Introduction: Peter Begins to Speak
Acts 11:4 sets the stage for Peter’s explanatory defense before the Jerusalem believers:
Ἀρξάμενος δὲ ὁ Πέτρος ἐξετίθετο αὐτοῖς καθεξῆς, λέγων·
“But Peter, having begun, explained to them in order, saying…”
This combination of aorist participle + imperfect main verb is a standard literary pattern in narrative Greek. It expresses sequential action with subtle nuances: the participle marks the entry point, the imperfect expresses progressive or durative exposition, and καθεξῆς (“in order”) gives us the rhetorical style of what follows.
Ἀρξάμενος δὲ ὁ Πέτρος ἐξετίθετο αὐτοῖς καθεξῆς, λέγων·
“And Peter, having begun, began to explain to them in order, saying…”
Here, we’ll examine the aorist middle participle ἀρξάμενος and how it works with the imperfect middle verb ἐξετίθετο, along with the adverb καθεξῆς. This construction is a classic example of narrative initiation in Greek storytelling—where a main action is preceded by a temporal participle that adds flow, continuity, and emphasis.
Morphological Breakdown
- Ἀρξάμενος {Arxámenos} –
Root: ἄρχομαι {árchomai};
Form: aorist middle participle, nominative masculine singular;
Tense: aorist (simple past event, completed);
Voice: middle (subject is acting in their own interest);
Usage: adverbial participle modifying the main verb ἐξετίθετο;
Translation: “having begun.”
Notes: Common opening phrase in speeches or explanations—frequent in Luke-Acts. - ἐξετίθετο {exetítheto} –
Root: ἐκτίθημι {ektíthēmi};
Form: imperfect middle indicative, 3rd person singular;
Meaning: “he was explaining,” “he began to lay out,” or “he expounded.”
Voice: middle—focuses on the subject’s own active, deliberate unfolding of the story.
Tense: imperfect—past, continuous or descriptive;
Notes: Used for systematic exposition—especially in judicial or apologetic contexts. - αὐτοῖς {aftís} –
Form: dative third person plural pronoun;
Translation: “to them”;
Function: indirect object of ἐξετίθετο. - καθεξῆς {kathexís} –
Form: adverb;
Meaning: “in order,” “sequentially”;
Notes: Key Lucan term (cf. Luke 1:3). Indicates structured, orderly reporting—not just random speech. - λέγων {légon} –
Root: λέγω {légō};
Form: present active participle, nominative masculine singular;
Meaning: “saying”;
Usage: supplementary to ἐξετίθετο—introduces direct discourse that follows.
Syntactical Analysis: Aorist-Main Verb Pairing and Sequential Narrative
The phrase Ἀρξάμενος… ἐξετίθετο uses a very Luke-Acts-specific literary technique:
– The aorist participle (ἀρξάμενος) marks a completed act that initiates the next main action.
– The imperfect verb (ἐξετίθετο) indicates ongoing action—a longer exposition.
– καθεξῆς further specifies that Peter is recounting his experience in an orderly sequence.
This pairing shows us how Luke uses grammar to pace narrative, showing a shift from action to explanation.
Semantic and Theological Implications
Grammatically, Peter’s speech is:
– Deliberate (he begins it intentionally),
– Sequential (not a burst of reaction but an organized account),
– Reflective (the middle voice and imperfect tense suggest he is unfolding it from experience and conviction).
Theologically, this begins Peter’s defense of Gentile inclusion. His speech justifies his actions in Caesarea and explains the vision and Spirit-led events surrounding Cornelius. The phrase ἐξετίθετο καθεξῆς implies a carefully reasoned theological explanation—not a casual retelling.
Literary and Narrative Significance
This is a turning point in Acts:
– Peter becomes the bridge between Jerusalem and the Gentile world.
– The grammar of aorist + imperfect lets Luke slow the narrative and invite the audience to listen carefully.
– The adverb καθεξῆς reflects Luke’s broader agenda (cf. Luke 1:3)—to give an orderly, accurate account.
He Began and He Explained
The sequence ἀρξάμενος… ἐξετίθετο… καθεξῆς shows how grammar can mirror careful speech:
– Peter didn’t just start talking—he began to explain,
– Not randomly—but in order,
– And not defensively—but from conviction,
Because what he had to say was not only true,
but from God.
