Discovery BoxActs 6:3 
Context6:3 But carefully select from among you, brothers, 1 seven 2 men who are well-attested, 3 full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge 4 of this necessary task. 5
Acts 10:23
Context10:23 So Peter 6 invited them in and entertained them as guests.
On the next day he got up and set out 7 with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa 8 accompanied him.
Acts 13:15
Context13:15 After the reading from the law and the prophets, 9 the leaders of the synagogue 10 sent them a message, 11 saying, “Brothers, 12 if you have any message 13 of exhortation 14 for the people, speak it.” 15
Acts 15:3
Context15:3 So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia 16 and Samaria, they were relating at length 17 the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy 18 to all the brothers.
Acts 15:7
Context15:7 After there had been much debate, 19 Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago 20 God chose 21 me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message 22 of the gospel 23 and believe. 24
Acts 15:22
Context15:22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided 25 to send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, 26 leaders among the brothers, to Antioch 27 with Paul and Barnabas.
Acts 15:36
Context15:36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return 28 and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord 29 to see how they are doing.” 30
Acts 17:6
Context17:6 When they did not find them, they dragged 31 Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, 32 screaming, “These people who have stirred up trouble 33 throughout the world 34 have come here too,
Acts 18:18
Context18:18 Paul, after staying 35 many more days in Corinth, 36 said farewell to 37 the brothers and sailed away to Syria accompanied by 38 Priscilla and Aquila. 39 He 40 had his hair cut off 41 at Cenchrea 42 because he had made a vow. 43
Acts 18:27
Context18:27 When Apollos 44 wanted to cross over to Achaia, 45 the brothers encouraged 46 him 47 and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he 48 assisted greatly those who had believed by grace,
Acts 28:15
Context28:15 The brothers from there, 49 when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius 50 and Three Taverns 51 to meet us. When he saw them, 52 Paul thanked God and took courage.
1 tn It is not clear from a historical standpoint (but it is unlikely) that women would have been involved in the selection process too. For this reason the translation “brothers” has been retained, rather than “brothers and sisters” (used in contexts where both male and female believers are clearly addressed).
2 sn Seven. Jewish town councils often had seven members (Josephus, Ant. 4.18.14 [4.214]).
3 tn Or “are of good reputation” (BDAG 618 s.v. μαρτυρέω 2.b).
4 tn The translation “put in charge” is given by BDAG 492 s.v. καθίστημι 2.
5 tn Grk “of this need”; translated “necessary work” or “needed task” by L&N 42.22.
6 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Peter) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
sn When Peter entertained them as guests, he performed a culturally significant act denoting acceptance.
7 tn Or “went forth.”
8 sn Some of the brothers from Joppa. As v. 45 makes clear, there were Jewish Christians in this group of witnesses.
9 sn After the reading from the law and the prophets. In the 1st century Jewish synagogue, it was customary after the reading of the Torah (law) and prophets for men to give exhortation from the scriptures.
10 tn Normally ἀρχισυνάγωγος (arcisunagwgo") refers to the “president of a synagogue” (so BDAG 139 s.v. and L&N 53.93). Since the term is plural here, however, and it would sound strange to the English reader to speak of “the presidents of the synagogue,” the alternative translation “leaders” is used. “Rulers” would also be acceptable, but does not convey quite the same idea.
11 tn Grk “sent to them”; the word “message” is an understood direct object. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
12 tn Grk “Men brothers,” but this is both awkward and unnecessary in English.
13 tn Or “word.”
14 tn Or “encouragement.”
15 tn Or “give it.”
16 sn Phoenicia was an area along the Mediterranean coast north of Palestine in ancient Syria.
17 tn L&N 33.201 indicates that ἐκδιηγέομαι (ekdihgeomai) means to provide detailed information in a systematic manner, “to inform, to relate, to tell fully.” “Relating at length” conveys this effectively in the present context.
18 tn For ἐποίουν (epoioun) in this verse BDAG 839 s.v. ποιέω 2.c has “they brought joy to the members.”
19 tn Or “discussion.” This term is repeated from v. 2.
20 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.”
21 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.
22 tn Or “word.”
23 tn Or “of the good news.”
24 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.
25 tn BDAG 255 s.v. δοκέω 2.b.β lists this verse under the meaning “it seems best to me, I decide, I resolve.”
26 sn Silas. See 2 Cor 1:19; 1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1 (= Silvanus).
27 sn Antioch was a city in Syria (not Antioch in Pisidia).
map For location see JP1 F2; JP2 F2; JP3 F2; JP4 F2.
28 tn Grk “Returning let us visit.” The participle ἐπιστρέψαντες (epistreyante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
29 tn See the note on the phrase “word of the Lord” in v. 35.
30 tn BDAG 422 s.v. ἔχω 10.b has “how they are” for this phrase.
31 tn See BDAG 977-78 s.v. σύρω on this verb. It was used in everyday speech of dragging in fish by a net, or dragging away someone’s (presumably) dead body (Paul in Acts 14:19).
32 tn L&N 37.93 defines πολιτάρχης (politarch") as “a public official responsible for administrative matters within a town or city and a member of the ruling council of such a political unit – ‘city official’” (see also BDAG 845 s.v.).
33 tn Or “rebellion.” BDAG 72 s.v. ἀναστατόω has “disturb, trouble, upset,” but in light of the references in the following verse to political insurrection, “stirred up rebellion” would also be appropriate.
34 tn Or “the empire.” This was a way of referring to the Roman empire (BDAG 699 s.v. οἰκουμένη 2.b).
sn Throughout the world. Note how some of those present had knowledge of what had happened elsewhere. Word about Paul and his companions and their message was spreading.
35 tn The participle προσμείνας (prosmeina") is taken temporally.
36 map For location see JP1 C2; JP2 C2; JP3 C2; JP4 C2.
37 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.
38 tn Grk “Syria, and with him.”
39 sn See the note on Aquila in 18:2.
40 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.
41 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).
42 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.
43 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.
44 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Apollos) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
45 sn To cross over to Achaia. Achaia was organized by the Romans as a separate province in 27
46 tn Grk “encouraging [him], the brothers wrote.” The participle προτρεψάμενοι (protreyamenoi) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. This was the typical letter of commendation from the Ephesians to the Achaeans.
47 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.
48 tn Grk “who, when he arrived.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“who”) was replaced with the pronoun “he” and a new sentence begun in the translation.
49 sn Mention of Christian brothers from there (Rome) shows that God’s message had already spread as far as Italy and the capital of the empire.
50 sn The Forum of Appius was a small traveler’s stop on the Appian Way about 43 mi (71 km) south of Rome (BDAG 125 s.v. ᾿Αππίου φόρον). It was described by Horace as “crammed with boatmen and stingy tavernkeepers” (Satires 1.5.3).
51 sn Three Taverns was a stop on the Appian Way 33 mi (55 km) south of Rome.
52 tn Grk “whom, when he saw [them], Paul.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced by the personal pronoun (“them”) and a new sentence begun here in the translation.
