝕻48ℵA,B,C [15%] NU «Ἀναθέματι ἀνεθεματίσαμεν ἑαυτοὺς μηδενὸς γεύσασθαι ἕως οὗ ἀποκτείνωμεν τὸν Παῦλον. 15 Νῦν οὖν, ὑμεῖς ἐμφανίσατε τῷ χιλιάρχῳ, σὺν τῷ συνεδρίῳ, ὅπως αὔριον* αυριον f35 [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B,C [5%] NU καταγάγῃ αὐτὸν† καταγαγη αυτον f35 𝕻48ℵA,B,C [35%] CP,NU ¦ ~ 21 [65%] HF,RP,OC,TR πρὸς‡ προς f35 C [93%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ εις 𝕻48ℵA,B [7%] NU ὑμᾶς, ὡς μέλλοντας διαγινώσκειν ἀκριβέστερον τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ· ἡμεῖς δέ, πρὸ τοῦ ἐγγίσαι αὐτόν, ἕτοιμοί ἐσμεν τοῦ ἀνελεῖν αὐτόν.»
16 Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ υἱὸς τῆς ἀδελφῆς Παύλου τὸ ἔνεδρον,§ το ενεδρον f35 [92%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ πην ενεδραν ℵA,B,C [8%] NU παραγενόμενος καὶ εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν, ἀπήγγειλεν τῷ Παύλῳ. 17 Προσκαλεσάμενος δὲ ὁ Παῦλος ἕνα τῶν ἑκατοντάρχων ἔφη, «Τὸν νεανίαν* νεανιαν rell ¦ νεανισκον [2%] CP ¦ νεανια [19%] ¦ one other variant τοῦτον ἀπάγαγε πρὸς τὸν χιλίαρχον, ἔχει γάρ τι ἀπαγγεῖλαι† τι απαγγειλαι f35 (ℵ)C [97%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ~ 21 A,B [3%] NU αὐτῷ.» 18 Ὁ μὲν οὖν παραλαβὼν αὐτὸν ἤγαγεν πρὸς τὸν χιλίαρχον καί φησιν, «Ὁ δέσμιος Παῦλος προσκαλεσάμενός με ἠρώτησεν τοῦτον τὸν νεανίαν‡ νεανιαν f35 B [85%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ νεανισκον ℵA [15%] NU ἀγαγεῖν πρός σε, ἔχοντά τι λαλῆσαί σοι.» 19 Ἐπιλαβόμενος δὲ τῆς χειρός αὐτοῦ, ὁ χιλίαρχος καὶ ἀναχωρήσας κατ᾿ ἰδίαν ἐπυνθάνετο, «Τί ἐστιν ὃ ἔχεις ἀπαγγεῖλαί μοι;» 20 Εἶπεν δὲ ὅτι «Οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι συνέθεντο τοῦ ἐρωτῆσαί σε ὅπως αὔριον εἰς τὸ συνέδριον καταγάγῃς τὸν Παῦλον,§ εις το συνεδριον καταγαγης τον παυλον f35 [88%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ~ 564123 ℵA,B [7%] NU ¦ ~ 456123 [5%] ὡς μέλλοντές* 1) μελλοντες f35 (33.1%) TR,CP
2) μελλοντα (27.2%) HF,RP
3) μελλοντων (17.4%) OC
4) μελλων A,B (9.2%)
5) μελλον ℵ (7.5%) NU
6) μελλοντας (5.4%)
(one other) (0.2%)
Rather a dismaying picture—what to do? To begin, the variants are all participial forms of the same verb. The key seems to be the perceived referent or antecedent of the participle. Is it “the Jews”, “the Sanhedrin” or “the commander”? The best answer from the point of view of the grammar is evidently “the Jews”, which would require a masc., nom., plural form—the only candidate is variant 1). However, there were those who took the referent to be “the Sanhedrin”—the Alexandrian MSS have συνεδριον next to the participle, separated only by ως. The grammar requires a neuter, acc., sg. form—variant 5). But, the Sanhedrin was made up of men, so perhaps some decided it would be more appropriate to make it plural—variant 2); and maybe even masc. besides—variant 6) [might this be assimilation to verse 15?]. Variant 3), being genitive, is really strange, unless somehow someone thought that the commander intended to inquire of the Sanhedrin, viewed as plural. Variant 4) presumably takes “the commander” as the referent, but puts the form in the nom., sort of ad sensum since σε is acc. But variant 2) could also be referring to the commander, precisely masc., acc., singular.
What are the requirements of the context? “The commander” as referent does not fit. Not only was it not his idea, he sent Paul away that very night to forestall the possibility. (That the Jews should attempt to tell the commander what was in his mind is scarcely credible.) “The Sanhedrin” as referent really doesn’t fit either. το συνεδριον appears in the text as the object of a preposition, not as an initiating agent. It is “the Jews” that is the Subject of the main verb, and therefore of the two infinitives, and our participle is working with the second infinitive, “as ones intending to inquire”.
Conclusion: variant 1) is the only one that really fits the context; it is also the best attested. Although it only musters 33.1% of the vote (including f35), it is also attested by the three ancient versions—always weighty testimony. I conclude that the Autograph read μελλοντες. τι ἀκριβέστερον πυνθάνεσθαι περὶ αὐτοῦ. 21 Σὺ οὖν μὴ πεισθῇς αὐτοῖς· ἐνεδρεύουσιν γὰρ αὐτὸν ἐξ αὐτῶν ἄνδρες πλείους† πλειους rell ¦ — [15%] τεσσαράκοντα,‡ τεσσαρακοντα f35 [98%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ τεσσερακοντα ℵA,B [2%] NU οἵτινες ἀνεθεμάτισαν ἑαυτοὺς μήτε φαγεῖν μήτε πιεῖν ἕως οὗ ἀνέλωσιν αὐτόν· καὶ νῦν ἕτοιμοί εἰσιν§ ετοιμοι εισιν f35 [92%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ~ 21 ℵA,B [8%] NU προσδεχόμενοι τὴν ἀπὸ σοῦ ἐπαγγελίαν.» 22 Ὁ μὲν οὖν χιλίαρχος ἀπέλυσεν* απελυσεν rell ¦ επελυσεν CP ¦ απελυσαι [3%] τὸν νεανίαν† νεανιαν f35 [96%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ νεανισκον ℵA,B [4%] NU παραγγείλας, «Μηδενὶ ἐκλαλῆσαι ὅτι ταῦτα ἐνεφάνισας πρός με.»
Paul sent to Felix
23 Καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος δύο τινὰς‡ δυο τινας f35 A [97%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP[NU] ¦ ~ 21 ℵB [2%] ¦ 2 [1%] τῶν ἑκατοντάρχων εἶπεν· «Ἑτοιμάσατε στρατιώτας διακοσίους ὅπως πορευθῶσιν ἕως Καισαρείας, καὶ ἱππεῖς ἑβδομήκοντα καὶ δεξιολάβους διακοσίους, ἀπὸ τρίτης ὥρας τῆς νυκτός· 24 κτήνη τε παραστῆσαι, ἵνα ἐπιβιβάσαντες§ επιβιβασαντες rell ¦ επιβηβασαντες [20%] τὸν Παῦλον διασώσωσιν πρὸς Φήλικα* φηλικα f35 ℵB [35%] HF,RP,OC,TR,NU ¦ φιληκα [25%] CP ¦ φιλικα A [40%] τὸν ἡγεμόνα.» 25 Γράψας ἐπιστολὴν περιέχουσαν† περιεχουσαν f35 A [94%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ εχουσαν ℵB [6%] NU ¦ — 𝕻48 is wild τὸν τύπον τοῦτον·
26 «Κλαύδιος Λυσίας, τῷ κρατίστῳ ἡγεμόνι Φήλικι·‡ φηλικι f35 𝕻48ℵB [40%] HF,RP,OC,TR,NU ¦ φιληκι [30%] CP ¦ φιλικι A [17%] ¦ φιλικη [4%] ¦ — [9%] Χαίρειν. 27 Τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον συλληφθέντα§ συλληφθεντα rell ¦ συλλημφθεντα 𝕻48ℵA,B [2%] NU ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων καὶ μέλλοντα ἀναιρεῖσθαι ὑπ᾿ αὐτῶν· ἐπιστὰς σὺν τῷ στρατεύματι ἐξειλόμην* εξειλομην rell ¦ εξειλαμην ℵ(A)B [4%] NU ¦ ερυσαμην 𝕻48 αὐτόν,† αυτον f35 [87%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ αυτων [3%] ¦ — ℵA,B [10%] NU ¦ κραζον 𝕻48 μαθὼν ὅτι Ῥωμαῖός ἐστιν. 28 Βουλόμενος δὲ‡ δε f35 [97%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ τε 𝕻48ℵA,B [3%] NU γνῶναι§ γνωναι f35 [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ επιγνωναι ℵA,B [5%] NU τὴν αἰτίαν δι᾿ ἣν ἐνεκάλουν αὐτῷ, κατήγαγον αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ συνέδριον αὐτῶν·* κατηγαγον αυτον εις το συνεδριον αυτων f35 𝕻48v [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ 13456 ℵA [4%] NU ¦ — B [1%] 29 ὃν εὗρον ἐγκαλούμενον περὶ ζητημάτων τοῦ νόμου αὐτῶν, μηδὲν† μηδεν f35 [75%] HF,RP ¦ 1 δε ℵA,B [25%] OC,TR,CP,NU ἄξιον θανάτου ἢ δεσμῶν ἔγκλημα ἔχοντα.‡ εγκλημα εχοντα f35 [50%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ~ 21 ℵA,B [50%] NU 30 Μηνυθείσης δέ μοι ἐπιβουλῆς εἰς τὸν ἄνδρα μέλλειν§ μελλειν f35 (89.4%) HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B (10.6%) NU ἔσεσθαι ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων,* υπο των ιουδαιων f35 (89.4%) HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B (10.6%) NU ἐξαυτῆς ἔπεμψα πρός σε, παραγγείλας καὶ τοῖς κατηγόροις λέγειν τὰ† τα f35 [98%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP[NU] ¦ — (ℵA)B [2%] πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐπὶ σοῦ. Ἔρρωσο.»‡ ερρωσο f35 ℵ [68%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ερρωσθε [25%] ¦ four further spellings [5%] ¦ — A,B [2%] NU
31 Οἱ μὲν οὖν στρατιῶται, κατὰ τὸ διατεταγμένον αὐτοῖς, ἀναλαβόντες τὸν Παῦλον, ἤγαγον διὰ τῆς§ της f35 [90%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B [10%] NU νυκτὸς εἰς τὴν Ἀντιπατρίδα. 32 Τῇ δὲ ἐπαύριον ἐάσαντες τοὺς ἱππεῖς πορεύεσθαι* πορευεσθαι f35 [85%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ απερχεσθαι (ℵ)A,B [15%] NU σὺν αὐτῷ, ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν. 33 Οἵτινες εἰσελθόντες εἰς τὴν Καισάρειαν καὶ ἀναδόντες τὴν ἐπιστολὴν τῷ ἡγεμόνι, παρέστησαν καὶ τὸν Παῦλον αὐτῷ. 34 Ἀναγνοὺς δὲ ὁ ἡγεμὼν† ο ηγεμων f35 [91%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B [9%] NU καὶ ἐπερωτήσας ἐκ ποίας ἐπαρχίας‡ επαρχιας rell ¦ επαρχειας ℵA,B [2%] NU ἐστίν καὶ πυθόμενος ὅτι ἀπὸ Κιλικίας. 35 «Διακούσομαί σου,» ἔφη, «ὅταν καὶ οἱ κατήγοροί σου παραγένωνται.»§ παραγενωνται rell ¦ παραγενονται [20%] ¦ παραγενοντε [3%] Ἐκέλευσέν τε* εκελευσεν τε f35 [87%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ κελευσας A,B [10%] NU ¦ κελευσαντος ℵ ¦ εκελευσαι δε [3%] αὐτὸν† αυτον f35 [90%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B [10%] NU ἐν τῷ πραιτωρίῳ τοῦ‡ του f35 ℵA [20%] OC,TR,NU ¦ τω B [1%] ¦ — [79%] HF,RP,CP Ἡρῴδου φυλάσσεσθαι.§ φυλασσεσθαι f35 [90%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ 1 αυτον ℵA,B [10%] NU

*23:1 ο παυλος τω συνεδριω f35 (85.9%) HF,RP,OC,TR,NU ¦ 234 B (9%) CP ¦ ~ 3412 ℵA,C (5%)

†23:3 κρινων rell ¦ κρινον [20%]

‡23:4 ειπον rell ¦ ειπαν ℵB [5%] NU

§23:5 γαρ f35 C [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ 1 οτι ℵA,B [5%] NU

*23:6 φαρισαιων το δε ετερον σαδδουκαιων f35 [20%] ¦ ~ 52341 ℵA,B,C [80%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP,NU

†23:6 εκραξεν f35 A [98%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ εκραζεν ℵB,C [2%] NU

‡23:6 φαρισαιου f35 [97%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ φαρισαιων ℵA(B)C [3%] NU

§23:6 εγω f35 ℵA [99%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP[NU] ¦ — B,C [1%]

*23:7 λαλησαντος f35 C [86%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ λαλουντος B [10%] ¦ ειποντος (ℵ)A [4%] NU

†23:7 φαρισαιων και των σαδδουκαιων f35 [48%] HF,OC,TR ¦ 1 [25%] RP ¦ ~ 4231 [7%] ¦ 124 A(B)C [15%] NU ¦ ~ 421 ℵ [5%] CP

‡23:8 μητε f35 ℵA,B,C [25%] OC,NU ¦ μηδε [75%] HF,RP,TR,CP

§23:9 ανασταντες f35 [93%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ 1 τινες ℵA,B(C) [7%] NU

*23:9 οι γραμματεις f35 [49%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ 2 [45%] ¦ των γραμματεων ℵB(C) [4%] NU ¦ — A [2%]

†23:9 δε rell ¦ 1 και CP

‡23:9 μη θεομαχωμεν f35 (95.6%) HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B,C (4.4%) NU

§23:10 γενομενης στασεως f35 [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ~ 21 A,C ¦ γινομενης 2 (ℵ)(B) [5%] NU

*23:10 ευλαβηθεις f35 [93%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ φοβηθεις (ℵ)A,B,C [7%] NU

†23:10 καταβηναι και f35 [95%] HF,RP,OC,CP ¦ καταβαν ℵA,B,C [5%] TR,NU

‡23:11 παυλε f35 [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B,C [5%] NU

§23:11 σε δει rell ¦ ~ 21 CP

*23:12 τινες των ιουδαιων συστροφην f35 [86%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ~ 4123 (𝕻48) [4%] ¦ ~ 4 οι ιουδαιοι ℵA,B,C [10%] NU

†23:12 εαυτους f35 C [25%] ¦ 1 λεγοντες 𝕻48ℵA,B [75%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP,NU

‡23:12 ανελωσιν f35 (A) [20%] ¦ αποκτεινωσιν (ℵ)B,C [80%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP,NU ¦ απεκτεινας 𝕻48

§23:13 τεσσαρακοντα f35 [97%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ τεσσερακοντα ℵA,B,C [3%] NU

*23:13 συνωμοσιαν rell ¦ συνομοσιαν [35%] ¦ two other variants ¦ — 𝕻48 is wild

†23:13 πεποιηκοτες f35 [85%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ποιησαμενοι ℵA,B,C [5%] NU ¦ ποιησαντες [9%] ¦ three other variants 𝕻48 [1%]

‡23:14 τοις rell ¦ — CP

§23:14 ειπον rell ¦ ειπαν 𝕻48ℵA,B,C [15%] NU

*23:15 αυριον f35 [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B,C [5%] NU

†23:15 καταγαγη αυτον f35 𝕻48ℵA,B,C [35%] CP,NU ¦ ~ 21 [65%] HF,RP,OC,TR

‡23:15 προς f35 C [93%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ εις 𝕻48ℵA,B [7%] NU

§23:16 το ενεδρον f35 [92%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ πην ενεδραν ℵA,B,C [8%] NU

*23:17 νεανιαν rell ¦ νεανισκον [2%] CP ¦ νεανια [19%] ¦ one other variant

†23:17 τι απαγγειλαι f35 (ℵ)C [97%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ~ 21 A,B [3%] NU

‡23:18 νεανιαν f35 B [85%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ νεανισκον ℵA [15%] NU

§23:20 εις το συνεδριον καταγαγης τον παυλον f35 [88%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ~ 564123 ℵA,B [7%] NU ¦ ~ 456123 [5%]

*23:20 1) μελλοντες f35 (33.1%) TR,CP 2) μελλοντα (27.2%) HF,RP 3) μελλοντων (17.4%) OC 4) μελλων A,B (9.2%) 5) μελλον ℵ (7.5%) NU6) μελλοντας (5.4%) (one other) (0.2%) Rather a dismaying picture—what to do? To begin, the variants are all participial forms of the same verb. The key seems to be the perceived referent or antecedent of the participle. Is it “the Jews”, “the Sanhedrin” or “the commander”? The best answer from the point of view of the grammar is evidently “the Jews”, which would require a masc., nom., plural form—the only candidate is variant 1). However, there were those who took the referent to be “the Sanhedrin”—the Alexandrian MSS have συνεδριον next to the participle, separated only by ως. The grammar requires a neuter, acc., sg. form—variant 5). But, the Sanhedrin was made up of men, so perhaps some decided it would be more appropriate to make it plural—variant 2); and maybe even masc. besides—variant 6) [might this be assimilation to verse 15?]. Variant 3), being genitive, is really strange, unless somehow someone thought that the commander intended to inquire of the Sanhedrin, viewed as plural. Variant 4) presumably takes “the commander” as the referent, but puts the form in the nom., sort of ad sensum since σε is acc. But variant 2) could also be referring to the commander, precisely masc., acc., singular. What are the requirements of the context? “The commander” as referent does not fit. Not only was it not his idea, he sent Paul away that very night to forestall the possibility. (That the Jews should attempt to tell the commander what was in his mind is scarcely credible.) “The Sanhedrin” as referent really doesn’t fit either. το συνεδριον appears in the text as the object of a preposition, not as an initiating agent. It is “the Jews” that is the Subject of the main verb, and therefore of the two infinitives, and our participle is working with the second infinitive, “as ones intending to inquire”. Conclusion: variant 1) is the only one that really fits the context; it is also the best attested. Although it only musters 33.1% of the vote (including f35), it is also attested by the three ancient versions—always weighty testimony. I conclude that the Autograph read μελλοντες.

†23:21 πλειους rell ¦ — [15%]

‡23:21 τεσσαρακοντα f35 [98%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ τεσσερακοντα ℵA,B [2%] NU

§23:21 ετοιμοι εισιν f35 [92%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ~ 21 ℵA,B [8%] NU

*23:22 απελυσεν rell ¦ επελυσεν CP ¦ απελυσαι [3%]

†23:22 νεανιαν f35 [96%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ νεανισκον ℵA,B [4%] NU

‡23:23 δυο τινας f35 A [97%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP[NU] ¦ ~ 21 ℵB [2%] ¦ 2 [1%]

§23:24 επιβιβασαντες rell ¦ επιβηβασαντες [20%]

*23:24 φηλικα f35 ℵB [35%] HF,RP,OC,TR,NU ¦ φιληκα [25%] CP ¦ φιλικα A [40%]

†23:25 περιεχουσαν f35 A [94%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ εχουσαν ℵB [6%] NU ¦ — 𝕻48 is wild

‡23:26 φηλικι f35 𝕻48ℵB [40%] HF,RP,OC,TR,NU ¦ φιληκι [30%] CP ¦ φιλικι A [17%] ¦ φιλικη [4%] ¦ — [9%]

§23:27 συλληφθεντα rell ¦ συλλημφθεντα 𝕻48ℵA,B [2%] NU

*23:27 εξειλομην rell ¦ εξειλαμην ℵ(A)B [4%] NU ¦ ερυσαμην 𝕻48

†23:27 αυτον f35 [87%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ αυτων [3%] ¦ — ℵA,B [10%] NU ¦ κραζον 𝕻48

‡23:28 δε f35 [97%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ τε 𝕻48ℵA,B [3%] NU

§23:28 γνωναι f35 [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ επιγνωναι ℵA,B [5%] NU

*23:28 κατηγαγον αυτον εις το συνεδριον αυτων f35 𝕻48v [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ 13456 ℵA [4%] NU ¦ — B [1%]

†23:29 μηδεν f35 [75%] HF,RP ¦ 1 δε ℵA,B [25%] OC,TR,CP,NU

‡23:29 εγκλημα εχοντα f35 [50%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ~ 21 ℵA,B [50%] NU

§23:30 μελλειν f35 (89.4%) HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B (10.6%) NU

*23:30 υπο των ιουδαιων f35 (89.4%) HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B (10.6%) NU

†23:30 τα f35 [98%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP[NU] ¦ — (ℵA)B [2%]

‡23:30 ερρωσο f35 ℵ [68%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ερρωσθε [25%] ¦ four further spellings [5%] ¦ — A,B [2%] NU

§23:31 της f35 [90%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B [10%] NU

*23:32 πορευεσθαι f35 [85%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ απερχεσθαι (ℵ)A,B [15%] NU

†23:34 ο ηγεμων f35 [91%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B [9%] NU

‡23:34 επαρχιας rell ¦ επαρχειας ℵA,B [2%] NU

§23:35 παραγενωνται rell ¦ παραγενονται [20%] ¦ παραγενοντε [3%]

*23:35 εκελευσεν τε f35 [87%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ κελευσας A,B [10%] NU ¦ κελευσαντος ℵ ¦ εκελευσαι δε [3%]

†23:35 αυτον f35 [90%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B [10%] NU

‡23:35 του f35 ℵA [20%] OC,TR,NU ¦ τω B [1%] ¦ — [79%] HF,RP,CP

§23:35 φυλασσεσθαι f35 [90%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ 1 αυτον ℵA,B [10%] NU

© 2020 Wilbur N. Pickering