Acts 5:16

An Exegetical Study of Acts 5:16: The Conjunction καί and its Translational Nuances

This exegetical study of Acts 5.16 NASB using ‘or’ for και is based on a b-greek discussion from Mon Jul 24 09:31:04 EDT 2006. The initial query observed that the New American Standard Bible (NASB) renders the Greek conjunction καί in Acts 5:16 as “or,” a departure from its more common translation as “and.” This translation choice was presumed to highlight a distinction between individuals suffering from physical illness and those afflicted by unclean spirits. The core of the inquiry centered on whether the Greek text provides sufficient grounds to justify this rendering.

The main exegetical issue at hand revolves around the semantic breadth of the Greek conjunction καί, particularly in contexts potentially influenced by Semitic linguistic patterns. While καί primarily functions as a copulative “and,” its range of meanings can extend to include additive, emphatic, adversative, or even disjunctive functions, especially when reflecting the varied uses of the Hebrew conjunction waw. This broader semantic spectrum necessitates a careful contextual and linguistic analysis to determine the most accurate and nuanced English translation, particularly when a widely accepted version like the NASB opts for a less common rendering like “or.”

Greek text (Nestle 1904)

συνήρχετο δὲ καί τὸ πλῆθος τῶν πέριξ πόλεων εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, φέροντες ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ὀχλουμένους ὑπὸ πνευμάτων ἀκαθάρτων, οἵτινες ἐθεραπεύοντο ἅπαντες.

Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):

• For the conjunction καί in question (between ἀσθενεῖς and ὀχλουμένους), both Nestle 1904 and SBLGNT 2010 present identical readings, indicating no textual variants relevant to this specific exegetical point.

Textual Criticism (NA28) and Lexical Notes (KITTEL, BDAG)

The apparatus of the Nestle-Aland 28th edition (NA28) for Acts 5:16 reveals no significant textual variants concerning the conjunction καί between ἀσθενεῖς (sick) and ὀχλουμένους (troubled/harassed). This confirms that the reading of καί is textually stable across the major manuscript traditions. Therefore, the translational decision rests entirely on the semantic and contextual interpretation of the conjunction, rather than on variant readings.

Lexically, the Greek conjunction καί is one of the most frequently occurring words in the New Testament. Bauer, Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich (BDAG) categorize its uses extensively, including:

• Copulative/Additive: “and,” “also,” “even.” This is its most common function, simply joining words, phrases, or clauses.
• Emphatic/Intensifying: “even,” “also,” drawing attention to a particular element.
• Adversative: “but,” “yet,” especially after a negative statement, though less common.
• Resultative: “and so,” “therefore.”
• Disjunctive: In certain contexts, especially under Semitic influence, καί can approach the sense of “or,” particularly when listing items that are presented as alternative or distinct, rather than purely cumulative.

Gerhard Kittel’s *Theological Dictionary of the New Testament* further elaborates on the profound influence of Hebrew syntax, particularly the conjunction *waw* (ו), on Septuagintal and New Testament Greek. The *waw* is notoriously versatile, capable of signifying simple coordination, temporal sequence, causality, opposition, and even disjunction. This broad semantic range of the Hebrew *waw*, when calqued literally into Greek using καί, can result in contexts where καί carries a meaning beyond simple “and.” Consequently, a translator must discern the precise nuance conveyed by καί in light of its potential Semitic background and immediate context.

Translation Variants with Grammatical & Rhetorical Analysis

In Acts 5:16, the passage describes people bringing “ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ὀχλουμένους ὑπὸ πνευμάτων ἀκαθάρτων” (sick and troubled by unclean spirits). The traditional and most literal translation of καί here is “and,” indicating a conjunction of two groups or two categories of affliction. Grammatically, both ἀσθενεῖς (sick) and ὀχλουμένους (troubled) are accusative plural participles (or substantivized participles) functioning as direct objects of φέροντες (bringing), denoting the types of people being brought to the apostles for healing. A simple “and” implies that both physically sick individuals and those troubled by unclean spirits were present and received healing.

However, the NASB’s choice of “or” for καί in this context suggests a rhetorical emphasis on differentiation. The argument for “or” stems from the understanding that “sick” (ἀσθενεῖς) could be a broad category, encompassing various physical ailments, while “troubled by unclean spirits” (ὀχλουμένους ὑπὸ πνευμάτων ἀκαθάρτων) represents a distinct, often more severe, form of affliction. By translating καί as “or,” the NASB arguably seeks to highlight that the healing ministry addressed both general physical sicknesses and the specific, more demonstrative cases of demonic oppression, thus underscoring the comprehensive nature of the apostolic power. This interpretive choice could be supported by the aforementioned Semitic influence on καί, where a single conjunction can delineate distinct, though related, categories rather than merely cumulative ones. The choice of “or” therefore renders the phrase as “those who were sick or troubled by unclean spirits,” implying two separate, perhaps mutually exclusive in definition but not in presence, groups of beneficiaries of healing.

Conversely, maintaining “and” does not preclude the distinction between the two groups. It simply presents them as conjoined without explicitly forcing a disjunctive interpretation. The rhetorical effect of “and” is one of simple enumeration or accumulation, highlighting the *totality* of those being brought for healing, regardless of the specific nature of their affliction. The context does not provide strong grammatical markers to compel a disjunctive “or” over a copulative “and.” The decision often rests on a nuanced understanding of how these categories might interact and whether the original author intended to emphasize their distinctiveness or their combined presence.

Conclusions and Translation Suggestions

The stable textual reading of καί in Acts 5:16, combined with the broad semantic range of the conjunction—especially considering potential Semitic influence—allows for more than one defensible translation. While “and” is the most common and literal rendering, a case can be made for “or” to emphasize the distinction between different categories of affliction being addressed. The choice ultimately depends on the translator’s interpretation of the nuance intended by the author and the desired rhetorical effect in the target language.

1. “They were also bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits, and all were healed.”
   This translation maintains the most common and literal rendering of καί as a simple conjunction, indicating the presence of both categories of people receiving healing. It emphasizes the comprehensive scope of those healed through aggregation.
2. “They were also bringing those who were sick or troubled by unclean spirits, and all were healed.”
   This rendering, as seen in the NASB, employs a disjunctive “or” to highlight a distinction between the two types of affliction. It suggests that the healing applied to either category of sufferer, emphasizing the breadth of different ailments addressed.
3. “They were also bringing those who were sick, as well as those troubled by unclean spirits, and all were healed.”
   This translation uses a more expansive phrase like “as well as” to convey a sense of coordination while implicitly acknowledging distinct categories, without forcing a strong disjunctive “or.” It aims for a balance, capturing both the additive nature and the subtle differentiation without linguistic overreach.