‘Why do the nations 3 rage, 4
and the peoples plot foolish 5 things?
1 tn Grk “by the mouth of” (an idiom).
2 tn Or “ancestor”; Grk “father.”
3 tn Or “Gentiles.”
4 sn The Greek word translated rage includes not only anger but opposition, both verbal and nonverbal. See L&N 88.185.
5 tn Or “futile”; traditionally, “vain.”
6 tn Or “ability”; Grk “authority.”
7 tn Grk “in whom the evil spirit was.”
8 tn Grk “the man in whom the evil spirit was, jumping on them.” The participle ἐφαλόμενος (efalomeno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. L&N 15.239 has “ἐφαλόμενος ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς ‘the man jumped on them’ Ac 19:16.”
9 tn Grk “and beating them all into submission.” The participle κατακυριεύσας (katakurieusa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. According to W. Foerster, TDNT 3:1098, the word means “the exercise of dominion against someone, i.e., to one’s own advantage.” These exorcists were shown to be powerless in comparison to Jesus who was working through Paul.
10 tn BDAG 484 s.v. ἰσχύω 3 has “win out, prevail…κατά τινος over, against someone Ac 19:16.”