Ephesians 2:20

Being built upon

(εποικοδομηθεντες). First aorist passive participle of εποικοδομεω, for which double compound verb see 1 Corinthians 3:10; 1 Corinthians 2:17.The foundation

(επ τω θεμελιω). Repetition of επ with the locative case. See 1 Corinthians 3:11 for this word.Of the apostles and prophets

(τον αποστολων κα προφητων). Genitive of apposition with θεμελιω, consisting in. If one is surprised that Paul should refer so to the apostles, he being one himself, Peter does the same thing (2 Peter 3:2). Paul repeats this language in Ephesians 3:5.Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone

(οντως ακρογωνιανιου αυτου Χριστου Ιησου). Genitive absolute. The compound ακρογωνιαιος occurs only in the LXX (first in Isaiah 28:16) and in the N.T. (here, 1 Peter 2:6). Λιθος (stone) is understood. Jesus had spoken of himself as the stone, rejected by the Jewish builders (experts), but chosen of God as the head of the corner (Matthew 21:42), εις κεφαλην γωνιας. "The ακρογωνιαιος here is the primary foundation-stone at the angle of the structure by which the architect fixes a standard for the bearings of the walls and cross-walls throughout" (W. W. Lloyd).