Discovery BoxActs 1:11 
Context1:11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here 1 looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven 2 will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”
Acts 4:13
Context4:13 When they saw the boldness 3 of Peter and John, and discovered 4 that they were uneducated 5 and ordinary 6 men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus.
Acts 11:19
Context11:19 Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen 7 went as far as 8 Phoenicia, 9 Cyprus, 10 and Antioch, 11 speaking the message 12 to no one but Jews.
Acts 15:7
Context15:7 After there had been much debate, 13 Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago 14 God chose 15 me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message 16 of the gospel 17 and believe. 18
Acts 15:10
Context15:10 So now why are you putting God to the test 19 by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke 20 that neither our ancestors 21 nor we have been able to bear?
Acts 15:20
Context15:20 but that we should write them a letter 22 telling them to abstain 23 from things defiled 24 by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled 25 and from blood.
Acts 16:4
Context16:4 As they went through the towns, 26 they passed on 27 the decrees that had been decided on by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem 28 for the Gentile believers 29 to obey. 30
Acts 18:14
Context18:14 But just as Paul was about to speak, 31 Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or serious piece of villainy, 32 I would have been justified in accepting the complaint 33 of you Jews, 34
Acts 18:25
Context18:25 He had been instructed in 35 the way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm 36 he spoke and taught accurately the facts 37 about Jesus, although he knew 38 only the baptism of John.
Acts 19:21
Context19:21 Now after all these things had taken place, 39 Paul resolved 40 to go to Jerusalem, 41 passing through Macedonia 42 and Achaia. 43 He said, 44 “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 45
Acts 21:21
Context21:21 They have been informed about you – that you teach all the Jews now living 46 among the Gentiles to abandon 47 Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children 48 or live 49 according to our customs.
Acts 22:10
Context22:10 So I asked, 50 ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up 51 and go to Damascus; there you will be told about everything 52 that you have been designated 53 to do.’
Acts 24:2
Context24:2 When Paul 54 had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, 55 saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time 56 of peace through your rule, 57 and reforms 58 are being made in this nation 59 through your foresight. 60
Acts 24:10
Context24:10 When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know 61 that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense. 62
Acts 25:16
Context25:16 I answered them 63 that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone 64 before the accused had met his accusers face to face 65 and had been given 66 an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation. 67
Acts 27:33
Context27:33 As day was about to dawn, 68 Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense 69 and have gone 70 without food; you have eaten nothing. 71
1 tn The word “here” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
2 tc Codex Bezae (D) and several other witnesses lack the words εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν (ei" ton ouranon, “into heaven”) here, most likely by way of accidental deletion. In any event, it is hardly correct to suppose that the Western text has intentionally suppressed references to the ascension of Christ here, for the phrase is solidly attested in the final clause of the verse.
tn Or “into the sky.” The Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) may be translated “sky” (vv. 10, 11a) or “heaven” (twice in v. 11b) depending on the context.
3 tn Or “courage.”
4 tn Or “and found out.”
5 sn Uneducated does not mean “illiterate,” that is, unable to read or write. Among Jews in NT times there was almost universal literacy, especially as the result of widespread synagogue schools. The term refers to the fact that Peter and John had no formal rabbinic training and thus, in the view of their accusers, were not qualified to expound the law or teach publicly. The objection is like Acts 2:7.
6 tn For the translation of ἰδιῶται (idiwtai) as “ordinary men” see L&N 27.26.
7 sn The phrase over Stephen means in connection with Stephen’s death. See Acts 8:1b-3.
8 tn Or “finally reached.” The translations “went as far as” and “finally reached” for διῆλθον (dihlqon) in this verse are given in L&N 15.17.
9 sn Phoenicia was an area along the Mediterranean coast north of Palestine.
10 tn Grk “and Cyprus,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
sn Cyprus was a large island in the Mediterranean off the south coast of Asia Minor.
11 sn Antioch was a city in Syria (not Antioch in Pisidia). This was probably the third largest city in the Greco-Roman world (Alexandria in Egypt was the second largest, and Rome the largest) and was the seat of government in Syria. Five miles away was a major temple to Artemis, Apollo, and Astarte, major pagan deities.
map For location see JP1 F2; JP2 F2; JP3 F2; JP4 F2.
12 tn Grk “word.”
13 tn Or “discussion.” This term is repeated from v. 2.
14 tn Or “long ago” (an idiom, literally “from ancient days”). According to L&N 67.26, “this reference to Peter having been chosen by God sometime before to bring the gospel to the Gentiles can hardly be regarded as a reference to ancient times, though some persons understand this to mean that God’s decision was made at the beginning of time. The usage of ἀφ᾿ ἡμερῶν ἀρχαίων is probably designed to emphasize the established nature of God’s decision for Peter to take the gospel to the Gentiles beginning with the centurion Cornelius. The fact that this was relatively early in the development of the church may also serve to explain the use of the idiom.”
15 sn God chose. The theme of God’s sovereign choice is an important point, because 1st century Jews believed Israel’s unique position and customs were a reflection of God’s choice.
16 tn Or “word.”
17 tn Or “of the good news.”
18 tn Grk “God chose among you from my mouth the Gentiles to hear the message of the gospel and to believe.” The sense of this sentence in Greek is difficult to render in English. The Greek verb ἐκλέγομαι (eklegomai, “choose”) normally takes a person or thing as a direct object; in this verse the verb has neither clearly stated. The translation understands the phrase “from my mouth,” referring to Peter, as a description of both who God chose and the task to be done. This coupled with the following statement about Gentiles hearing the message of the gospel leads to the more dynamic rendering in the translation.
19 tn According to BDAG 793 s.v. πειράζω 2.c, “In Ac 15:10 the πειράζειν τὸν θεόν consists in the fact that after God’s will has been clearly made known through granting of the Spirit to the Gentiles (v. 8), some doubt and make trial to see whether God’s will really becomes operative.” All testing of God in Luke is negative: Luke 4:2; 11:16.
20 sn A yoke is a wooden bar or frame that joins two animals like oxen or horses so that they can pull a wagon, plow, etc. together. Here it is used figuratively of the restriction that some in the early church wanted to place on Gentile converts to Christianity of observing the law of Moses and having males circumcised. The yoke is a decidedly negative image: Matt 23:4, but cf. Matt 11:29-30.
21 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”
22 tn The translation “to write a letter, to send a letter to” for ἐπιστέλλω (epistellw) is given in L&N 33.49.
23 tn Three of the four prohibitions deal with food (the first, third and fourth) while one prohibition deals with behavior (the second, refraining from sexual immorality). Since these occur in the order they do, the translation “abstain from” is used to cover both sorts of activity (eating food items, immoral behavior).
sn Telling them to abstain. These restrictions are not on matters of salvation, but are given as acts of sensitivity to their Jewish brethren, as v. 21 makes clear. Another example of such sensitivity is seen in 1 Cor 10:14-11:1.
24 tn Or “polluted.”
25 sn What has been strangled. That is, to refrain from eating animals that had been killed without having the blood drained from them. According to the Mosaic law (Lev 17:13-14), Jews were forbidden to eat flesh with the blood still in it (note the following provision in Acts 15:20, and from blood).
26 tn Or “cities.”
27 tn BDAG 762-63 s.v. παραδίδωμι 3 has “they handed down to them the decisions to observe Ac 16:4.”
28 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
29 tn Grk “for them”; the referent (Gentile believers) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
30 tn Or “observe” or “follow.”
31 tn Grk “about to open his mouth” (an idiom).
32 tn BDAG 902 s.v. ῥᾳδιούργημα states, “From the sense ‘prank, knavery, roguish trick, slick deed’ it is but a short step to that of a serious misdeed, crime, villainy…a serious piece of villainy Ac 18:14 (w. ἀδίκημα).”
33 tn According to BDAG 78 s.v. ἀνέχω 3 this is a legal technical term: “Legal t.t. κατὰ λόγον ἂν ἀνεσχόμην ὑμῶν I would have been justified in accepting your complaint Ac 18:14.”
34 tn Grk “accepting your complaint, O Jews.”
35 tn Or “had been taught.”
36 tn Grk “and boiling in spirit” (an idiom for great eagerness or enthusiasm; BDAG 426 s.v. ζέω).
37 tn Grk “the things.”
38 tn Grk “knowing”; the participle ἐπιστάμενος (epistameno") has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.
39 tn Grk “all these things had been fulfilled.”
40 tn Grk “Paul purposed in [his] spirit” (an idiom). According to BDAG 1003 s.v. τίθημι 1.b.ε the entire idiom means “to resolve” (or “decide”): “ἔθετο ὁ Παῦλος ἐν τῷ πνεύματι w. inf. foll. Paul resolved 19:21.”
41 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
42 sn Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.
43 sn Achaia was the Roman province of Achaia located across the Aegean Sea from Ephesus. Its principal city was Corinth.
44 tn Grk “Achaia, saying.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the awkwardness in English of having two participial clauses following one another (“passing through…saying”), the participle εἰπών (eipwn) has been translated as a finite verb and a new sentence begun here in the translation.
45 sn This is the first time Paul mentions Rome. He realized the message of Christianity could impact that society even at its heights.
map For location see JP4 A1.
46 tn BDAG 511 s.v. κατά B.1.a has “τοὺς κ. τὰ ἔθνη ᾿Ιουδαίους the Judeans (dispersed) throughout the nations 21:21.” The Jews in view are not those in Palestine, but those who are scattered throughout the Gentile world.
47 tn Or “to forsake,” “to rebel against.” BDAG 120 s.v. ἀποστασία has “ἀποστασίαν διδάσκεις ἀπὸ Μωϋσέως you teach (Judeans) to abandon Moses Ac 21:21.”
sn The charge that Paul was teaching Jews in the Diaspora to abandon Moses was different from the issue faced in Acts 15, where the question was whether Gentiles needed to become like Jews first in order to become Christians. The issue also appears in Acts 24:5-6, 13-21; 25:8.
48 sn That is, not to circumcise their male children. Biblical references to circumcision always refer to male circumcision.
49 tn Grk “or walk.”
50 tn Grk “So I said.”
51 tn Grk “Getting up.” The participle ἀναστάς (anasta") is an adverbial participle of attendant circumstance and has been translated as a finite verb.
52 tn Grk “about all things.”
53 tn Or “assigned,” “ordered.” BDAG 991 s.v. τάσσω 2.a has “act. and pass., foll. by acc. w. inf.…περὶ πάντων ὧν τέτακταί σοι ποιῆσαι concerning everything that you have been ordered to do 22:10.” There is an allusion to a divine call and commission here.
54 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
55 tn Or “began to bring charges, saying.”
56 tn Grk “experienced much peace.”
57 tn Grk “through you” (“rule” is implied).
58 tn This term is used only once in the NT (a hapax legomenon). It refers to improvements in internal administration (BDAG 251 s.v. διόρθωμα).
59 tn Or “being made for this people.”
60 sn References to peaceful rule, reforms, and the governor’s foresight in the opening address by Tertullus represent an attempt to praise the governor and thus make him favorable to the case. Actual descriptions of his rule portray him as inept (Tacitus, Annals 12.54; Josephus, J. W. 2.13.2-7 [2.253-270]).
61 tn Grk “knowing.” The participle ἐπιστάμενος (epistamenos) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
62 sn “Because…defense.” Paul also paid an indirect compliment to the governor, implying that he would be fair in his judgment.
63 tn Grk “to whom I answered.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) has been replaced with a personal pronoun (“them”) and a new sentence started in the translation at the beginning of v. 16.
sn “I answered them.” In the answer that follows, Festus is portrayed in a more positive light, being sensitive to justice and Roman law.
64 tn Grk “any man.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpos).
65 tn Or “has met his accusers in person.”
66 tn Grk “and receives.”
67 tn Or “indictment” (a legal technical term). BDAG 273-74 s.v. ἔγκλημα 1 states, “legal t.t.…ἀπολογία περὶ τοῦ ἐ. defense against the accusation Ac 25:16.” L&N 56.6 defines ἔγκλημα (enklhma) as “(a technical, legal term) a formal indictment or accusation brought against someone – ‘indictment, accusation, case.’ …‘and might receive an opportunity for a defense against the indictment’ Ac 25:16.”
68 tn BDAG 160 s.v. ἄχρι 1.b.α has “ἄ. οὗ ἡμέρα ἤμελλεν γίνεσθαι until the day began to dawn 27:33.”
69 tn Or “have waited anxiously.” Grk “waiting anxiously.” The participle προσδοκῶντες (prosdokwnte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
70 tn Or “continued.”
71 tn Grk “having eaten nothing.” The participle προσλαβόμενοι (proslabomenoi) has been translated as a finite verb (with subject “you” supplied) due to requirements of contemporary English style.
