Luke 20:6

Who is "the People"?

καταλιθάσει - This verb is a third person future indicative active, "he/she/it will stone" because the People is a singular masculine noun.

In Greek, when an infinitive verb takes a subject, the subject appears in the accusative case, and any predicate noun or adjective agrees with it also in the accusative. This construction is known as accusative with infinitive (AcI). Thus, in the phrase προφήτην εἶναι (“to be a prophet”), προφήτην is in the accusative to agree with the implied accusative subject of εἶναι.

As well, it is possible to have two predicate nouns in the accusative case when both nouns describe the same subject or object in relation to an infinitive verb. This construction is typically used to provide multiple attributes or identities to the subject. Thus, in the phrase Ἰωάννην προφήτην εἶναι ("to be John, a prophet"), Ἰωάννην (John) is in the accusative as the object of the verb εἶναι (to be), while προφήτην (a prophet) is also in the accusative as a predicate noun, describing the subject Ἰωάννην. This structure is a form of the accusative + infinitive construction, where the accusative case is used for both the subject of the infinitive (in this case, John) and the predicate noun (the title or identity being assigned, here "prophet").

This construction mirrors other instances in Greek grammar where multiple accusative nouns or adjectives describe the same subject, such as in ἡ πόλις ὁδὸν καὶ ἄνδρα ἑαυτὴν εἶναι ("The city considers itself a road and a man").

Why does this matter?

Because if one intended to be clear, the proper Greek for "persuaded that John was a prophet" would be:

πεπεισμένος ὅτι Ἰωάννης ἦν προφήτης

That is,

• πεπεισμένος – perfect passive participle of πείθω (having been persuaded, convinced)

• ὅτι – conjunction meaning "that"

• Ἰωάννης – nominative singular of Ἰωάννης (John)

• ἦν – imperfect indicative of εἰμί (was)

• προφήτης – nominative singular (prophet)

So, this literally means: "Having been persuaded that John was a prophet." This is what nearly all modern translations have rendered, but is not at all what is written in Luke 20:6. A few literal translations attempted to render it:

"for they are having been persuaded John to be a prophet." (Berean Literal)

"they are having been persuaded John to be a prophet." (Literal Standard Version)

"for they are having been persuaded John to be a prophet." (Young's Literal Translation)

But they are syntactically and linguistically flawed. The Greek defies these attempts. They are completely nonsensical.

See Smyth, Greek Grammar, §§1985–1989 for detailed treatment.