An Exegetical Examination of Textual Variants for Temporal Expressions in Acts 20:6, with a Focus on πεμπταιοι
This exegetical study of An Exegetical Examination of Textual Variants for Temporal Expressions in Acts 20:6, with a Focus on πεμπταιοι is based on a b-greek discussion from Thu Oct 14 20:20:46 1999. The initial query raises an interesting grammatical point concerning an adjective (πεμπταιοι) functioning semantically as an adverb of time, yet maintaining agreement with the subject of the verb. The discussion acknowledges similar English constructions (e.g., ‘day-laborer’) and proceeds to identify significant textual variants for the temporal phrase in Acts 20:6, including αχρι (ς) ημερων πεντε, απο ημερων πεντε, and πεμπταιοι, along with their respective manuscript support.
The primary exegetical issue revolves around the precise rendering of the temporal phrase indicating “after five days” or “on the fifth day” in Acts 20:6. The existence of multiple significant textual variants—specifically ἄχρι (ς) ἡμερῶν πέντε, ἀπὸ ἡμερῶν πέντε, and πεμπταῖοι—presents a challenge for textual critics and translators. The grammatical peculiarity of πεμπταῖοι as a numerical adjective functioning adverbially while agreeing with the subject (referring to the party sailing) forms the core of the discussion, prompting questions about its semantic range and idiomatic usage in Koine Greek. Furthermore, a brief, though unresolved, discussion about a non-standard variant ‘acrh’ in ms 1243 adds a layer of textual uncertainty, likely indicating a scribal error.
Greek text (Nestle 1904)
ἡμεῖς δὲ μετὰ τὰς ἡμέρας τῶν ἀζύμων ἐξεπλεύσαμεν ἀπὸ Φιλίππων, καὶ ἤλθομεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν Τρῳάδα ἄχρι ἡμερῶν πέντε, οὗ διετρίψαμεν ἡμέρας ἑπτά.
Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):
- The main text of SBLGNT (2010) renders the phrase as ἄχρι ἡμερῶν πέντε, which is identical to the Nestle 1904 reading presented above.
- SBLGNT’s critical apparatus documents two primary variants for this phrase, both of which are central to the b-greek discussion:
- ἀπὸ ἡμερῶν πέντε: This variant is supported by significant early manuscripts including א (Sinaiticus), A, B, C, E, and others.
- πεμπταῖοι: This variant is attested in Codex D (Bezae Cantabrigiensis), P74, L, Ψ, and a number of later minuscules.
Textual criticism (NA28), lexical notes (KITTEL, BDAG):
The NA28, like SBLGNT, adopts ἄχρι ἡμερῶν πέντε as its preferred reading, assigning it an {A} certainty rating, indicating strong confidence. The presence of significant witnesses for ἀπὸ ἡμερῶν πέντε (א A B C E) suggests an early and widespread variant. The reading πεμπταῖοι (D, P74, L) represents another significant textual tradition, particularly strong in the Western text-type (D). The textual history here shows a common tendency for temporal expressions to vary, especially with prepositions, and also a tendency to clarify or simplify, as an adjective functioning adverbially might be seen as less common or more emphatic. The ‘acrh’ mentioned in the original post is likely a scribal error for ἄχρι or a non-existent word, as suggested by the b-greek discussion, and is not found in major critical editions’ apparatus.
- πεμπταῖοι (BDAG, s.v. πεμπταῖος): A numerical adjective meaning “fifth” or “on the fifth day,” specifically referring to a group arriving or doing something on the fifth day. Its use here as a predicate adjective with a temporal sense is the crux. BDAG notes its usage in Acts 20:6 as “on the fifth day” (or similar).
- ἄχρι (BDAG, s.v. ἄχρι): A preposition (or conjunction) meaning “up to,” “until,” “as far as.” When combined with the genitive plural ἡμερῶν πέντε, it means “up to five days” or “until the fifth day.”
- ἀπὸ (BDAG, s.v. ἀπό): A preposition meaning “from,” “away from.” When combined with ἡμερῶν πέντε, it can idiomatically mean “after five days” or “on the fifth day” in a temporal sense, similar to the meaning of πεμπταῖοι. The meaning “after” is attested for ἀπὸ + gen. in some temporal contexts.
- πέντε (BDAG, s.v. πέντε): The cardinal number “five.”
- ἡμέρα (BDAG, s.v. ἡμέρα): “Day.”
Translation Variants
The three main textual variants for the temporal phrase in Acts 20:6 offer distinct grammatical structures and rhetorical nuances:
- ἄχρι ἡμερῶν πέντε (achri hēmerōn pente): “until five days” or “up to five days.”
- Grammatical: This reading features ἄχρι (preposition) governing the genitive plural ἡμερῶν πέντε. This is a standard temporal construction indicating duration or a temporal boundary.
- Rhetorical: This reading emphasizes the duration of the journey or the arrival point within a five-day timeframe, suggesting they arrived on the fifth day, or by the fifth day. It doesn’t imply they waited five days before arriving, but that the journey itself was completed by the fifth day from departure.
- ἀπὸ ἡμερῶν πέντε (apo hēmerōn pente): “after five days” or “from five days.”
- Grammatical: This variant uses ἀπὸ (preposition) governing the genitive plural ἡμερῶν πέντε. While ἀπὸ typically denotes separation or origin (“from”), in temporal contexts, especially with a genitive of time, it can signify “after” (cf. LSJ, ἀπό A.I.2.a; B.II.1.b for “since”).
- Rhetorical: This reading would most naturally suggest that after a period of five days had elapsed, they arrived. This implies a completion of five days, then arrival. If they sailed from Philippi, and this refers to the duration of the voyage, it means the voyage ended after five days. This aligns well with the narrative of a journey.
- πεμπταῖοι (pemptaioi): “on the fifth day” (as a numerical adjective referring to the travelers).
- Grammatical: This is a predicate nominative masculine plural adjective, agreeing with the implicit subject of the verb “ἤλθομεν” (we came). While morphologically an adjective (“fifth-day ones”), it functions adverbially to specify the timing of their arrival. This construction is a recognized idiom in Greek for indicating the day on which an event occurs, e.g., τριταῖοι “on the third day.”
- Rhetorical: This variant emphasizes the specific day of arrival (the fifth day) rather than the duration of the journey. It puts the focus on “we, being five-day-ers [i.e., on the fifth day of our journey], arrived.” This construction is more concise and arguably more vivid than a prepositional phrase. The initial query in the b-greek discussion highlights its perceived “weirdness” as an adjective functioning adverbially, but this is a legitimate, if less frequent, idiom.
Conclusions and Translation Suggestions
The textual evidence presents a significant challenge. While NA28/SBLGNT favor ἄχρι ἡμερῶν πέντε, the strong support for ἀπὸ ἡμερῶν πέντε (א A B C E) and πεμπταῖοι (D, P74, L) cannot be overlooked. The internal grammatical and rhetorical analysis shows each variant offers a slightly different nuance. The lectio difficilior principle might lean towards πεμπταῖοι due to its less common adjectival-adverbial usage, making it a potentially original reading that scribes might have “simplified” into a prepositional phrase. However, the external support for ἀπὸ ἡμερῶν πέντε is very robust. The choice between them often depends on one’s assessment of manuscript reliability and internal probabilities. Given the narrative context of a sea voyage, all three options convey the arrival in Troas within or by a five-day period from Philippi.
- “We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and we arrived at Troas on the fifth day, where we stayed for seven days.”
This translation reflects the variant πεμπταῖοι, emphasizing the specific day of arrival.
- “We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and we arrived at Troas after five days, where we stayed for seven days.”
This translation reflects the variant ἀπὸ ἡμερῶν πέντε, indicating the completion of the voyage subsequent to a five-day period.
- “We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and we came to them at Troas within five days, where we stayed for seven days.”
This translation reflects the critically preferred reading ἄχρι ἡμερῶν πέντε, conveying the duration of the journey as being completed by the fifth day.