8:26 Then an angel of the Lord 1 said to Philip, 2 “Get up and go south 3 on the road that goes down from Jerusalem 4 to Gaza.” (This is a desert 5 road.) 6
1 tn Or “the angel of the Lord.” See the note on the word “Lord” in 5:19.
2 tn Grk “Lord spoke to Philip, saying.” The redundant participle λέγων (legwn) has not been translated.
3 tn Or “Get up and go about noon.” The phrase κατὰ μεσημβρίαν (kata meshmbrian) can be translated either “about noon” (L&N 67.74) or “toward the south” (L&N 82.4). Since the angel’s command appears to call for immediate action (“Get up”) and would not therefore need a time indicator, a directional reference (“toward the south”) is more likely here.
4 map For the location of Jerusalem see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
5 tn Or “wilderness.”
6 tn The words “This is a desert road” are probably best understood as a comment by the author of Acts, but it is possible they form part of the angel’s speech to Philip, in which case the verse would read: “Get up and go south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza – the desert road.”
sn The concluding note about the road appears to be a parenthetical note by the author.