Acts 2:18

2:18 Even on my servants, ¹  both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. ² 

Acts 2:34

2:34 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says,

‘The Lord said to my lord,

“Sit ³  at my right hand

Acts 9:15

9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument ⁴  to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. ⁵ 

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¹ tn Grk “slaves.” Although this translation frequently renders δοῦλος (doulos) as “slave,” the connotation is often of one who has sold himself into slavery; in a spiritual sense, the idea is that of becoming a slave of God or of Jesus Christ voluntarily. The voluntary notion is not conspicuous here; hence, the translation “servants.” In any case, the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.

² sn The words and they will prophesy in Acts 2:18 are not quoted from Joel 2:29 at this point but are repeated from earlier in the quotation (Acts 2:17) for emphasis. Tongues speaking is described as prophecy, just like intelligible tongues are described in 1 Cor 14:26-33.

³ sn Sit at my right hand. The word “sit” alludes back to the promise of “seating one on his throne” in v. 30.

⁴ tn Or “tool.”

⁵ tn Grk “the sons of Israel.” In Acts, Paul is a minister to all nations, including Israel (Rom 1:16-17).