Acts 2:4

2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:29

2:29 “Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Acts 4:17

4:17 But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”

Acts 5:40

5:40 and they summoned the apostles and had them beaten. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.

Acts 13:42

13:42 As Paul and Barnabas 10  were going out, 11  the people 12  were urging 13  them to speak about these things 14  on the next Sabbath.

Acts 18:9

18:9 The Lord said to Paul by a vision 15  in the night, 16  “Do not be afraid, 17  but speak and do not be silent,

Acts 19:6

19:6 and when Paul placed 18  his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came 19  upon them, and they began to speak 20  in tongues and to prophesy. 21 

Acts 21:39

21:39 Paul answered, 22  “I am a Jew 23  from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. 24  Please 25  allow me to speak to the people.”

Acts 23:5

23:5 Paul replied, 26  “I did not realize, 27  brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’” 28 

Acts 24:24

Paul Speaks Repeatedly to Felix

24:24 Some days later, when Felix 29  arrived with his wife Drusilla, 30  who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak 31  about faith in Christ Jesus. 32 

Acts 26:1

Paul Offers His Defense

26:1 So Agrippa 33  said to Paul, “You have permission 34  to speak for yourself.” Then Paul held out his hand 35  and began his defense: 36 

Acts 28:20

28:20 So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.” 37 

Acts 28:22

28:22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know 38  that people 39  everywhere speak against 40  it.”


tn Grk “And all.” 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.

tn The Greek term is γλώσσαις (glwssai"), the same word used for the tongues of fire.

sn Other languages. Acts 2:6-7 indicates that these were languages understandable to the hearers, a diverse group from “every nation under heaven.”

tn Grk “just as the spirit gave them to utter.” The verb ἀποφθέγγομαι (apofqengomai) was used of special utterances in Classical Greek (BDAG 125 s.v.).

tn Since this represents a continuation of the address beginning in v.14 and continued in v. 22, “brothers” has been used here rather than a generic expression like “brothers and sisters.”

sn Peter’s certainty is based on well-known facts.

tn Or “about our noted ancestor,” “about the patriarch.”

tn Or “speak no longer.”

sn Had them beaten. The punishment was the “forty lashes minus one,” see also Acts 22:19; 2 Cor 11:24; Mark 13:9. The apostles had disobeyed the religious authorities and took their punishment for their “disobedience” (Deut 25:2-3; m. Makkot 3:10-14). In Acts 4:18 they were warned. Now they are beaten. The hostility is rising as the narrative unfolds.

tn The word “Then” is supplied as the beginning of a new sentence in the translation. The construction in Greek has so many clauses (most of them made up of participles) that a continuous English sentence would be very awkward.

10 tn Grk “they”; the referents (Paul and Barnabas) have been specified in the translation for clarity.

11 tn Or “were leaving.” The participle ἐξιόντων (exiontwn) is taken temporally.

12 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

13 tn Or “begging,” “inviting.”

14 tn Or “matters.”

15 sn Frequently in Acts such a vision will tell the reader where events are headed. See Acts 10:9-16 and 16:9-10 for other accounts of visions.

16 tn BDAG 682 s.v. νύξ 1.c has “W. prep. ἐν ν. at night, in the nightAc 18:9.”

17 tn The present imperative here (with negation) is used (as it normally is) of a general condition (BDF §335).

18 tn Or “laid.”

19 sn The coming of the Holy Spirit here is another case where the Spirit comes and prophesy results in Acts (see Acts 2). Paul’s action parallels that of Peter (Acts 8) and not just with Gentiles.

20 tn The imperfect verb ἐλάλουν (elaloun) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.

21 tn The imperfect verb ἐπροφήτευον (eprofhteuon) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.

22 tn Grk “said.”

23 tn Grk “a Jewish man.”

24 tn Grk “of a not insignificant city.” The double negative, common in Greek, is awkward in English and has been replaced by a corresponding positive expression (BDAG 142 s.v. ἄσημος 1).

25 tn Grk “I beg you.”

26 tn Grk “said.”

27 tn Or “know.”

28 sn A quotation from Exod 22:28. This text defines a form of blasphemy. Paul, aware of the fact that he came close to crossing the line, backed off out of respect for the law.

29 sn See the note on Antonius Felix in 23:24.

30 sn It is possible that Drusilla, being Jewish, was the source of Felix’s knowledge about the new movement called Christianity. The youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I and sister of Agrippa II, she would have been close to 20 years old at the time. She had married the king of a small region in Syria but divorced him at the age of 16 to marry Felix. This was her second marriage and Felix’s third (Josephus, Ant. 19.9.1 [19.354], 20.7.2 [20.141-144]). As a member of Herod’s family, she probably knew about the Way.

31 tn The word “speak” is implied; BDAG 32 s.v. ἀκούω 1.c has “ἤκουσεν αὐτοῦ περὶ τῆςπίστεως he heard him speak about faith Ac 24:24.”

32 tn Or “Messiah Jesus”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

33 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.

34 tn Grk “It is permitted for you.”

35 tn Or “extended his hand” (a speaker’s gesture).

36 tn Or “and began to speak in his own defense.”

37 sn The hope of Israel. A reference to Israel’s messianic hope. Paul’s preaching was in continuity with this Jewish hope (Acts 1:3; 8:12; 14:22; 19:8; 20:25).

38 tn Grk “regarding this sect it is known to us.” The passive construction “it is known to us” has been converted to an active one to simplify the translation.

39 tn Grk “that everywhere it is spoken against.” To simplify the translation the passive construction “it is spoken against” has been converted to an active one with the subject “people” supplied.

40 tn On the term translated “speak against,” see BDAG 89 s.v. ἀντιλέγω 1.