2:1 Now 1 when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2:5 Now there were devout Jews 2 from every nation under heaven residing in Jerusalem. 3
1 tn Grk “And” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic. Greek style often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” but English style does not.
2 tn Grk “Jews, devout men.” It is possible that only men are in view here in light of OT commands for Jewish men to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem at various times during the year (cf. Exod 23:17, 34:23; Deut 16:16). However, other evidence seems to indicate that both men and women might be in view. Luke 2:41-52 shows that whole families would make the temporary trip to Jerusalem. In addition, it is probable that the audience consisted of families who had taken up permanent residence in Jerusalem. The verb κατοικέω (katoikew) normally means “reside” or “dwell,” and archaeological evidence from tombs in Jerusalem does indicate that many families immigrated to Jerusalem permanently (see B. Witherington, Acts, 135); this would naturally include women. Also, the word ἀνήρ (ajnhr), which usually does mean “male” or “man” (as opposed to woman), sometimes is used generically to mean “a person” (BDAG 79 s.v. 2; cf. Matt 12:41). Given this evidence, then, it is conceivable that the audience in view here is not individual male pilgrims but a mixed group of men and women.
3 tn Grk “Now there were residing in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.”
map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
4 tn Or “greatly annoyed,” “provoked.”
5 tn Or “proclaiming.”
6 tn Grk “and.” The context, however, indicates that the conjunction carries an adversative force.
7 sn They were not able to resist. This represents another fulfillment of Luke 12:11-12; 21:15.
8 sn The citizens of Pisidian Antioch were not discouraged by the persecution, but instead were filled with joy.
9 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
10 tn Grk “they said.”
11 tn Grk “a certain Sceva.”
12 sn Within the sequence of the narrative, this amounts to a parenthetical note by the author.
13 tn Grk “These, having gone on ahead, were waiting.” The participle προελθόντες (proelqonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
14 sn Troas was a port city (and surrounding region) on the northwest coast of Asia Minor.
15 tn The participle κραυγαζόντων (kraugazontwn) has been translated temporally.
16 tn Or “outer garments.”
sn Their cloaks. The outer garment, or cloak, was taken off and laid aside to leave the arms free (perhaps in this case as preparation for throwing stones).
17 sn The crowd’s act of tossing dust in the air indicated they had heard something disturbing and offensive. This may have been a symbolic gesture, indicating Paul’s words deserved to be thrown to the wind, or it may have simply resulted from the fact they had nothing else to throw at him at the moment.
18 tn L&N 30.73 defines συνωμοσία (sunwmosia) as “a plan for taking secret action someone or some institution, with the implication of an oath binding the conspirators – ‘conspiracy, plot.’ …‘there were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy’ Ac 23:13.”
19 tn Grk “joined in the attack,” but the adjective “verbal” has been supplied to clarify that this was not another physical assault on Paul. The verb is another NT hapax legomenon (BDAG 969 s.v. συνεπιτίθημι).
20 tn Or “asserting” (BDAG 1050 s.v. φάσκω).
21 tc One early ms (B) and an early version (sa) read “about seventy-six.” For discussion of how this variant probably arose, see F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles, 465.
22 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
23 tn Or “persuaded.”
24 tn Grk “by the things spoken.”
25 sn Some were convinced…but others refused to believe. Once again the gospel caused division among Jews, as in earlier chapters of Acts (13:46; 18:6).