Acts 2:39

2:39 For the promise ¹  is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”

Acts 13:6

13:6 When they had crossed over ²  the whole island as far as Paphos, ³  they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus, ⁴ 

Acts 17:27

17:27 so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around ⁵  for him and find him, ⁶  though he is ⁷  not far from each one of us.

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¹ sn The promise refers to the promise of the Holy Spirit that Jesus received from the Father in 2:33 and which he now pours out on others. The promise consists of the Holy Spirit (see note in 2:33). Jesus is the active mediator of God’s blessing.

² tn Or “had passed through,” “had traveled through.”

³ sn Paphos. A city on the southwestern coast of the island of Cyprus. It was the seat of the Roman proconsul.

⁴ sn Named Bar-Jesus. “Jesus” is the Latin form of the name “Joshua.” The Aramaic “bar” means “son of,” so this man was surnamed “son of Joshua.” The scene depicts the conflict between Judaism and the emerging new faith at a cosmic level, much like the Simon Magus incident in Acts 8:9-24. Paul’s ministry looks like Philip’s and Peter’s here.

⁵ tn See BDAG 1097-98 s.v. ψηλαφάω, which lists “touch, handle” and “to feel around for, grope for” as possible meanings.

⁶ sn Perhaps grope around for him and find him. The pagans’ struggle to know God is the point here. Conscience alone is not good enough.

⁷ tn The participle ὑπάρχοντα (Juparconta) has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.