The Greek word for "inquired" (anakrinō/ekzētein) in Papias carries judicial connotation

The Greek word Papias uses for "inquired" is used most often in judicial contexts to refer to the examination of magistrates and witnesses — a rigorous, careful questioning process. Polybius (Greek historian, 2nd century BC) uses the related noun for a historian's interrogation of eyewitnesses and calls this interrogation "the most important part of history." Papias's language reflects this standard historiographical approach.