Discovery BoxActs 5:21 
Context5:21 When they heard this, they entered the temple courts 1 at daybreak and began teaching. 2
Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin 3 – that is, the whole high council 4 of the Israelites 5 – and sent to the jail to have the apostles 6 brought before them. 7
Acts 25:11
Context25:11 If then I am in the wrong 8 and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying, 9 but if not one of their charges against me is true, 10 no one can hand me over to them. 11 I appeal to Caesar!” 12
Acts 28:27
Context28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull, 13
and their ears are hard of hearing, 14
and they have closed their eyes,
so that they would not see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
1 tn Grk “the temple.” See the note on the same phrase in the preceding verse.
2 tn The imperfect verb ἐδίδασκον (edidaskon) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.
3 tn Or “the council” (the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
4 tn A hendiadys (two different terms referring to a single thing) is likely here (a reference to a single legislative body rather than two separate ones) because the term γερουσίαν (gerousian) is used in both 1 Macc 12:6 and Josephus, Ant. 13.5.8 (13.166) to refer to the Sanhedrin.
5 tn Grk “sons of Israel.”
6 tn Grk “have them”; the referent (the apostles) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn The words “before them” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
8 tn BDAG 20 s.v. ἀδικέω 1.b has “intr. be in the wrong (Ex 2:13) εἰ ἀδικῶ Ac 25:11.”
9 tn BDAG 764 s.v. παραιτέομαι 2.b.β, “οὐ παραιτοῦμαι τὸ ἀποθανεῖν I am not trying to escape death Ac 25:11 (cp. Jos., Vi. 141).” To avoid redundancy in the translation, the English gerund “dying” is used to translate the Greek infinitive ἀποθανεῖν (apoqanein).
10 tn Or “but if there is nothing to their charges against me.” Both “if” clauses in this verse are first class conditions. Paul stated the options without prejudice, assuming in turn the reality of each for the sake of the argument.
11 sn That is, no one can hand me over to them lawfully. Paul was aware of the dangers of a return to Jerusalem.
12 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
sn The appeal to Caesar was known as the provocatio ad Caesarem. It was a Roman citizen’s right to ask for a direct judgment by the emperor (Pliny the Younger, Letters 10.96). It was one of the oldest rights of Roman citizens.
13 tn Or “insensitive.”
sn The heart of this people has become dull. The charge from Isaiah is like Stephen’s against the Jews of Jerusalem (Acts 7:51-53). They were a hard-hearted and disobedient people.
14 tn Grk “they hear heavily with their ears” (an idiom for slow comprehension).
15 sn Note how the failure to respond to the message of the gospel is seen as a failure to turn.
16 sn A quotation from Isa 6:9-10.
