Discovery BoxActs 4:21 
Context4:21 After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising 1 God for what had happened.
Acts 5:38
Context5:38 So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people, 2 it will come to nothing, 3
Acts 6:1
Context6:1 Now in those 4 days, when the disciples were growing in number, 5 a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews 6 against the native Hebraic Jews, 7 because their widows 8 were being overlooked 9 in the daily distribution of food. 10
Acts 9:26
Context9:26 When he arrived in Jerusalem, 11 he attempted to associate 12 with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe 13 that he was a disciple.
Acts 10:38
Context10:38 with respect to Jesus from Nazareth, 14 that 15 God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. He 16 went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, 17 because God was with him. 18
Acts 11:19
Context11:19 Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen 19 went as far as 20 Phoenicia, 21 Cyprus, 22 and Antioch, 23 speaking the message 24 to no one but Jews.
Acts 16:3
Context16:3 Paul wanted Timothy 25 to accompany him, and he took 26 him and circumcised 27 him because of the Jews who were in those places, 28 for they all knew that his father was Greek. 29
Acts 16:27
Context16:27 When the jailer woke up 30 and saw the doors of the prison standing open, 31 he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, 32 because he assumed 33 the prisoners had escaped.
Acts 17:31
Context17:31 because he has set 34 a day on which he is going to judge the world 35 in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, 36 having provided proof to everyone by raising 37 him from the dead.”
Acts 18:2
Context18:2 There he 38 found 39 a Jew named Aquila, 40 a native of Pontus, 41 who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius 42 had ordered all the Jews to depart from 43 Rome. 44 Paul approached 45 them,
Acts 18:18
Context18:18 Paul, after staying 46 many more days in Corinth, 47 said farewell to 48 the brothers and sailed away to Syria accompanied by 49 Priscilla and Aquila. 50 He 51 had his hair cut off 52 at Cenchrea 53 because he had made a vow. 54
Acts 19:33
Context19:33 Some of the crowd concluded 55 it was about 56 Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. 57 Alexander, gesturing 58 with his hand, was wanting to make a defense 59 before the public assembly. 60
Acts 20:3
Context20:3 where he stayed 61 for three months. Because the Jews had made 62 a plot 63 against him as he was intending 64 to sail 65 for Syria, he decided 66 to return through Macedonia. 67
Acts 20:7
Context20:7 On the first day 68 of the week, when we met 69 to break bread, Paul began to speak 70 to the people, and because he intended 71 to leave the next day, he extended 72 his message until midnight.
Acts 21:3
Context21:3 After we sighted Cyprus 73 and left it behind on our port side, 74 we sailed on to Syria and put in 75 at Tyre, 76 because the ship was to unload its cargo there.
Acts 21:34
Context21:34 But some in the crowd shouted one thing, and others something else, 77 and when the commanding officer 78 was unable 79 to find out the truth 80 because of the disturbance, 81 he ordered Paul 82 to be brought into the barracks. 83
Acts 23:18
Context23:18 So the centurion 84 took him and brought him to the commanding officer 85 and said, “The prisoner Paul called 86 me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”
Acts 23:27
Context23:27 This man was seized 87 by the Jews and they were about to kill him, 88 when I came up 89 with the detachment 90 and rescued him, because I had learned that he was 91 a Roman citizen. 92
Acts 24:10
Context24:10 When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know 93 that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense. 94
Acts 25:20
Context25:20 Because I was at a loss 95 how I could investigate these matters, 96 I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried 97 there on these charges. 98
Acts 26:5
Context26:5 They know, 99 because they have known 100 me from time past, 101 if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party 102 of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. 103
Acts 26:11
Context26:11 I punished 104 them often in all the synagogues 105 and tried to force 106 them to blaspheme. Because I was so furiously enraged 107 at them, I went to persecute 108 them even in foreign cities.
Acts 26:26
Context26:26 For the king knows about these things, and I am speaking freely 109 to him, 110 because I cannot believe 111 that any of these things has escaped his notice, 112 for this was not done in a corner. 113
Acts 27:7
Context27:7 We sailed slowly 114 for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus. 115 Because the wind prevented us from going any farther, 116 we sailed under the lee 117 of Crete off Salmone. 118
Acts 28:3
Context28:3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood 119 and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.
1 tn Or “glorifying.”
2 tn Here ἀνθρώπων (anqrwpwn) has been translated as a generic noun (“people”).
3 tn Or “it will be put to an end.”
4 tn Grk “these.” The translation uses “those” for stylistic reasons.
5 tn Grk “were multiplying.”
6 tn Grk “the Hellenists,” but this descriptive term is largely unknown to the modern English reader. The translation “Greek-speaking Jews” attempts to convey something of who these were, but it was more than a matter of language spoken; it involved a degree of adoption of Greek culture as well.
sn The Greek-speaking Jews were the Hellenists, Jews who to a greater or lesser extent had adopted Greek thought, customs, and lifestyle, as well as the Greek language. The city of Alexandria in Egypt was a focal point for them, but they were scattered throughout the Roman Empire.
7 tn Grk “against the Hebrews,” but as with “Hellenists” this needs further explanation for the modern reader.
8 sn The care of widows is a major biblical theme: Deut 10:18; 16:11, 14; 24:17, 19-21; 26:12-13; 27:19; Isa 1:17-23; Jer 7:6; Mal 3:5.
9 tn Or “neglected.”
10 tn Grk “in the daily serving.”
sn The daily distribution of food. The early church saw it as a responsibility to meet the basic needs of people in their group.
11 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
12 tn Or “join.”
13 tn The participle πιστεύοντες (pisteuonte") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
14 sn The somewhat awkward naming of Jesus as from Nazareth here is actually emphatic. He is the key subject of these key events.
15 tn Or “how.” The use of ὡς (Jws) as an equivalent to ὅτι (Joti) to introduce indirect or even direct discourse is well documented. BDAG 1105 s.v. ὡς 5 lists Acts 10:28 in this category.
16 tn Grk “power, who.” The relative pronoun was replaced by the pronoun “he,” and a new sentence was begun in the translation at this point to improve the English style, due to the length of the sentence in Greek.
17 tn The translation “healing all who were oppressed by the devil” is given in L&N 22.22.
sn All who were oppressed by the devil. Note how healing is tied to the cosmic battle present in creation. Christ’s power overcomes the devil and his forces, which seek to destroy humanity.
19 sn The phrase over Stephen means in connection with Stephen’s death. See Acts 8:1b-3.
20 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.
21 sn Phoenicia was an area along the Mediterranean coast north of Palestine.
22 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.
23 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.
24 tn Grk “word.”
25 tn Grk “this one”; the referent (Timothy) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
26 tn Grk “and taking him he circumcised him.” The participle λαβών (labwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. Paul’s cultural sensitivity showed in his action here. He did not want Timothy’s lack of circumcision to become an issue (1 Cor 9:15-23).
27 tn The verb περιέτεμεν (perietemen) here may be understood as causative (cf. ExSyn 411-12) if Paul did not personally perform the circumcision.
28 tn Or “who lived in the area.”
29 tn The anarthrous predicate nominative has been translated as qualitative (“Greek”) rather than indefinite (“a Greek”).
sn His father was Greek. Under Jewish law at least as early as the 2nd century, a person was considered Jewish if his or her mother was Jewish. It is not certain whether such a law was in effect in the 1st century, but even if it was, Timothy would not have been accepted as fully Jewish because he was not circumcised.
30 tn L&N 23.75 has “had awakened” here. It is more in keeping with contemporary English style, however, to keep the two verbal ideas parallel in terms of tense (“when the jailer woke up and saw”) although logically the second action is subsequent to the first.
31 tn The additional semantic component “standing” is supplied (“standing open”) to convey a stative nuance in English.
32 sn Was about to kill himself. The jailer’s penalty for failing to guard the prisoners would have been death, so he contemplated saving the leaders the trouble (see Acts 12:19; 27:42).
33 tn Or “thought.”
34 tn Or “fixed.”
35 sn The world refers to the whole inhabited earth.
36 tn Or “appointed.” BDAG 723 s.v. ὁρίζω 2.b has “of persons appoint, designate, declare: God judges the world ἐν ἀνδρὶ ᾧ ὥρισεν through a man whom he has appointed Ac 17:31.”
sn A man whom he designated. Jesus is put in the position of eschatological judge. As judge of the living and the dead, he possesses divine authority (Acts 10:42).
37 tn The participle ἀναστήσας (anasthsa") indicates means here.
38 tn Grk “And he.” 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. The word “there” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
39 tn Grk “finding.” The participle εὑρών (Jeurwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
40 sn On Aquila and his wife Priscilla see also Acts 18:18, 26; Rom 16:3-4; 1 Cor 16:19; 2 Tim 4:19. In the NT “Priscilla” and “Prisca” are the same person. This author uses the full name Priscilla, while Paul uses the diminutive form Prisca.
41 sn Pontus was a region in the northeastern part of Asia Minor. It was a Roman province.
42 sn Claudius refers to the Roman emperor Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus, known as Claudius, who ruled from
43 tn Or “to leave.”
44 map For location see JP4 A1.
45 tn Or “went to.”
46 tn The participle προσμείνας (prosmeina") is taken temporally.
47 map For location see JP1 C2; JP2 C2; JP3 C2; JP4 C2.
48 tn Or “Corinth, took leave of.” Grk “saying farewell to”; the participle ἀποταξάμενος (apotaxameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
49 tn Grk “Syria, and with him.”
50 sn See the note on Aquila in 18:2.
51 tn Or “Aquila, who.” The relationship of the participle κειράμενος (keirameno") is difficult to determine. Traditionally it is taken to refer to Paul, meaning that Paul had his hair cut off because of the vow. However, due to the proximity of the noun ᾿Ακύλας (Akula") and the reversal of the normal order (Aquila and Priscilla, Acts 17:34), the participle is taken as adjectival referring to Aquila by H. Greeven, TDNT 2:777, n. 11. The later references to Paul in Jerusalem (Acts 21:23) do not resolve the problem, because the cutting of Paul’s own hair, while it may be implied, is not specifically mentioned in connection with the completion of the vows made by the other four.
52 tn The word “off” is supplied in the translation to indicate that this was not a normal haircut, but the shaving of the head connected with taking the vow (see Acts 21:24).
53 tn That is, “before he sailed from Cenchrea.”
sn Cenchrea was one of the seaports for the city of Corinth, on the eastern side of the Isthmus of Corinth, on the Aegean Sea. It was 7 mi (11 km) east of Corinth.
54 sn He had made a vow. It is debated whether this vow is a private vow of thanksgiving or the Nazirite vow, because it is not clear whether the Nazirite vow could be taken outside Jerusalem. Some have cited the Mishnah (m. Nazir 3:6, 5:4) to argue that the shaving of the hair can occur outside Jerusalem, and Josephus, J. W. 2.15.1 (2.313) is sometimes suggested as a parallel, but these references are not clear. H. Greeven, TDNT 2:777, is certain that this refers to the Nazirite vow. Regardless, it is clear that Paul reflected his pious dependence on God.
55 tn Or “Some of the crowd gave instructions to.”
56 tn The words “it was about” are not in the Greek text but are implied; ᾿Αλέξανδρον (Alexandron) is taken to be an accusative of general reference.
57 tn BDAG 865 s.v. προβάλλω 1 has “to cause to come forward, put forward…τινά someone…push someone forward to speak in the theater…Ac 19:33.”
58 tn Or “motioning.”
59 sn The nature of Alexander’s defense is not clear. It appears he was going to explain, as a Jew, that the problem was not caused by Jews, but by those of “the Way.” However, he never got a chance to speak.
60 tn Or “before the crowd.” According to BDAG 223 s.v. δῆμος 2, “in a Hellenistic city, a convocation of citizens called together for the purpose of transacting official business, popular assembly…ἀπολογεῖσθαι τῷ δ. make a defense before the assembly vs. 33.”
61 tn BDAG 841 s.v. ποιέω 5.c, “w. an acc. of time spend, stay.”
62 tn The participle βενομένης (benomenh") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle. L&N 30.71 has “ἐπιβουλῆς αὐτῷ ὑπὸ τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων ‘because the Jews had made a plot against him’ Ac 20:3.”
63 sn This plot is one of several noted by Luke (Acts 9:20; 20:19; 23:30).
64 tn BDAG 628 s.v. μέλλω 1.c.γ has “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind…Ac 17:31; 20:3, 7, 13ab; 23:15; 26:2; 27:30.”
65 tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4 gives “put out to sea” here (as a nautical technical term). However, since the English expression “put out to sea” could be understood to mean Paul was already aboard the ship (which is not clear from the context), the simpler expression “sail” is used at this point in the translation.
66 tn BDAG 199 s.v. γίνομαι 7 has “ἐγένετο γνώμης he decided Ac 20:3.”
67 sn Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.
68 sn On the first day. This is the first mention of a Sunday gathering (1 Cor 16:2).
69 tn Or “assembled.”
70 tn The verb διαλέγομαι (dialegomai) is frequently used of Paul addressing Jews in the synagogue. As G. Schrenk (TDNT 2:94-95) points out, “What is at issue is the address which any qualified member of a synagogue might give.” Other examples of this may be found in the NT in Matt 4:23 and Mark 1:21. In the context of a Christian gathering, it is preferable to translate διελέγετο (dielegeto) simply as “speak” here. The imperfect verb διελέγετο has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.
71 tn BDAG 628 s.v. μέλλω 1.c.γ has “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind…Ac 17:31; 20:3, 7, 13ab; 23:15; 26:2; 27:30.”
72 tn Or “prolonged.”
73 sn Cyprus is a large island in the Mediterranean off the south coast of Asia Minor.
74 sn The expression left it behind on our port side here means “sailed past to the south of it” since the ship was sailing east.
75 tn BDAG 531 s.v. κατέρχομαι 2 states, “arrive, put in, nautical t.t. of ships and those who sail in them, who ‘come down’ fr. the ‘high seas’…ἔις τι at someth. a harbor 18:22; 21:3; 27:5.”
76 sn Tyre was a city and seaport on the coast of Phoenicia. From Patara to Tyre was about 400 mi (640 km). It required a large cargo ship over 100 ft (30 m) long, and was a four to five day voyage.
map For location see Map1 A2; Map2 G2; Map4 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
77 tn L&N 33.77 has “ἄλλοι δὲ ἄλλο τι ἐπεφώνουν ἐν τῷ ὄχλῳ ‘some in the crowd shouted one thing; others, something else’ Ac 21:34.”
78 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the commanding officer) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
79 tn This genitive absolute construction has been translated temporally; it could also be taken causally: “and since the commanding officer was unable to find out the truth.”
80 tn Or “find out what had happened”; Grk “the certainty” (BDAG 147 s.v. ἀσφαλής 2).
81 tn Or “clamor,” “uproar” (BDAG 458 s.v. θόρυβος).
82 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
83 tn Or “the headquarters.” BDAG 775 s.v. παρεμβολή 2 has “barracks/headquarters of the Roman troops in Jerusalem Ac 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32.”
84 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the centurion) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
85 tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 10.
86 tn Grk “calling.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
87 tn The participle συλλημφθέντα (sullhmfqenta) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. The remark reviews events of Acts 21:27-40.
88 tn Grk “and was about to be killed by them.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation for stylistic reasons.
89 tn Or “approached.”
90 tn Normally this term means “army,” but according to BDAG 947 s.v. στράτευμα, “Of a smaller detachment of soldiers, sing. Ac 23:10, 27.” In the plural it can be translated “troops,” but it is singular here.
91 tn In Greek this is a present tense retained in indirect discourse.
92 tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
sn The letter written by the Roman commander Claudius Lysias was somewhat self-serving. He made it sound as if the rescue of a Roman citizen had been a conscious act on his part. In fact, he had made the discovery of Paul’s Roman citizenship somewhat later. See Acts 21:37-39 and 22:24-29.
93 tn Grk “knowing.” The participle ἐπιστάμενος (epistamenos) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
94 sn “Because…defense.” Paul also paid an indirect compliment to the governor, implying that he would be fair in his judgment.
95 tn Or “Because I was undecided.” Grk “Being at a loss.” The participle ἀπορούμενος (aporoumeno") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
96 tn L&N 27.34 states, “ἀπορούμενος δὲ ἐγὼ τὴν περὶ τούτων ζήτησιν ‘I was undecided about how I could get information on these matters’ Ac 25:20. The clause ‘about how I could get information on these matters’ may also be rendered as ‘about how I should try to find out about these matters’ or ‘about how I could learn about these matters.’”
97 tn Or “stand trial.”
98 tn Grk “on these things.”
99 tn These words are repeated from v. 4 (“all the Jews know”). Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, it was necessary to begin a new sentence at the beginning of v. 5 in the translation, but for this to make sense, the main verb ἵσασι ({isasi) has to be repeated to connect with the ὅτι (Joti) clause (indirect discourse) in v. 5.
100 tn Grk “having known me from time past.” The participle προγινώσκοντες (proginwskonte") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
101 tn BDAG 866 s.v. προγινώσκω 2 has “Know from time past…προγινώσκοντές με ἄνωθεν Ac 26:5.” L&N 28.6 states, “‘they have already known me beforehand, if they are willing to testify’ Ac 26:5.”
102 tn That is, strictest religious party. “Party” alone is used in the translation because “the strictest religious party of our religion” would be redundant.
103 sn See the note on Pharisee in 5:34.
104 tn Grk “and punishing…I tried.” The participle τιμωρῶν (timwrwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 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.
105 sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.
106 tn The imperfect verb ἠνάγκαζον (hnankazon) has been translated as a conative imperfect (so BDAG 60 s.v. ἀναγκάζω 1, which has “ἠνάγκαζον βλασφημεῖν I tried to force them to blaspheme Ac 26:11”).
107 tn Or “was so insanely angry with them.” BDAG 322 s.v. ἐμμαίνομαι states, “to be filled with such anger that one appears to be mad, be enraged…περισσῶς ἐμμαινόμενος αὐτοῖς being furiously enraged at them Ac 26:11”; L&N 88.182 s.v. ἐμμαίνομαι, “to be so furiously angry with someone as to be almost out of one’s mind – ‘to be enraged, to be infuriated, to be insanely angry’ …‘I was so infuriated with them that I even went to foreign cities to persecute them’ Ac 26:11.”
108 tn Or “I pursued them even as far as foreign cities.”
109 tn BDAG 782 s.v. παρρησιάζομαι 1 states, “speak freely, openly, fearlessly…likew. in the ptc. w. a verb of saying foll.…παρρησιασάμενοι εἶπαν 13:46. – 26:26.” This could refer to boldness in speaking here.
110 tn Grk “to whom I am speaking freely.” The relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced by the personal pronoun (“him”) to simplify the translation.
111 tn Grk “I cannot convince myself.” BDAG 792 s.v. πείθω 3.a states, “οὐ πείθομαι w. acc. and inf. I cannot believe Ac 26:26” (see also BDAG 586 s.v. λανθάνω).
112 tn BDAG 586 s.v. λανθάνω states, “λανθάνειν αὐτὸν τούτων οὐ πείθομαι οὐθέν I cannot bring myself to believe that any of these things has escaped his notice Ac 26:26.”
113 tn This term refers to a hidden corner (BDAG 209 s.v. γωνία). Paul’s point is that these events to which he refers were not done in a secret, hidden place, tucked away outside of view. They were done in public for all the world to see.
114 tn The participle βραδυπλοοῦντες (braduploounte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
115 sn Cnidus was the name of a peninsula on the southwestern coast of Asia Minor. This was about 130 mi (210 km) from Myra.
116 tn This genitive absolute construction with προσεῶντος (prosewnto") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle. L&N 13.139 translates the phrase μὴ προσεῶντος ἡμᾶς τοῦ ἀνέμου (mh prosewnto" Jhma" tou anemou) as “the wind would not let us go any farther.”
117 tn BDAG 1040 s.v. ὑποπλέω states, “sail under the lee of an island, i.e. in such a way that the island protects the ship fr. the wind Ac 27:4, 7.”
118 sn Salmone was the name of a promontory on the northeastern corner of the island of Crete. This was about 100 mi (160 km) farther along.
119 tn Or “sticks.”
