Acts 1:1

I wrote ¹  the former ²  account, ³  Theophilus, ⁴  about all that Jesus began to do and teach

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach

The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,

Dear Theophilus: In my first book I told you about everything Jesus began to do and teach

Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach

I have given an earlier account, O Theophilus, of all the things which Jesus did, and of his teaching from the first,

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

I wrote ¹  the former ²  account, ³  Theophilus, ⁴  about all that Jesus began to do and teach

¹ tn Or “produced,” Grk “made.”

² tn Or “first.” The translation “former” is preferred because “first” could imply to the modern English reader that the author means that his previous account was the first one to be written down. The Greek term πρῶτος (prwtos) does not necessarily mean “first” in an absolute sense, but can refer to the first in a set or series. That is what is intended here – the first account (known as the Gospel of Luke) as compared to the second one (known as Acts).

³ tn The Greek word λόγος (logos) is sometimes translated “book” (NRSV, NIV) or “treatise” (KJV). A formal, systematic treatment of a subject is implied, but the word “book” may be too specific and slightly misleading to the modern reader, so “account” has been used.

sn The former account refers to the Gospel of Luke, which was “volume one” of the two-volume work Luke-Acts.

⁴ tn Grk “O Theophilus,” but the usage of the vocative in Acts with ὦ (w) is unemphatic, following more the classical idiom (see ExSyn 69).