David, please use Greek texts with accents. There is simply no reason not to. The text can be copied from any of many public sites. Most of our members want and really need the text with all the diacriticals and subscripts to be able to follow the discussion with ease. Again, please post the text of the Greek which contains accents and diacriticals. It is a courtesy to all. I would make the same point to those who post Greek text in betacode, the format for Greek text we used in the e-mail list that we had before we became a php forum.
Here is the Nestle-Aland 27 text for Matthew 26:71:
ἐξελθόντα δὲ εἰς τὸν πυλῶνα εἶδεν αὐτὸν ἄλλη καὶ λέγει τοῖς ἐκεῖ· οὗτος ἦν μετὰ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Ναζωραίου.
It would be more natural in the English idiom to read
εἶδεν δὲ ἄλλη αὐτὸν ἐξελθόντα εἰς τὸν πυλῶνα καὶ λέγει [αὐτἢ] τοῖς [ἐκείνοις] ἐκεῖ· οὗτος ἦν μετὰ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Ναζωραίου.
If it were in the genitive absolute, the genitive absolute would normally start the sentence (but that is not a requirement):
[αὐτοῦ / Πέτρου] δὲ ἐξέλθοντος εἰς τὸν πυλῶνα ἄλλη εἶδεν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει τοῖς ἐκεῖ· οὗτος ἦν μετὰ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Ναζαραίου.
You can search for the term 'accusative absolute.' You can find discussions at :
http://www.textkit.com/greek-latin-foru ... f=2&t=8944. Smyth does not directly speak to the issue, but has a section on the accusative absolute -- but I don't think that is going on in Matt. 26.71. Here is Smyth §2076:
Accusative Absolute.—A participle stands in the accusative absolute, instead of the genitive, when it is impersonal, or has an infinitive as its subject (as under C). When impersonal, such participles have no apparent grammatical connection with the rest of the sentence.
A. Impersonal verbs: δέον, ἐξόν, μετόν, παρόν, προσῆκον, μέλον, μεταμέλον, παρέχον, παρασχόν, τυχόν, δοκοῦν, δόξαν, or δόξαντα (ταῦτα), γενόμενον ἐπ' ἐμοί as it was in my power.
οὐδεὶς τὸ μεῖζον κακὸν αἱρήσεται ἐξὸν τὸ ἔλα_ττον (αἱρεῖσθαι) no one will choose the greater evil when it is possible to choose the less P. Pr. 358d, ἧς (βουλῆς) νῦν ἀξιοῖ τυχεῖν οὐ μετὸν αὐτῷ to which he now claims admission though he has no right L. 31.32, δῆλον γὰρ ὅτι οἶσθα μέλον γέ σοι for of course you know because it concerns you P. A. 24d, μετεμέλοντο ὅτι μετὰ τὰ ἐν Πύλῳ, καλῶς παρασχόν, οὐ ξυνέβησαν they repented that after what had occurred at Pylos, although a favourable occasion had presented itself, they had not come to terms T. 5.14. Cp. cross2086 d, cross2087.
N.—Apart from δόξαν, τυχόν, the accusative absolute of the aorist participle of impersonal verbs is very rare.
B. Passive participles used impersonally: γεγραμμένον, δεδογμένον, εἰρημένον, προσταχθέν, προστεταγμένον. Cp. Eng. granted this is so, this done, which said.
εἰρημένον δ' αὐταῖς ἀπαντᾶν ἐνθάδε . . . εὕδουσι κοὐχ ἥκουσιν though it was told them to meet here, they sleep and have not come Ar. Lys. 13, προσταχθέν μοι ὑπὸ τοῦ δήμου Μένωνα ἄγειν εἰς Ἑλλήσποντον a command having been given (it having been commanded) me by the people to convey Menon to the Hellespont D. 50.12.
-- 462 --
N.—The aorist participle passive is rarely used absolutely: ἀμεληθέν, ἀπορρηθέν, καταχειροτονηθέν, κυ_ρωθέν, ὁρισθέν, περανθέν, προσταχθέν, χρησθέν.
C. Adjectives with ὄν: ἄδηλον ὄν, δυνατὸν ὄν, ἀδύνατον ὄν, αἰσχρὸν ὄν, καλὸν ὄν, χρεών (χρεώ ὄν), etc.
σὲ οὐχὶ ἐσώσαμεν . . . οἷόν τε ὂν καὶ δυνατόν we did not rescue you although it was both feasible and possible P. Cr. 46a, ὡς οὐκ ἀναγκαῖον (ὄν) τὸ κλέπτειν, αἰτιᾷ τὸν κλέπτοντα on the ground that stealing is not necessary you accuse the thief X. C. 5.1.13.