Prouparcho denotes an earlier, ongoing prior state: Simon’s prior activity and Herod and Pilate’s former hostility.

The verb marks a condition or activity already in place before the verse’s focal event: Simon had been practicing magic in Acts 8:9, while Herod and Pilate had been hostile to each other before their friendship in Luke 23:12.

1. Existing or being so beforehand · dominant

   In Acts 8:9, the third-person imperfect singular form occurs in the clause about Simon’s prior activity in the city; the APB renders the verse, “had formerly been in the city practicing magic.” In Luke 23:12, the third-person imperfect plural form refers to Herod and Pilate’s earlier relationship before they became friends; the APB renders that they “had been at enmity with each other.”

   Acts 8:9Luke 23:12

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the prior setting with “had formerly been” in Acts 8:9 and “had been at enmity” in Luke 23:12. These phrases indicate the clauses’ overall presentation rather than fixed English renderings of the term.