Discovery BoxActs 13:24-28 
Context13:24 Before 1 Jesus 2 arrived, John 3 had proclaimed a baptism for repentance 4 to all the people of Israel. 13:25 But while John was completing his mission, 5 he said repeatedly, 6 ‘What do you think I am? I am not he. But look, one is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet!’ 7 13:26 Brothers, 8 descendants 9 of Abraham’s family, 10 and those Gentiles among you who fear God, 11 the message 12 of this salvation has been sent to us. 13:27 For the people who live in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize 13 him, 14 and they fulfilled the sayings 15 of the prophets that are read every Sabbath by condemning 16 him. 17 13:28 Though 18 they found 19 no basis 20 for a death sentence, 21 they asked Pilate to have him executed.
1 tn Grk “John having already proclaimed before his coming a baptism…,” a genitive absolute construction which is awkward in English. A new sentence was begun in the translation at this point.
2 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the context for clarity, since God is mentioned in the preceding context and John the Baptist in the following clause.
3 sn John refers here to John the Baptist.
4 tn Grk “a baptism of repentance”; the genitive has been translated as a genitive of purpose.
5 tn Or “task.”
6 tn The verb ἔλεγεν (elegen) has been translated as an iterative imperfect, since John undoubtedly said this or something similar on numerous occasions.
7 tn Literally a relative clause, “of whom I am not worthy to untie the sandals of his feet.” Because of the awkwardness of this construction in English, a new sentence was begun here.
8 tn Grk “Men brothers,” but this is both awkward and unnecessary in English.
9 tn Grk “sons”
10 tn Or “race.”
11 tn Grk “and those among you who fear God,” but this is practically a technical term for the category called God-fearers, Gentiles who worshiped the God of Israel and in many cases kept the Mosaic law, but did not take the final step of circumcision necessary to become a proselyte to Judaism. See further K. G. Kuhn, TDNT 6:732-34, 743-44. Note how Paul includes God-fearing Gentiles as recipients of this promise.
12 tn Grk “word.”
13 tn BDAG 12-13 s.v. ἀγνοέω 1.b gives “not to know w. acc. of pers.” as the meaning here, but “recognize” is a better translation in this context because recognition of the true identity of the one they condemned is the issue. See Acts 2:22-24; 4:26-28.
14 tn Grk “this one.”
15 tn Usually φωνή (fwnh) means “voice,” but BDAG 1071-72 s.v. φωνή 2.c has “Also of sayings in scripture…Ac 13:27.”
sn They fulfilled the sayings. The people in Jerusalem and the Jewish rulers should have known better, because they had the story read to them weekly in the synagogue.
16 tn The participle κρίναντες (krinante") is instrumental here.
17 tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
18 tn Grk “And though.” 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.
19 tn The participle εὑρόντες (Jeuronte") has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.
20 sn No basis. Luke insists on Jesus’ innocence again and again in Luke 23:1-25.
21 tn Grk “no basis for death,” but in this context a sentence of death is clearly indicated.
