“ὅπως ἀναβλέψῃς, καὶ πλησθῇς Πνεύματος ἁγίου”: Coordinated Subjunctives of Purpose in Acts 9:17

Introduction: Healing and Filling on the Damascus Road

In Acts 9:17, Ananias speaks to Saul (later Paul) with words full of meaning and divine intention:
ὁ κύριος… ἀπέσταλκέ με… ὅπως ἀναβλέψῃς, καὶ πλησθῇς Πνεύματος ἁγίου.

This clause, introduced by ὅπως, contains two aorist subjunctives—ἀναβλέψῃς and πλησθῇς—joined by καί. The result is a dual-purpose expression: restoration of sight and reception of the Holy Spirit. The grammar reveals that both outcomes are tied together, both miraculous and missional.

Σαοὺλ ἀδελφέ, ὁ κύριος ἀπέσταλκέ με, ὁ ὀφθείς σοι ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ᾗ ἤρχου, ὅπως ἀναβλέψῃς, καὶ πλησθῇς Πνεύματος ἁγίου.

Let us focus on the final purpose clause of Acts 9:17:

ὅπως ἀναβλέψῃς, καὶ πλησθῇς Πνεύματος ἁγίου —
“so that you may regain sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

This clause uses ὅπως to introduce a purpose/result clause, followed by two coordinated aorist subjunctive verbs: ἀναβλέψῃς and πλησθῇς. The grammatical structure here is elegant, deliberate, and theologically rich—pairing physical healing with spiritual empowerment.

Morphological Breakdown

1. ὅπως –
   Form: subordinating conjunction (introducing purpose/result);
   Meaning: “so that,” “in order that”;
   Usage: always governs a subjunctive verb; can express purpose, result, or desired outcome.
2. ἀναβλέψῃς {anablepsēs} –
   Root: ἀναβλέπω {anablepō};
   Form: aorist active subjunctive, 2nd person singular;
   Meaning: “you may see again,” “regain sight”;
   Notes: Aorist reflects the full action viewed as a whole; subjunctive reflects contingency or intended result.
3. πλησθῇς {plēsthēs} –
   Root: πίμπλημι {pimplēmi};
   Form: aorist passive subjunctive, 2nd person singular;
   Meaning: “you may be filled”;
   Notes: Passive voice—God is the implied agent who fills Saul with the Holy Spirit.
4. Πνεύματος ἁγίου {Pneumatos hagiou} –
   Form: genitive neuter singular noun + adjective;
   Meaning: “of the Holy Spirit”;
   Usage: governs the content of the filling—what Saul is filled with.

Syntactical Analysis: Coordinated Purpose Subjunctives

– ὅπως introduces a final clause: “so that…”
– ἀναβλέψῃς and πλησθῇς are coordinated by καί: both are outcomes of Ananias’s divine commission.

The grammatical relationship is:
> “The Lord has sent me… in order that you may receive sight and be filled…”

This is not a list—it is a theological pair:
– One physical, one spiritual
– Both aorist subjunctives, both definitive

Semantic and Theological Implications

This purpose clause reveals the twofold mission of Ananias:
1. To heal Saul’s blindness (undoing the physical effect of divine encounter).
2. To inaugurate Saul into divine service (via the Holy Spirit).

– ἀναβλέψῃς is about restoration.
– πλησθῇς is about transformation.

This dual-purpose shows that God’s call on Saul’s life is not merely to see again, but to see differently—and to walk empowered.

Literary and Narrative Significance

This clause brings closure to Saul’s blindness:
– It marks the transition from confrontation to commission.
– It uses grammar to structure transformation.
– It shows that apostolic identity begins with divine initiative.

Narratively, the clause leads directly into Saul’s healing and immediate baptism. There’s no delay: once these purposes are fulfilled, Saul is launched into mission.

So That You May See and Be Filled

The clause ὅπως ἀναβλέψῃς, καὶ πλησθῇς Πνεύματος ἁγίου carries the entire weight of conversion:
– Sight returns to the eyes,
– Spirit fills the soul.

And grammar marks the moment:
Two aorist subjunctives, one divine intention—
that Saul become Paul,
not by might,
but by vision and Spirit.