The particle ara (with circumflex, distinct from the inferential ara) introduces questions tinged with uncertainty, anxiety, or genuine inquiry about an outcome. In classical Greek it could expect either affirmative or negative answers depending on context, and this flexibility carries into the New Testament's four occurrences. At Mark 11:13 Jesus approaches a fig tree wondering 'if perhaps' (ara) he would find fruit; at Luke 18:8 the Son of Man wonders whether he will find faith on earth; at Acts 8:22 Peter urges Simon to repent 'if perhaps' God will forgive; and at Acts 17:27 Paul says God arranged history so that people might 'perhaps' reach out and find him. French est-ce-que and Spanish acaso both capture the tentative, questioning tone.