On the next day he got up and set out 16 with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa 17 accompanied him.
26:2 “Regarding all the things I have been accused of by the Jews, King Agrippa, 44 I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today,
1 tn The Greek term here is ἀνήρ (anhr), which only exceptionally is used in a generic sense of both males and females. In this context, where a successor to Judas is being chosen, only men were under consideration in the original historical context.
2 tn Grk “the Lord Jesus went in and out among us.” According to BDAG 294 s.v. εἰσέρχομαι 1.b.β, “ἐν παντὶ χρόνῳ ᾧ εἰσῆλθεν καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς went in and out among us = associated with us Ac 1:21.”
3 tn Or “this noise.”
4 tn Or “was bewildered.”
5 tn Or “who acknowledged the truth of.”
6 tn Grk “word.”
7 tn Grk “souls” (here an idiom for the whole person).
8 tn Or “were won over.”
7 tn Or “things.” They are preaching these things even to the hostile leadership.
8 sn Those who obey. The implication, of course, is that the leadership is disobeying God.
9 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Stephen) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
10 tn Grk “being full,” but the participle ὑπάρχων (Juparcwn) has not been translated since it would be redundant in English.
11 tn Grk “looking intently toward heaven, saw.” The participle ἀτενίσας (atenisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
12 sn The picture of Jesus standing (rather than seated) probably indicates his rising to receive his child. By announcing his vision, Stephen thoroughly offended his audience, who believed no one could share God’s place in heaven. The phrase is a variation on Ps 110:1.
11 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Peter) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
12 tn Or “went forth.”
13 sn Some of the brothers from Joppa. As v. 45 makes clear, there were Jewish Christians in this group of witnesses.
13 tn Grk “And going out he followed.”
14 tn Grk “Peter going out followed him.” The participle ἐξελθών (exelqwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
15 tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
16 tn Grk “what was done through the angel was a reality” (see BDAG 43 s.v. ἀληθής 3).
15 tn Grk “this one”; the referent (Timothy) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
16 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).
17 tn The verb περιέτεμεν (perietemen) here may be understood as causative (cf. ExSyn 411-12) if Paul did not personally perform the circumcision.
18 tn Or “who lived in the area.”
19 tn The anarthrous predicate nominative has been translated as qualitative (“Greek”) rather than indefinite (“a Greek”).
17 tn That is, “the official in charge of the synagogue”; ἀρχισυνάγωγος (arcisunagwgo") refers to the “leader/president of a synagogue” (so BDAG 139 s.v. and L&N 53.93).
18 tn The imperfect verb ἔτυπτον (etupton) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.
19 sn See the note on the term judgment seat in 18:12.
20 tn L&N 25.223 has “‘none of these things were of any concern to Gallio’ Ac 18:17.”
19 tn Grk “For indeed.” The ascensive force of καί (kai) would be awkward to translate here.
20 tn The term translated “rioting” refers to a revolt or uprising (BDAG 940 s.v. στάσις 2, 3). This would threaten Roman rule and invite Roman intervention.
21 tn Or “to account for.” Grk “since there is no cause concerning which we can give account concerning this disorderly gathering.” The complexity of the Greek relative clause (“which”) and the multiple prepositions (“concerning”) have been simplified in the translation consistent with contemporary English style.
22 tn Or “commotion.” BDAG 979 s.v. συστροφή 1 gives the meaning “a tumultuous gathering of people, disorderly/seditious gathering or commotion…Ac 19:40.”
21 tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.
22 sn Sometimes Roman citizenship was purchased through a bribe (Dio Cassius, Roman History 60.17.4-9). That may well have been the case here.
23 tn BDAG 495-96 s.v. καί 2.b has “intensive: even…Ac 5:39; 22:28.”
24 tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
25 tn Grk “Paul said.” This phrase has been placed at the end of the sentence in the translation for stylistic reasons.
23 tn Or “Because I was undecided.” Grk “Being at a loss.” The participle ἀπορούμενος (aporoumeno") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
24 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.’”
25 tn Or “stand trial.”
26 tn Grk “on these things.”
25 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.
27 tn Or “necessary.” BDAG 873-74 s.v. πρός 1 has “πρ. τῆς σωτηρίας in the interest of safety Ac 27:34”; L&N 27.18 has “‘therefore, I urge you to take some food, for this is important for your deliverance’ or ‘…for your survival’ Ac 27:34.”
28 tn Or “deliverance” (‘salvation’ in a nontheological sense).