Acts 1:16-21

1:16 “Brothers, ¹  the scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through ²  David concerning Judas – who became the guide for those who arrested Jesus – 1:17 for he was counted as one of us and received a share in this ministry.” ³  1:18 (Now this man Judas ⁴  acquired a field with the reward of his unjust deed, ⁵  and falling headfirst ⁶  he burst open in the middle and all his intestines ⁷  gushed out. 1:19 This ⁸  became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so that in their own language ⁹  they called that field ¹⁰  Hakeldama, that is, “Field of Blood.”) 1:20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his house become deserted, ¹¹  and let there be no one to live in it,’ ¹²  and ‘Let another take his position of responsibility.’ ¹³  1:21 Thus one of the men ¹⁴  who have accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus associated with ¹⁵  us,

---

¹ tn Grk “Men brothers.” In light of the compound phrase ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί (andre" adelfoi, “Men brothers”) Peter’s words are best understood as directly addressed to the males present, possibly referring specifically to the twelve (really ten at this point – eleven minus the speaker, Peter) mentioned by name in v. 13.

² tn Grk “foretold by the mouth of.”

³ tn Or “and was chosen to have a share in this ministry.” The term λαγχάνω (lancanw) here and in 2 Pet 1:1 can be understood as referring to the process of divine choice and thus be translated, “was chosen to have.”

⁴ tn The referent of “this man” (Judas) was specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn Traditionally, “with the reward of his wickedness.”

⁶ tn Traditionally, “falling headlong.”

⁷ tn Or “all his bowels.”

⁸ tn Grk “And this.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

⁹ sn Their own language refers to Aramaic, the primary language spoken in Palestine in Jesus’ day.

¹⁰ tn Grk “that field was called.” The passive voice has been converted to active in the translation in keeping with contemporary English style.

¹¹ tn Or “uninhabited” or “empty.”

¹² sn A quotation from Ps 69:25.

¹³ tn Or “Let another take his office.”

sn A quotation from Ps 109:8.

¹⁴ tn The Greek term here is ἀνήρ (anhr), which only exceptionally is used in a generic sense of both males and females. In this context, where a successor to Judas is being chosen, only men were under consideration in the original historical context.

¹⁵ tn Grk “the Lord Jesus went in and out among us.” According to BDAG 294 s.v. εἰσέρχομαι 1.b.β, “ἐν παντὶ χρόνῳ ᾧ εἰσῆλθεν καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς went in and out among us = associated with us Ac 1:21.”