Acts 17:1--19:41

Paul and Silas at Thessalonica

17:1 After they traveled through ¹  Amphipolis ²  and Apollonia, ³  they came to Thessalonica, ⁴  where there was a Jewish synagogue. ⁵  17:2 Paul went to the Jews in the synagogue, ⁶  as he customarily did, and on three Sabbath days he addressed ⁷  them from the scriptures, 17:3 explaining and demonstrating ⁸  that the Christ ⁹  had to suffer and to rise from the dead, ¹⁰  saying, ¹¹  “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” ¹²  17:4 Some of them were persuaded ¹³  and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large group ¹⁴  of God-fearing Greeks ¹⁵  and quite a few ¹⁶  prominent women. 17:5 But the Jews became jealous, ¹⁷  and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace, ¹⁸  they formed a mob ¹⁹  and set the city in an uproar. ²⁰  They attacked Jason’s house, ²¹  trying to find Paul and Silas ²²  to bring them out to the assembly. ²³  17:6 When they did not find them, they dragged ²⁴  Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, ²⁵  screaming, “These people who have stirred up trouble ²⁶  throughout the world ²⁷  have come here too, 17:7 and ²⁸  Jason has welcomed them as guests! They ²⁹  are all acting against Caesar’s ³⁰  decrees, saying there is another king named ³¹  Jesus!” ³²  17:8 They caused confusion among ³³  the crowd and the city officials ³⁴  who heard these things. 17:9 After ³⁵  the city officials ³⁶  had received bail ³⁷  from Jason and the others, they released them.

Paul and Silas at Berea

17:10 The brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea ³⁸  at once, during the night. When they arrived, ³⁹  they went to the Jewish synagogue. ⁴⁰  17:11 These Jews ⁴¹  were more open-minded ⁴²  than those in Thessalonica, ⁴³  for they eagerly ⁴⁴  received ⁴⁵  the message, examining ⁴⁶  the scriptures carefully every day ⁴⁷  to see if these things were so. 17:12 Therefore many of them believed, along with quite a few ⁴⁸  prominent ⁴⁹  Greek women and men. 17:13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica ⁵⁰  heard that Paul had also proclaimed the word of God ⁵¹  in Berea, ⁵²  they came there too, inciting ⁵³  and disturbing ⁵⁴  the crowds. 17:14 Then the brothers sent Paul away to the coast ⁵⁵  at once, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea. ⁵⁶  17:15 Those who accompanied Paul escorted him as far as Athens, ⁵⁷  and after receiving an order for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left. ⁵⁸ 

Paul at Athens

17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, ⁵⁹  his spirit was greatly upset ⁶⁰  because he saw ⁶¹  the city was full of idols. 17:17 So he was addressing ⁶²  the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles ⁶³  in the synagogue, ⁶⁴  and in the marketplace every day ⁶⁵  those who happened to be there. 17:18 Also some of the Epicurean ⁶⁶  and Stoic ⁶⁷  philosophers were conversing ⁶⁸  with him, and some were asking, ⁶⁹  “What does this foolish babbler ⁷⁰  want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods.” ⁷¹  (They said this because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.) ⁷²  17:19 So they took Paul and ⁷³  brought him to the Areopagus, ⁷⁴  saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are proclaiming? 17:20 For you are bringing some surprising things ⁷⁵  to our ears, so we want to know what they ⁷⁶  mean.” 17:21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there used to spend their time ⁷⁷  in nothing else than telling ⁷⁸  or listening to something new.) ⁷⁹ 

17:22 So Paul stood ⁸⁰  before the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious ⁸¹  in all respects. ⁸²  17:23 For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship, ⁸³  I even found an altar with this inscription: ⁸⁴  ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it, ⁸⁵  this I proclaim to you. 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it, ⁸⁶  who is ⁸⁷  Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, ⁸⁸  17:25 nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, ⁸⁹  because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone. ⁹⁰  17:26 From one man ⁹¹  he made every nation of the human race ⁹²  to inhabit the entire earth, ⁹³  determining their set times ⁹⁴  and the fixed limits of the places where they would live, ⁹⁵  17:27 so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around ⁹⁶  for him and find him, ⁹⁷  though he is ⁹⁸  not far from each one of us. 17:28 For in him we live and move about ⁹⁹  and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ ¹⁰⁰  17:29 So since we are God’s offspring, we should not think the deity ¹⁰¹  is like gold or silver or stone, an image ¹⁰²  made by human ¹⁰³  skill ¹⁰⁴  and imagination. ¹⁰⁵  17:30 Therefore, although God has overlooked ¹⁰⁶  such times of ignorance, ¹⁰⁷  he now commands all people ¹⁰⁸  everywhere to repent, ¹⁰⁹  17:31 because he has set ¹¹⁰  a day on which he is going to judge the world ¹¹¹  in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, ¹¹²  having provided proof to everyone by raising ¹¹³  him from the dead.”

17:32 Now when they heard about ¹¹⁴  the resurrection from the dead, some began to scoff, ¹¹⁵  but others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 17:33 So Paul left the Areopagus. ¹¹⁶  17:34 But some people ¹¹⁷  joined him ¹¹⁸  and believed. Among them ¹¹⁹  were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus, ¹²⁰  a woman ¹²¹  named Damaris, and others with them.

Paul at Corinth

18:1 After this ¹²²  Paul ¹²³  departed from ¹²⁴  Athens ¹²⁵  and went to Corinth. ¹²⁶  18:2 There he ¹²⁷  found ¹²⁸  a Jew named Aquila, ¹²⁹  a native of Pontus, ¹³⁰  who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius ¹³¹  had ordered all the Jews to depart from ¹³²  Rome. ¹³³  Paul approached ¹³⁴  them, 18:3 and because he worked at the same trade, he stayed with them and worked with them ¹³⁵  (for they were tentmakers ¹³⁶  by trade). ¹³⁷  18:4 He addressed ¹³⁸  both Jews and Greeks in the synagogue ¹³⁹  every Sabbath, attempting to persuade ¹⁴⁰  them.

18:5 Now when Silas and Timothy arrived ¹⁴¹  from Macedonia, ¹⁴²  Paul became wholly absorbed with proclaiming ¹⁴³  the word, testifying ¹⁴⁴  to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. ¹⁴⁵  18:6 When they opposed him ¹⁴⁶  and reviled him, ¹⁴⁷  he protested by shaking out his clothes ¹⁴⁸  and said to them, “Your blood ¹⁴⁹  be on your own heads! I am guiltless! ¹⁵⁰  From now on I will go to the Gentiles!” 18:7 Then Paul ¹⁵¹  left ¹⁵²  the synagogue ¹⁵³  and went to the house of a person named Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God, ¹⁵⁴  whose house was next door to the synagogue. 18:8 Crispus, the president of the synagogue, ¹⁵⁵  believed in the Lord together with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard about it ¹⁵⁶  believed and were baptized. 18:9 The Lord said to Paul by a vision ¹⁵⁷  in the night, ¹⁵⁸  “Do not be afraid, ¹⁵⁹  but speak and do not be silent, 18:10 because I am with you, and no one will assault ¹⁶⁰  you to harm ¹⁶¹  you, because I have many people in this city.” 18:11 So he stayed there ¹⁶²  a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. ¹⁶³ 

Paul Before the Proconsul Gallio

18:12 Now while Gallio ¹⁶⁴  was proconsul ¹⁶⁵  of Achaia, ¹⁶⁶  the Jews attacked Paul together ¹⁶⁷  and brought him before the judgment seat, ¹⁶⁸  18:13 saying, “This man is persuading ¹⁶⁹  people to worship God in a way contrary to ¹⁷⁰  the law!” 18:14 But just as Paul was about to speak, ¹⁷¹  Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or serious piece of villainy, ¹⁷²  I would have been justified in accepting the complaint ¹⁷³  of you Jews, ¹⁷⁴  18:15 but since it concerns points of disagreement ¹⁷⁵  about words and names and your own law, settle ¹⁷⁶  it yourselves. I will not be ¹⁷⁷  a judge of these things!” 18:16 Then he had them forced away ¹⁷⁸  from the judgment seat. ¹⁷⁹  18:17 So they all seized Sosthenes, the president of the synagogue, ¹⁸⁰  and began to beat ¹⁸¹  him in front of the judgment seat. ¹⁸²  Yet none of these things were of any concern ¹⁸³  to Gallio.

Paul Returns to Antioch in Syria

18:18 Paul, after staying ¹⁸⁴  many more days in Corinth, ¹⁸⁵  said farewell to ¹⁸⁶  the brothers and sailed away to Syria accompanied by ¹⁸⁷  Priscilla and Aquila. ¹⁸⁸  He ¹⁸⁹  had his hair cut off ¹⁹⁰  at Cenchrea ¹⁹¹  because he had made a vow. ¹⁹²  18:19 When they reached Ephesus, ¹⁹³  Paul ¹⁹⁴  left Priscilla and Aquila ¹⁹⁵  behind there, but he himself went ¹⁹⁶  into the synagogue ¹⁹⁷  and addressed ¹⁹⁸  the Jews. 18:20 When they asked him to stay longer, he would not consent, ¹⁹⁹  18:21 but said farewell to ²⁰⁰  them and added, ²⁰¹  “I will come back ²⁰²  to you again if God wills.” ²⁰³  Then ²⁰⁴  he set sail from Ephesus, 18:22 and when he arrived ²⁰⁵  at Caesarea, ²⁰⁶  he went up and greeted ²⁰⁷  the church at Jerusalem ²⁰⁸  and then went down to Antioch. ²⁰⁹  18:23 After he spent ²¹⁰  some time there, Paul left and went through the region of Galatia ²¹¹  and Phrygia, ²¹²  strengthening all the disciples.

Apollos Begins His Ministry

18:24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus. ²¹³  He was an eloquent speaker, ²¹⁴  well-versed ²¹⁵  in the scriptures. 18:25 He had been instructed in ²¹⁶  the way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm ²¹⁷  he spoke and taught accurately the facts ²¹⁸  about Jesus, although he knew ²¹⁹  only the baptism of John. 18:26 He began to speak out fearlessly ²²⁰  in the synagogue, ²²¹  but when Priscilla and Aquila ²²²  heard him, they took him aside ²²³  and explained the way of God to him more accurately. 18:27 When Apollos ²²⁴  wanted to cross over to Achaia, ²²⁵  the brothers encouraged ²²⁶  him ²²⁷  and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he ²²⁸  assisted greatly those who had believed by grace, 18:28 for he refuted the Jews vigorously ²²⁹  in public debate, ²³⁰  demonstrating from the scriptures that the Christ ²³¹  was Jesus. ²³² 

Disciples of John the Baptist at Ephesus

19:1 While ²³³  Apollos was in Corinth, ²³⁴  Paul went through the inland ²³⁵  regions ²³⁶  and came to Ephesus. ²³⁷  He ²³⁸  found some disciples there ²³⁹  19:2 and said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” ²⁴⁰  They replied, ²⁴¹  “No, we have not even ²⁴²  heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 19:3 So Paul ²⁴³  said, “Into what then were you baptized?” “Into John’s baptism,” they replied. ²⁴⁴  19:4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, ²⁴⁵  that is, in Jesus.” 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, 19:6 and when Paul placed ²⁴⁶  his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came ²⁴⁷  upon them, and they began to speak ²⁴⁸  in tongues and to prophesy. ²⁴⁹  19:7 (Now there were about twelve men in all.) ²⁵⁰ 

Paul Continues to Minister at Ephesus

19:8 So Paul ²⁵¹  entered ²⁵²  the synagogue ²⁵³  and spoke out fearlessly ²⁵⁴  for three months, addressing ²⁵⁵  and convincing ²⁵⁶  them about the kingdom of God. ²⁵⁷  19:9 But when ²⁵⁸  some were stubborn ²⁵⁹  and refused to believe, reviling ²⁶⁰  the Way ²⁶¹  before the congregation, he left ²⁶²  them and took the disciples with him, ²⁶³  addressing ²⁶⁴  them every day ²⁶⁵  in the lecture hall ²⁶⁶  of Tyrannus. 19:10 This went on for two years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia, ²⁶⁷  both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord. ²⁶⁸ 

The Seven Sons of Sceva

19:11 God was performing extraordinary ²⁶⁹  miracles by Paul’s hands, 19:12 so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body ²⁷⁰  were brought ²⁷¹  to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. ²⁷²  19:13 But some itinerant ²⁷³  Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name ²⁷⁴  of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by ²⁷⁵  evil spirits, saying, “I sternly warn ²⁷⁶  you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 19:14 (Now seven sons of a man named ²⁷⁷  Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.) ²⁷⁸  19:15 But the evil spirit replied to them, ²⁷⁹  “I know about Jesus ²⁸⁰  and I am acquainted with ²⁸¹  Paul, but who are you?” ²⁸²  19:16 Then the man who was possessed by ²⁸³  the evil spirit jumped on ²⁸⁴  them and beat them all into submission. ²⁸⁵  He prevailed ²⁸⁶  against them so that they fled from that house naked and wounded. 19:17 This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, ²⁸⁷  both Jews and Greeks; fear came over ²⁸⁸  them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised. ²⁸⁹  19:18 Many of those who had believed came forward, ²⁹⁰  confessing and making their deeds known. ²⁹¹  19:19 Large numbers ²⁹²  of those who had practiced magic ²⁹³  collected their books ²⁹⁴  and burned them up in the presence of everyone. ²⁹⁵  When ²⁹⁶  the value of the books was added up, it was found to total fifty thousand silver coins. ²⁹⁷  19:20 In this way the word of the Lord ²⁹⁸  continued to grow in power ²⁹⁹  and to prevail. ³⁰⁰ 

A Riot in Ephesus

19:21 Now after all these things had taken place, ³⁰¹  Paul resolved ³⁰²  to go to Jerusalem, ³⁰³  passing through Macedonia ³⁰⁴  and Achaia. ³⁰⁵  He said, ³⁰⁶  “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” ³⁰⁷  19:22 So after sending ³⁰⁸  two of his assistants, ³⁰⁹  Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, ³¹⁰  he himself stayed on for a while in the province of Asia. ³¹¹ 

19:23 At ³¹²  that time ³¹³  a great disturbance ³¹⁴  took place concerning the Way. ³¹⁵  19:24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines ³¹⁶  of Artemis, ³¹⁷  brought a great deal ³¹⁸  of business ³¹⁹  to the craftsmen. 19:25 He gathered ³²⁰  these ³²¹  together, along with the workmen in similar trades, ³²²  and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity ³²³  comes from this business. 19:26 And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded ³²⁴  and turned away ³²⁵  a large crowd, ³²⁶  not only in Ephesus ³²⁷  but in practically all of the province of Asia, ³²⁸  by saying ³²⁹  that gods made by hands are not gods at all. ³³⁰  19:27 There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute, ³³¹  but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis ³³²  will be regarded as nothing, ³³³  and she whom all the province of Asia ³³⁴  and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.” ³³⁵ 

19:28 When ³³⁶  they heard ³³⁷  this they became enraged ³³⁸  and began to shout, ³³⁹  “Great is Artemis ³⁴⁰  of the Ephesians!” 19:29 The ³⁴¹  city was filled with the uproar, ³⁴²  and the crowd ³⁴³  rushed to the theater ³⁴⁴  together, ³⁴⁵  dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. 19:30 But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly, ³⁴⁶  the disciples would not let him. 19:31 Even some of the provincial authorities ³⁴⁷  who were his friends sent ³⁴⁸  a message ³⁴⁹  to him, urging him not to venture ³⁵⁰  into the theater. 19:32 So then some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had met together. ³⁵¹  19:33 Some of the crowd concluded ³⁵²  it was about ³⁵³  Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. ³⁵⁴  Alexander, gesturing ³⁵⁵  with his hand, was wanting to make a defense ³⁵⁶  before the public assembly. ³⁵⁷  19:34 But when they recognized ³⁵⁸  that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison, ³⁵⁹  “Great is Artemis ³⁶⁰  of the Ephesians!” for about two hours. ³⁶¹  19:35 After the city secretary ³⁶²  quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person ³⁶³  is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper ³⁶⁴  of the temple of the great Artemis ³⁶⁵  and of her image that fell from heaven? ³⁶⁶  19:36 So because these facts ³⁶⁷  are indisputable, ³⁶⁸  you must keep quiet ³⁶⁹  and not do anything reckless. ³⁷⁰  19:37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers ³⁷¹  nor blasphemers of our goddess. ³⁷²  19:38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint ³⁷³  against someone, the courts are open ³⁷⁴  and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there. ³⁷⁵  19:39 But if you want anything in addition, ³⁷⁶  it will have to be settled ³⁷⁷  in a legal assembly. ³⁷⁸  19:40 For ³⁷⁹  we are in danger of being charged with rioting ³⁸⁰  today, since there is no cause we can give to explain ³⁸¹  this disorderly gathering.” ³⁸²  19:41 After ³⁸³  he had said ³⁸⁴  this, ³⁸⁵  he dismissed the assembly. ³⁸⁶ 

[17:1]  ¹ tn BDAG 250 s.v. διοδεύω 1 has “go, travel through” for this verse.

[17:1]  ² sn Amphipolis. The capital city of the southeastern district of Macedonia (BDAG 55 s.v. ᾿Αμφίπολις). It was a military post. From Philippi this was about 33 mi (53 km).

[17:1]  ³ sn Apollonia was a city in Macedonia about 27 mi (43 km) west southwest of Amphipolis.

[17:1]  ⁴ sn Thessalonica (modern Salonica) was a city in Macedonia about 33 mi (53 km) west of Apollonia. It was the capital of Macedonia. The road they traveled over was called the Via Egnatia. It is likely they rode horses, given their condition in Philippi. The implication of v. 1 is that the two previously mentioned cities lacked a synagogue.

[17:1]  ⁵ sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.

[17:2]  ⁶ tn Grk “he went in to them”; the referent (the Jews in the synagogue) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[17:2]  ⁷ tn Although the word διελέξατο (dielexato; from διαλέγομαι, dialegomai) is frequently translated “reasoned,” “disputed,” or “argued,” this sense comes from its classical meaning where it was used of philosophical disputation, including the Socratic method of questions and answers. However, there does not seem to be contextual evidence for this kind of debate in Acts 17:2. 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.

[17:3]  ¹¹ tn BDAG 772 s.v. παρατίθημι 2.b has “demonstrate, point out” here.

[17:3]  ¹² tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[17:3]  ¹³ sn The Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead. These two points (suffering and resurrection) would have been among the more controversial aspects of Paul’s messianic preaching. The term translated “had to” (δεῖ, dei) shows how divine design and scripture corresponded here.

[17:3]  ¹⁴ tn The Greek words used here (καὶ ὅτι, kai {oti, “and that”) mark the switch from indirect to direct discourse. Contemporary English requires the use of an introductory verb of speaking or saying to make this transition.

[17:3]  ¹⁵ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[17:4]  ¹⁶ tn Or “convinced.”

[17:4]  ¹⁷ tn Or “a large crowd.”

[17:4]  ¹⁸ tn Or “of devout Greeks,” 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. Luke frequently mentions such people (Acts 13:43, 50; 16:14; 17:17; 18:7).

[17:4]  ¹⁹ tn Grk “not a few”; this use of negation could be misleading to the modern English reader, however, and so has been translated as “quite a few” (which is the actual meaning of the expression).

[17:5]  ²¹ tn Grk “becoming jealous.” The participle ζηλώσαντες (zhlwsante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. So elsewhere in Acts (5:17; 7:9; 13:45).

[17:5]  ²² tn Literally ἀγοραῖος (agoraio") refers to the crowd in the marketplace, although BDAG 14-15 s.v. ἀγοραῖος 1 gives the meaning, by extension, as “rabble.” Such a description is certainly appropriate in this context. L&N 15.127 translates the phrase “worthless men from the streets.”

[17:5]  ²³ tn On this term, which is a NT hapax legomenon, see BDAG 745 s.v. ὀχλοποιέω.

[17:5]  ²⁴ tn BDAG 458 s.v. θορυβέω 1 has “set the city in an uproar, start a riot in the city” for the meaning of ἐθορύβουν (eqoruboun) in this verse.

[17:5]  ²⁵ sn The attack took place at Jason’s house because this was probably the location of the new house church.

[17:5]  ²⁶ tn Grk “them”; the referents (Paul and Silas) have been specified in the translation for clarity.

[17:5]  ²⁷ tn BDAG 223 s.v. δῆμος 2 has “in a Hellenistic city, a convocation of citizens called together for the purpose of transacting official business, popular assembly προάγειν εἰς τὸν δ. Ac 17:5.”

[17:6]  ²⁶ 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).

[17:6]  ²⁷ 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.).

[17:6]  ²⁸ 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.

[17:6]  ²⁹ tn Or “the empire.” This was a way of referring to the Roman empire (BDAG 699 s.v. οἰκουμένη 2.b).

[17:7]  ³¹ tn Grk “whom.” Because of the awkwardness in English of having two relative clauses follow one another (“who have stirred up trouble…whom Jason has welcomed”) the relative pronoun here (“whom”) has been replaced by the conjunction “and,” creating a clause that is grammatically coordinate but logically subordinate in the translation.

[17:7]  ³² tn Grk “and they.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence, the conjunction καί (kai) has not been translated here. Instead a new English sentence is begun.

[17:7]  ³³ tn Or “the emperor’s” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).

[17:7]  ³⁴ tn The word “named” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied for clarity.

[17:7]  ³⁵ sn Acting…saying…Jesus. The charges are serious, involving sedition (Luke 23:2). If the political charges were true, Rome would have to react.

[17:8]  ³⁶ tn Grk “They troubled the crowd and the city officials”; but this could be understood to mean “they bothered” or “they annoyed.” In reality the Jewish instigators managed to instill doubt and confusion into both the mob and the officials by their false charges of treason. Verse 8 suggests the charges raised again Paul, Silas, Jason, and the others were false.

[17:8]  ³⁷ 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.’”

[17:9]  ⁴¹ tn Grk “And after.” 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.

[17:9]  ⁴² tn Grk “they”; the referent (the city officials) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[17:9]  ⁴³ tn That is, “a payment” or “a pledge of security” (BDAG 472 s.v. ἱκανός 1) for which “bail” is the most common contemporary English equivalent.

[17:10]  ⁴⁶ sn Berea (alternate spelling in NRSV Beroea; Greek Beroia) was a very old city in Macedonia on the river Astraeus about 45 mi (75 km) west of Thessalonica.

[17:10]  ⁴⁷ tn Grk “who arriving there, went to.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (οἵτινες, Joitine") has been left untranslated and a new English sentence begun. The participle παραγενόμενοι (paragenomenoi) has been taken temporally.

[17:10]  ⁴⁸ sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.

[17:11]  ⁵¹ tn Grk “These”; the referent (the Jews in the synagogue at Berea) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[17:11]  ⁵² tn Or “more willing to learn.” L&N 27.48 and BDAG 404 s.v. εὐγενής 2 both use the term “open-minded” here. The point is that they were more receptive to Paul’s message.

[17:11]  ⁵³ sn Thessalonica was a city in Macedonia (modern Salonica).

[17:11]  ⁵⁴ tn Or “willingly,” “readily”; Grk “with all eagerness.”

[17:11]  ⁵⁵ tn Grk “who received.” Here the relative pronoun (“who”) has been translated as a pronoun (“they”) preceded by a semicolon, which is less awkward in contemporary English than a relative clause at this point.

[17:11]  ⁵⁶ tn This verb (BDAG 66 s.v. ἀνακρίνω 1) refers to careful examination.

[17:11]  ⁵⁷ tn BDAG 437 s.v. ἡμέρα 2.c has “every day” for this phrase in this verse.

[17:12]  ⁵⁶ tn Grk “not a few”; this use of negation could be misleading to the modern English reader, however, and so has been translated as “quite a few” (which is the actual meaning of the expression).

[17:12]  ⁵⁷ tn Or “respected.”

[17:13]  ⁶¹ sn Thessalonica was a city in Macedonia (modern Salonica).

[17:13]  ⁶² tn Grk “that the word of God had also been proclaimed by Paul.” This passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[17:13]  ⁶³ sn Berea (alternate spelling in NRSV Beroea; Greek Beroia) was a very old city in Macedonia on the river Astraeus about 45 mi (75 km) from Thessalonica.

[17:13]  ⁶⁴ tn BDAG 911 s.v. σαλεύω 2 has “incite” for σαλεύοντες (saleuonte") in Acts 17:13.

[17:13]  ⁶⁵ tn Or “stirring up” (BDAG 990-91 s.v. ταράσσω 2). The point is the agitation of the crowds.

[17:14]  ⁶⁶ tn Grk “to the sea.” Here ἕως ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν ({ew" epi thn qalassan) must mean “to the edge of the sea,” that is, “to the coast.” Since there is no mention of Paul taking a ship to Athens, he presumably traveled overland. The journey would have been about 340 mi (550 km).

[17:14]  ⁶⁷ tn Grk “remained there”; the referent (Berea) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[17:15]  ⁷¹ map For location see JP1 C2; JP2 C2; JP3 C2; JP4 C2.

[17:15]  ⁷² sn They left. See 1 Thess 3:1-2, which shows they went from here to Thessalonica.

[17:16]  ⁷⁶ map For location see JP1 C2; JP2 C2; JP3 C2; JP4 C2.

[17:16]  ⁷⁷ tn Grk “greatly upset within him,” but the words “within him” were not included in the translation because they are redundant in English. See L&N 88.189. The term could also be rendered “infuriated.”

[17:16]  ⁷⁸ tn Or “when he saw.” The participle θεωροῦντος (qewrounto") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle; it could also be translated as temporal.

[17:17]  ⁸¹ tn Although the word διελέξατο (dielexato; from διαλέγομαι, dialegomai) is frequently translated “reasoned,” “disputed,” or “argued,” this sense comes from its classical meaning where it was used of philosophical disputation, including the Socratic method of questions and answers. However, there does not seem to be contextual evidence for this kind of debate in Acts 17:17. 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.

[17:17]  ⁸² tn Or “and the devout,” 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, and the note on the phrase “God-fearing Greeks” in 17:4.

[17:17]  ⁸³ sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.

[17:17]  ⁸⁴ tn BDAG 437 s.v. ἡμέρα 2.c has “every day” for this phrase in this verse.

[17:18]  ⁸⁶ sn An Epicurean was a follower of the philosophy of Epicurus, who founded a school in Athens about 300 b.c. Although the Epicureans saw the aim of life as pleasure, they were not strictly hedonists, because they defined pleasure as the absence of pain. Along with this, they desired the avoidance of trouble and freedom from annoyances. They saw organized religion as evil, especially the belief that the gods punished evildoers in an afterlife. In keeping with this, they were unable to accept Paul’s teaching about the resurrection.

[17:18]  ⁸⁷ sn A Stoic was a follower of the philosophy founded by Zeno (342-270 b.c.), a Phoenician who came to Athens and modified the philosophical system of the Cynics he found there. The Stoics rejected the Epicurean ideal of pleasure, stressing virtue instead. The Stoics emphasized responsibility for voluntary actions and believed risks were worth taking, but thought the actual attainment of virtue was difficult. They also believed in providence.

[17:18]  ⁸⁸ tn BDAG 956 s.v. συμβάλλω 1 has “converse, confer” here.

[17:18]  ⁸⁹ tn Grk “saying.”

[17:18]  ⁹⁰ tn Or “ignorant show-off.” The traditional English translation of σπερμολόγος (spermologo") is given in L&N 33.381 as “foolish babbler.” However, an alternate view is presented in L&N 27.19, “(a figurative extension of meaning of a term based on the practice of birds in picking up seeds) one who acquires bits and pieces of relatively extraneous information and proceeds to pass them off with pretense and show – ‘ignorant show-off, charlatan.’” A similar view is given in BDAG 937 s.v. σπερμολόγος: “in pejorative imagery of persons whose communication lacks sophistication and seems to pick up scraps of information here and there scrapmonger, scavenger…Engl. synonyms include ‘gossip’, ‘babbler’, chatterer’; but these terms miss the imagery of unsystematic gathering.”

[17:18]  ⁹¹ tn The meaning of this phrase is not clear. Literally it reads “strange deities” (see BDAG 210 s.v. δαιμόνιον 1). The note of not being customary is important. In the ancient world what was new was suspicious. The plural δαιμονίων (daimoniwn, “deities”) shows the audience grappling with Paul’s teaching that God was working through Jesus.

[17:18]  ⁹² sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.

[17:19]  ⁹¹ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[17:19]  ⁹² tn Or “to the council of the Areopagus.” See also the term in v. 22.

[17:20]  ⁹⁶ tn BDAG 684 s.v. ξενίζω 2 translates the substantival participle ξενίζοντα (xenizonta) as “astonishing things Ac 17:20.”

[17:20]  ⁹⁷ tn Grk “these things”; but since the referent (“surprising things”) is so close, the repetition of “these things” sounds redundant in English, so the pronoun “they” was substituted in the translation.

[17:21]  ¹⁰¹ tn The imperfect verb ηὐκαίρουν (hukairoun) has been translated as a customary or habitual imperfect.

[17:21]  ¹⁰² tn BDAG 406-7 s.v. εὐκαιρέω has “used to spend their time in nothing else than telling Ac 17:21.”

[17:21]  ¹⁰³ sn This is a parenthetical note by the author. The reference to newness may be pejorative.

[17:22]  ¹⁰⁶ tn Grk “standing…said.” The participle ζηλώσαντες (zhlwsante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[17:22]  ¹⁰⁷ tn The term δεισιδαιμονεστέρους (deisidaimonesterou") is difficult. On the one hand it can have the positive sense of “devout,” but on the other hand it can have the negative sense of “superstitious” (BDAG 216 s.v. δεισιδαίμων). As part of a laudatory introduction (the technical rhetorical term for this introduction was capatatio), the term is probably positive here. It may well be a “backhanded” compliment, playing on the ambiguity.

[17:22]  ¹⁰⁸ tn BDAG 513 s.v. κατά B.6 translates the phrase κατὰ πάντα (kata panta) as “in all respects.”

[17:23]  ¹¹¹ tn Or “your sanctuaries.” L&N 53.54 gives “sanctuary” (place of worship) as an alternate meaning for the word σεβάσματα (sebasmata).

[17:23]  ¹¹² tn Grk “on which was written,” but since it would have been carved in stone, it is more common to speak of an “inscription” in English. To simplify the English the relative construction with a passive verb (“on which was inscribed”) was translated as a prepositional phrase with a substantive (“inscription”).

[17:23]  ¹¹³ tn BDAG 13 s.v. ἀγνοέω 1.b has “Abs. ὅ ἀγνοοῦντες εὐσεβεῖτε what you worship without knowing it (on the subject matter Maximus Tyr. 11, 5e: all sorts of philosophers ἴσασιν οὐκ ἑκόντες καὶ λέγουσιν ἄκοντες sc. τὸ θεῖον = they know and name God without intending to do so) Ac 17:23.” Paul, in typical Jewish Christian style, informs them of the true God, of whom their idols are an ignorant reflection.

[17:24]  ¹¹⁶ tn Grk “all the things that are in it.” The speech starts with God as Creator, like 14:15.

[17:24]  ¹¹⁷ tn Or “because he is.” The participle ὑπάρχων (Juparcwn) could be either adjectival, modifying οὗτος (Joutos, “who is Lord…”) or adverbial of cause (“because he is Lord…”). Since the participle διδούς (didou") in v. 25 appears to be clearly causal in force, it is preferable to understand ὑπάρχων as adjectival in this context.

[17:24]  ¹¹⁸ sn On the statement does not live in temples made by human hands compare Acts 7:48. This has implications for idols as well. God cannot be represented by them or, as the following clause also suggests, served by human hands.

[17:25]  ¹²¹ tn L&N 57.45 has “nor does he need anything more that people can supply by working for him.”

[17:25]  ¹²² tn Grk “he himself gives to all [people] life and breath and all things.”

[17:26]  ¹²⁶ sn The one man refers to Adam (the word “man” is understood).

[17:26]  ¹²⁷ tn Or “mankind.” BDAG 276 s.v. ἔθνος 1 has “every nation of humankind Ac 17:26.”

[17:26]  ¹²⁸ tn Grk “to live over all the face of the earth.”

[17:26]  ¹²⁹ tn BDAG 884-85 s.v. προστάσσω has “(οἱ) προστεταγμένοι καιροί (the) fixed times Ac 17:26” here, but since the following phrase is also translated “fixed limits,” this would seem redundant in English, so the word “set” has been used instead.

[17:26]  ¹³⁰ tn Grk “the boundaries of their habitation.” L&N 80.5 has “fixed limits of the places where they would live” for this phrase.

[17:27]  ¹³¹ tn See BDAG 1097-98 s.v. ψηλαφάω, which lists “touch, handle” and “to feel around for, grope for” as possible meanings.

[17:27]  ¹³² sn Perhaps grope around for him and find him. The pagans’ struggle to know God is the point here. Conscience alone is not good enough.

[17:27]  ¹³³ tn The participle ὑπάρχοντα (Juparconta) has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.

[17:28]  ¹³⁶ tn According to L&N 15.1, “A strictly literal translation of κινέω in Ac 17:28 might imply merely moving from one place to another. The meaning, however, is generalized movement and activity; therefore, it may be possible to translate κινούμεθα as ‘we come and go’ or ‘we move about’’ or even ‘we do what we do.’”

[17:28]  ¹³⁷ sn This quotation is from Aratus (ca. 310-245 b.c.), Phaenomena 5. Paul asserted a general relationship and accountability to God for all humanity.

[17:29]  ¹⁴¹ tn Or “the divine being.” BDAG 446 s.v. θεῖος 1.b has “divine being, divinity” here.

[17:29]  ¹⁴² tn Or “a likeness.” Again idolatry is directly attacked as an affront to God and a devaluation of him.

[17:29]  ¹⁴³ tn Grk “by the skill and imagination of man,” but ἀνθρώπου (anqrwpou) has been translated as an attributive genitive.

[17:29]  ¹⁴⁴ tn Or “craftsmanship” (cf. BDAG 1001 s.v. τέχνη).

[17:29]  ¹⁴⁵ tn Or “thought.” BDAG 336 s.v. ἐνθύμησις has “thought, reflection, idea” as the category of meaning here, but in terms of creativity (as in the context) the imaginative faculty is in view.

[17:30]  ¹⁴⁶ tn Or “has deliberately paid no attention to.”

[17:30]  ¹⁴⁷ tn Or “times when people did not know.”

[17:30]  ¹⁴⁸ tn Here ἀνθρώποις (anqrwpoi") has been translated as a generic noun (“people”).

[17:30]  ¹⁴⁹ sn He now commands all people everywhere to repent. God was now asking all mankind to turn to him. No nation or race was excluded.

[17:31]  ¹⁵¹ tn Or “fixed.”

[17:31]  ¹⁵² sn The world refers to the whole inhabited earth.

[17:31]  ¹⁵³ 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.”

[17:31]  ¹⁵⁴ tn The participle ἀναστήσας (anasthsa") indicates means here.

[17:32]  ¹⁵⁶ tn The participle ἀκούσαντες (akousante") has been taken temporally.

[17:32]  ¹⁵⁷ tn L&N 33.408 has “some scoffed (at him) Ac 17:32” for ἐχλεύαζον (ecleuazon) here; the imperfect verb has been translated as an ingressive imperfect (“began to scoff”).

[17:33]  ¹⁶¹ tn Grk “left out of their midst”; the referent (the Areopagus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[17:34]  ¹⁶⁶ tn Although the Greek word here is ἀνήρ (anhr), which normally refers to males, husbands, etc., in this particular context it must have a generic force similar to that of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo"), since “a woman named Damaris” is mentioned specifically as being part of this group (cf. BDAG 79 s.v. ἀνήρ 1.a).

[17:34]  ¹⁶⁷ tn Grk “joining him, believed.” The participle κολληθέντες (kollhqente") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. On the use of this verb in Acts, see 5:13; 8:29; 9:26; 10:28.

[17:34]  ¹⁶⁸ tn Grk “among whom.” Due to the length of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) has been translated as a third person plural pronoun (“them”) and a new sentence begun in the translation.

[17:34]  ¹⁶⁹ tn Grk “the Areopagite” (a member of the council of the Areopagus). The noun “Areopagite” is not in common usage today in English. It is clearer to use a descriptive phrase “a member of the Areopagus” (L&N 11.82). However, this phrase alone can be misleading in English: “Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris” could be understood to refer to three people (Dionysius, an unnamed member of the Areopagus, and Damaris) rather than only two. Converting the descriptive phrase to a relative clause in English (“who was a member of the Areopagus”) removes the ambiguity.

[17:34]  ¹⁷⁰ tn Grk “and a woman”; but this 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.

[18:1]  ¹⁷¹ tn Grk “After these things.”

[18:1]  ¹⁷² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:1]  ¹⁷³ tn Or “Paul left.”

[18:1]  ¹⁷⁴ map For location see JP1 C2; JP2 C2; JP3 C2; JP4 C2.

[18:1]  ¹⁷⁵ sn Corinth was the capital city of the senatorial province of Achaia and the seat of the Roman proconsul. It was located 55 mi (88 km) west of Athens. Corinth was a major rival to Athens and was the largest city in Greece at the time.

[18:2]  ¹⁷⁶ 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.

[18:2]  ¹⁷⁷ tn Grk “finding.” The participle εὑρών (Jeurwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[18:2]  ¹⁷⁸ 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.

[18:2]  ¹⁷⁹ sn Pontus was a region in the northeastern part of Asia Minor. It was a Roman province.

[18:2]  ¹⁸⁰ sn Claudius refers to the Roman emperor Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus, known as Claudius, who ruled from a.d. 41-54. The edict expelling the Jews from Rome was issued in a.d. 49 (Suetonius, Claudius 25.4).

[18:2]  ¹⁸¹ tn Or “to leave.”

[18:2]  ¹⁸² map For location see JP4 A1.

[18:2]  ¹⁸³ tn Or “went to.”

[18:3]  ¹⁸¹ tn The prepositional phrase “with them” occurs only once in the Greek text, but since it occurs between the two finite verbs (ἔμενεν, emenen, and ἠργάζετο, hrgazeto) it relates (by implication) to both of them.

[18:3]  ¹⁸² tn On the term translated “tentmakers,” see BDAG 928-29 s.v. σκνηοποιός. Paul apparently manufactured tents. In contrast to the Cynic philosophers, Paul at times labored to support himself (see also v. 5).

[18:3]  ¹⁸³ sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.

[18:4]  ¹⁸⁶ tn Although the word διελέξατο (dielexato; from διαλέγομαι, dialegomai) is frequently translated “reasoned,” “disputed,” or “argued,” this sense comes from its classical meaning where it was used of philosophical disputation, including the Socratic method of questions and answers. However, there does not seem to be contextual evidence for this kind of debate in Acts 18:4. 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.

[18:4]  ¹⁸⁷ sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.

[18:4]  ¹⁸⁸ tn Grk “Addressing in the synagogue every Sabbath, he was attempting to persuade both Jews and Greeks.” Because in English the verb “address” is not used absolutely but normally has an object specified, the direct objects of the verb ἔπειθεν (epeiqen) have been moved forward as the objects of the English verb “addressed,” and the pronoun “them” repeated in the translation as the object of ἔπειθεν. The verb ἔπειθεν has been translated as a conative imperfect.

[18:5]  ¹⁹¹ tn Grk “came down.”

[18:5]  ¹⁹² sn Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.

[18:5]  ¹⁹³ tn BDAG 971 s.v. συνέχω 6 states, “συνείχετο τῷ λόγῳ (Paul) was wholly absorbed in preaching Ac 18:5…in contrast to the activity cited in vs. 3.” The imperfect συνείχετο (suneiceto) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect (“became wholly absorbed…”), stressing the change in Paul’s activity once Silas and Timothy arrived. At this point Paul apparently began to work less and preach more.

[18:5]  ¹⁹⁴ tn BDAG 233 s.v. διαμαρτύρομαι 2 has “testify of, bear witness to solemnly (orig. under oath)…W. acc. and inf. foll. Ac 18:5.”

[18:5]  ¹⁹⁵ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[18:6]  ¹⁹⁶ 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.

[18:6]  ¹⁹⁷ tn The participle βλασφημούντων (blasfhmountwn) has been taken temporally. The direct object (“him”) is implied rather than expressed and could be impersonal (“it,” referring to what Paul was saying rather than Paul himself), but the verb occurs more often in contexts involving defamation or slander against personal beings (not always God). For a very similar context to this one, compare Acts 13:45. The translation “blaspheme” is not used because in contemporary English its meaning is more narrowly defined and normally refers to blasphemy against God (not what Paul’s opponents were doing here). What they were doing was more like slander or defamation of character.

[18:6]  ¹⁹⁸ tn Grk “shaking out his clothes, he said to them.” L&N 16:8 translates Acts 18:6 “when they opposed him and said evil things about him, he protested by shaking the dust from his clothes.” The addition of the verb “protested by” in the translation is necessary to clarify for the modern reader that this is a symbolic action. It is similar but not identical to the phrase in Acts 13:51, where the dust from the feet is shaken off. The participle ἐκτιναξάμενος (ektinaxameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[18:6]  ¹⁹⁹ sn Your blood be on your own heads! By invoking this epithet Paul declared himself not responsible for their actions in rejecting Jesus whom Paul preached (cf. Ezek 33:4; 3:6-21; Matt 23:35; 27:25).

[18:6]  ²⁰⁰ tn Or “innocent.” BDAG 489 s.v. καθαρός 3.a has “guiltless Ac 18:6.”

[18:7]  ²⁰¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:7]  ²⁰² tn Grk “Then leaving from there he went.” The participle μεταβάς (metabas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[18:7]  ²⁰³ tn Grk “from there”; the referent (the synagogue) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:7]  ²⁰⁴ tn Grk “a worshiper of God.” The clarifying phrase “a Gentile” has been supplied for clarity, and is indicated by the context, since Paul had parted company with the Jews in the previous verse. The participle σεβομένου (sebomenou) 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.

[18:8]  ²⁰⁶ 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).

[18:8]  ²⁰⁷ tn Or “who heard him,” or “who heard Paul.” The ambiguity here results from the tendency of Greek to omit direct objects, which must be supplied from the context. The problem is that no less than three different ones may be supplied here: (1) “him,” referring to Crispus, but this is not likely because there is no indication in the context that Crispus began to speak out about the Lord; this is certainly possible and even likely, but more than the text here affirms; (2) “Paul,” who had been speaking in the synagogue and presumably, now that he had moved to Titius Justus’ house, continued speaking to the Gentiles; or (3) “about it,” that is, the Corinthians who heard about Crispus’ conversion became believers. In the immediate context this last is most probable, since the two incidents are juxtaposed. Other, less obvious direct objects could also be supplied, such as “heard the word of God,” “heard the word of the Lord,” etc., but none of these are obvious in the immediate context.

[18:9]  ²¹¹ sn Frequently in Acts such a vision will tell the reader where events are headed. See Acts 10:9-16 and 16:9-10 for other accounts of visions.

[18:9]  ²¹² tn BDAG 682 s.v. νύξ 1.c has “W. prep. ἐν ν. at night, in the night…Ac 18:9.”

[18:9]  ²¹³ tn The present imperative here (with negation) is used (as it normally is) of a general condition (BDF §335).

[18:10]  ²¹⁶ tn BDAG 384 s.v. ἐπιτίθημι 2 has “to set upon, attack, lay a hand on” here, but “assault” is a contemporary English equivalent very close to the meaning of the original.

[18:10]  ²¹⁷ tn Or “injure.”

[18:11]  ²²¹ tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.

[18:11]  ²²² tn See BDAG 326-27 s.v. ἐν 1.d. However, it is also possible that ἐν (en) followed by the dative here stands for the ordinary dative (“to them”).

[18:12]  ²²⁶ sn Gallio was proconsul of Achaia from a.d. 51-52. This date is one of the firmly established dates in Acts. Lucius Junius Gallio was the son of the rhetorician Seneca and the brother of Seneca the philosopher. The date of Gallio’s rule is established from an inscription (W. Dittenberger, ed., Sylloge Inscriptionum Graecarum 2.3 no. 8). Thus the event mentioned here is probably to be dated July-October a.d. 51.

[18:12]  ²²⁷ sn The proconsul was the Roman official who ruled over a province traditionally under the control of the Roman senate.

[18:12]  ²²⁸ sn Achaia was a Roman province created in 146 b.c. that included the most important parts of Greece (Attica, Boeotia, and the Peloponnesus).

[18:12]  ²²⁹ tn Grk “with one accord.”

[18:12]  ²³⁰ tn Although BDAG 175 s.v. βῆμα 3 gives the meaning “tribunal” for this verse and a number of modern translations use similar terms (“court,” NIV; “tribunal,” NRSV), there is no need for an alternative translation here since the bema was a standard feature in Greco-Roman cities of the time.

[18:13]  ²³¹ tn Or “inciting.”

[18:13]  ²³² tn Grk “worship God contrary to.” BDAG 758 s.v. παρά C.6 has “against, contrary to” for Acts 18:13. The words “in a way” are not in the Greek text, but are a necessary clarification to prevent the misunderstanding in the English translation that worshiping God was in itself contrary to the law. What is under dispute is the manner in which God was being worshiped, that is, whether Gentiles were being required to follow all aspects of the Mosaic law, including male circumcision. There is a hint of creating public chaos or disturbing Jewish custom here since Jews were the ones making the complaint. Luke often portrays the dispute between Christians and Jews as within Judaism.

[18:14]  ²³⁶ tn Grk “about to open his mouth” (an idiom).

[18:14]  ²³⁷ tn BDAG 902 s.v. ῥᾳδιούργημα states, “From the sense ‘prank, knavery, roguish trick, slick deed’ it is but a short step to that of a serious misdeed, crime, villainy…a serious piece of villainy Ac 18:14 (w. ἀδίκημα).”

[18:14]  ²³⁸ tn According to BDAG 78 s.v. ἀνέχω 3 this is a legal technical term: “Legal t.t. κατὰ λόγον ἂν ἀνεσχόμην ὑμῶν I would have been justified in accepting your complaint Ac 18:14.”

[18:14]  ²³⁹ tn Grk “accepting your complaint, O Jews.”

[18:15]  ²⁴¹ tn Or “dispute.”

[18:15]  ²⁴² tn Grk “see to it” (an idiom).

[18:15]  ²⁴³ tn Or “I am not willing to be.” Gallio would not adjudicate their religious dispute.

[18:16]  ²⁴⁶ tn Grk “driven away,” but this could result in a misunderstanding in English (“driven” as in a cart or wagon?). “Forced away” conveys the idea; Gallio rejected their complaint. In contemporary English terminology the case was “thrown out of court.” The verb ἀπήλασεν (aphlasen) has been translated as a causative since Gallio probably did not perform this action in person, but ordered his aides or officers to remove the plaintiffs.

[18:16]  ²⁴⁷ sn See the note on the term judgment seat in 18:12.

[18:17]  ²⁵¹ 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).

[18:17]  ²⁵² tn The imperfect verb ἔτυπτον (etupton) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.

[18:17]  ²⁵³ sn See the note on the term judgment seat in 18:12.

[18:17]  ²⁵⁴ tn L&N 25.223 has “‘none of these things were of any concern to Gallio’ Ac 18:17.”

[18:18]  ²⁵⁶ tn The participle προσμείνας (prosmeina") is taken temporally.

[18:18]  ²⁵⁷ map For location see JP1 C2; JP2 C2; JP3 C2; JP4 C2.

[18:18]  ²⁵⁸ 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.

[18:18]  ²⁵⁹ tn Grk “Syria, and with him.”

[18:18]  ²⁶⁰ sn See the note on Aquila in 18:2.

[18:18]  ²⁶¹ 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.

[18:18]  ²⁶² 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).

[18:18]  ²⁶³ tn That is, “before he sailed from Cenchrea.”

[18:18]  ²⁶⁴ 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.

[18:19]  ²⁶¹ sn Ephesus was an influential city in Asia Minor. It was the location of the famous temple of Artemis. In 334 b.c. control of the city had passed to Alexander the Great, who contributed a large sum to the building of a new and more elaborate temple of Artemis, which became one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and lasted until destroyed by the Goths in a.d. 263. This major port city would be reached from Corinth by ship. It was 250 mi (400 km) east of Corinth by sea.

[18:19]  ²⁶² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:19]  ²⁶³ tn Grk “left them”; the referents (Priscilla and Aquila) have been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:19]  ²⁶⁴ tn Grk “going”; the participle εἰσελθών (eiselqwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[18:19]  ²⁶⁵ sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.

[18:19]  ²⁶⁶ tn Although the word διελέξατο (dielexato; from διαλέγομαι, dialegomai) is frequently translated “reasoned,” “disputed,” or “argued,” this sense comes from its classical meaning where it was used of philosophical disputation, including the Socratic method of questions and answers. However, there does not seem to be contextual evidence for this kind of debate in Acts 18:19. 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.

[18:20]  ²⁶⁶ sn He would not consent. Paul probably refused because he wanted to reach Jerusalem for the festival season before the seas became impassable during the winter.

[18:21]  ²⁷¹ tn Or “but took leave of.”

[18:21]  ²⁷² tn Grk “and saying”; the participle εἰπών (eipwn) has been translated as “added” rather than “said” to avoid redundancy with the previous “said farewell.” The participle εἰπών has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[18:21]  ²⁷³ tn Or “will return.”

[18:21]  ²⁷⁴ tn The participle θέλοντος (qelontos), a genitive absolute construction, has been translated as a conditional adverbial participle. Again Paul acts in dependence on God.

[18:21]  ²⁷⁵ tn A new sentence was begun here in the translation due to the length of the sentence in Greek and the requirements of contemporary English style, which generally uses shorter sentences.

[18:22]  ²⁷⁶ 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’…εἴς τι at someth. a harbor Ac 18:22; 21:3; 27:5.”

[18:22]  ²⁷⁷ sn Caesarea was a city on the coast of Palestine south of Mount Carmel (not Caesarea Philippi). See the note on Caesarea in Acts 10:1. This was a sea voyage of 620 mi (990 km).

[18:22]  ²⁷⁸ tn Grk “going up and greeting.” The participles ἀναβάς (anabas) and ἀσπασάμενος (aspasameno") are translated as finite verbs due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[18:22]  ²⁷⁹ tn The words “at Jerusalem” are not in the Greek text, but are implied by the participle ἀναβάς (anabas). The expression “go up” refers almost exclusively to the direction of Jerusalem, while the corresponding “go down” (κατέβη, katebh) refers to directions away from Jerusalem. Both expressions are based on a Hebrew idiom. Assuming Jerusalem is meant, this is another indication of keeping that key church informed. If Jerusalem is not referred to here, then Caesarea is in view. Paul was trying to honor a vow, which also implies a visit to Jerusalem.

[18:22]  ²⁸⁰ sn Went down to Antioch. The city of Antioch in Syria lies due north of Jerusalem. In Western languages it is common to speak of north as “up” and south as “down,” but the NT maintains the Hebrew idiom which speaks of any direction away from Jerusalem as down (since Mount Zion was thought of in terms of altitude). This marks the end of the second missionary journey which began in Acts 15:36. From Caesarea to Antioch is a journey of 280 mi (450 km).

[18:23]  ²⁸¹ tn Grk “Having spent”; the participle ποιήσας (poihsas) is taken temporally.

[18:23]  ²⁸² sn Galatia refers to either (1) the region of the old kingdom of Galatia in the central part of Asia Minor, or (2) the Roman province of Galatia, whose principal cities in the 1st century were Ancyra and Pisidian Antioch. The exact extent and meaning of this area has been a subject of considerable controversy in modern NT studies.

[18:23]  ²⁸³ sn Phrygia was a district in central Asia Minor west of Pisidia. See Acts 16:6.

[18:24]  ²⁸⁶ map For location see JP1 D2; JP2 D2; JP3 D2; JP4 D2.

[18:24]  ²⁸⁷ tn Or “was a learned man.” In this verse λόγιος (logios) can refer to someone who was an attractive and convincing speaker, a rhetorician (L&N 33.32), or it can refer to the person who has acquired a large part of the intellectual heritage of a given culture (“learned” or “cultured,” L&N 27.20, see also BDAG 598 s.v. λόγιος which lists both meanings as possible here). The description of Apollos’ fervent speaking in the following verses, as well as implications from 1 Cor 1-4, where Paul apparently compares his style and speaking ability with that of Apollos, suggests that eloquent speaking ability or formal rhetorical skill are in view here. This clause has been moved from its order in the Greek text (Grk “a certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent speaker, arrived in Ephesus, who was powerful in the scriptures”) and paired with the last element (“powerful in the scriptures”) due to the demands of clarity and contemporary English style.

[18:24]  ²⁸⁸ tn Grk “powerful.” BDAG 264 s.v. δυνατός 1.b has “in the Scriptures = well-versed 18:24.”

[18:25]  ²⁹¹ tn Or “had been taught.”

[18:25]  ²⁹² tn Grk “and boiling in spirit” (an idiom for great eagerness or enthusiasm; BDAG 426 s.v. ζέω).

[18:25]  ²⁹³ tn Grk “the things.”

[18:25]  ²⁹⁴ tn Grk “knowing”; the participle ἐπιστάμενος (epistameno") has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.

[18:26]  ²⁹⁶ tn Or “boldly.” This is a frequent term in Acts (9:27-28; 13:46; 14:3; 19:8; 26:26).

[18:26]  ²⁹⁷ sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.

[18:26]  ²⁹⁸ sn Priscilla and Aquila. This key couple, of which Priscilla was an important enough figure to be mentioned by name, instructed Apollos about the most recent work of God. See also the note on Aquila in 18:2.

[18:26]  ²⁹⁹ tn BDAG 883 s.v. προσλαμβάνω 3 has “take aside, mid. τινά someone…So prob. also Ac 18:26: Priscilla and Aquila take Apollos aside to teach him undisturbed.”

[18:27]  ³⁰¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Apollos) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:27]  ³⁰² sn To cross over to Achaia. Achaia was organized by the Romans as a separate province in 27 b.c. and was located across the Aegean Sea from Ephesus. The city of Corinth was in Achaia.

[18:27]  ³⁰³ 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.

[18:27]  ³⁰⁴ 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.

[18:27]  ³⁰⁵ 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.

[18:28]  ³⁰⁶ tn Or “vehemently.” BDAG 414 s.v. εὐτόνως has “vigorously, vehemently…εὐ. διακατελέγχεσθαί τινι refute someone vigorously Ac 18:28.”

[18:28]  ³⁰⁷ tn L&N 33.442 translates the phrase τοῖς ᾿Ιουδαίοις διακατηλέγχετο δημοσίᾳ (toi" Ioudaioi" diakathlenceto dhmosia) as “he defeated the Jews in public debate.” On this use of the term δημόσιος (dhmosio") see BDAG 223 s.v. 2.

[18:28]  ³⁰⁸ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.” Again the issue is identifying the Christ as Jesus (see 5:42; 8:5; 9:22; 18:5).

[18:28]  ³⁰⁹ tn Although many English translations have here “that Jesus was the Christ,” in the case of two accusatives following a copulative infinitive, the first would normally be the subject and the second the predicate nominative. Additionally, the first accusative here (τὸν χριστόν, ton criston) has the article, a further indication that it should be regarded as subject of the infinitive.

[19:1]  ³¹¹ tn Grk “It happened that while.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[19:1]  ³¹² map For location see JP1 C2; JP2 C2; JP3 C2; JP4 C2.

[19:1]  ³¹³ tn Or “interior.”

[19:1]  ³¹⁴ tn BDAG 92 s.v. ἀνωτερικός has “upper τὰ ἀ. μέρη the upper (i.e. inland) country, the interior Ac 19:1.”

[19:1]  ³¹⁵ map For location see JP1 D2; JP2 D2; JP3 D2; JP4 D2.

[19:1]  ³¹⁶ tn Grk “and found.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the sequencing with the following verse the conjunction καί (kai) has not been translated here. Instead a new English sentence is begun.

[19:1]  ³¹⁷ tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text but is implied.

[19:2]  ³¹⁶ tn The participle πιστεύσαντες (pisteusante") is taken temporally.

[19:2]  ³¹⁷ tn Grk “they [said] to him” (the word “said” is implied in the Greek text).

[19:2]  ³¹⁸ tn This use of ἀλλά (alla) is ascensive and involves an ellipsis (BDAG 45 s.v. ἀλλά 3): “No, [not only did we not receive the Spirit,] but also we have not heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” However, this is lengthy and somewhat awkward in English, and the ascensive meaning can be much more easily represented by including the word “even” after the negation. Apparently these disciples were unaware of the provision of the Spirit that is represented in baptism. The language sounds like they did not know about a Holy Spirit, but this seems to be only linguistic shorthand for not knowing about the Spirit’s presence (Luke 3:15-18). The situation is parallel to that of Apollos. Apollos and these disciples represent those who “complete” their transition to messianic faith as Jews.

[19:3]  ³²¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:3]  ³²² tn Grk “they said.”

[19:4]  ³²⁶ sn These disciples may have had their contact with John early on in the Baptist’s ministry before Jesus had emerged. This is the fifth time Luke links John the Baptist and Jesus (Acts 1:5; 11:16; 13:25; 18:25).

[19:6]  ³³¹ tn Or “laid.”

[19:6]  ³³² sn The coming of the Holy Spirit here is another case where the Spirit comes and prophesy results in Acts (see Acts 2). Paul’s action parallels that of Peter (Acts 8) and not just with Gentiles.

[19:6]  ³³³ tn The imperfect verb ἐλάλουν (elaloun) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.

[19:6]  ³³⁴ tn The imperfect verb ἐπροφήτευον (eprofhteuon) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.

[19:7]  ³³⁶ sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.

[19:8]  ³⁴¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:8]  ³⁴² tn Grk “So entering the synagogue, he spoke out fearlessly.” The participle εἰσελθών (eiselqwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[19:8]  ³⁴³ sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.

[19:8]  ³⁴⁴ tn Or “boldly.”

[19:8]  ³⁴⁵ tn Although the word διελέξατο (dielexato; from διαλέγομαι, dialegomai) is frequently translated “reasoned,” “disputed,” or “argued,” this sense comes from its classical meaning where it was used of philosophical disputation, including the Socratic method of questions and answers. However, there does not seem to be contextual evidence for this kind of debate in Acts 19:8. 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.

[19:8]  ³⁴⁶ tn Or “addressing them persuasively.” The two participles διαλεγόμενος and πείθων (dialegomeno" and peiqwn) can be understood as a hendiadys (so NIV, NRSV), thus, “addressing them persuasively.”

[19:8]  ³⁴⁷ sn To talk about Jesus as the Christ who has come is to talk about the kingdom of God. This is yet another summary of the message like that in 18:28.

[19:9]  ³⁴⁶ tn BDAG 1105-6 s.v. ὡς 8.b lists this use as a temporal conjunction.

[19:9]  ³⁴⁷ tn Or “some became hardened.” See BDAG 930 s.v. σκληρύνω b and Acts 7:51-53.

[19:9]  ³⁴⁸ tn Or “speaking evil of.” BDAG 500 s.v. κακολογέω has “speak evil of, revile, insult…τὶ someth. τὴν ὁδόν the Way (i.e. Christian way of life) Ac 19:9.”

[19:9]  ³⁴⁹ sn The Way refers to the Christian movement (Christianity). Luke frequently refers to it as “the Way” (Acts 9:2; 18:25-26; 19:23; 22:4; 24:14, 22).

[19:9]  ³⁵⁰ tn Grk “leaving them, he took.” The participle ἀποστάς (apostas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[19:9]  ³⁵¹ tn The words “with him” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

[19:9]  ³⁵² tn Although the word διελέξατο (dielexato; from διαλέγομαι, dialegomai) is frequently translated “reasoned,” “disputed,” or “argued,” this sense comes from its classical meaning where it was used of philosophical disputation, including the Socratic method of questions and answers. However, there does not seem to be contextual evidence for this kind of debate in Acts 19:9. 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.

[19:9]  ³⁵³ tn BDAG 437 s.v. ἡμέρα 2.c has “every day” for this phrase in this verse.

[19:9]  ³⁵⁴ tn The “lecture hall” was a place where teachers and pupils met. The term is a NT hapax legomenon (BDAG 982 s.v. σχολή). L&N 7.14 notes, “it is better to use a translation such as ‘lecture hall’ rather than ‘school,’ since one does not wish to give the impression of the typical classroom situation characteristic of present-day schools.”

[19:10]  ³⁵¹ tn Grk “Asia”; in the NT this always refers to the Roman province of Asia, made up of about one-third of the west and southwest end of modern Asia Minor. Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The words “the province of” are supplied to indicate to the modern reader that this does not refer to the continent of Asia.

[19:10]  ³⁵² sn The word of the Lord is a technical expression in OT literature, often referring to a divine prophetic utterance (e.g., Gen 15:1, Isa 1:10, Jonah 1:1). In the NT it occurs 15 times: 3 times as ῥῆμα τοῦ κυρίου (rJhma tou kuriou; Luke 22:61, Acts 11:16, 1 Pet 1:25) and 12 times as λόγος τοῦ κυρίου (logo" tou kuriou; here and in Acts 8:25; 13:44, 48, 49; 15:35, 36; 16:32; 19:20; 1 Thess 1:8, 4:15; 2 Thess 3:1). As in the OT, this phrase focuses on the prophetic nature and divine origin of what has been said.

[19:11]  ³⁵⁶ tn BDAG 1019 s.v. τυγχάνω 2.d states, “δυνάμεις οὐ τὰς τυχούσας extraordinary miracles Ac 19:11.”

[19:12]  ³⁶¹ tn Or “skin” (the outer surface of the body).

[19:12]  ³⁶² tn Or “were taken.” It might be that as word went out into the region that since the sick could not come to Paul, healing was brought to them this way. The “handkerchiefs” are probably face cloths for wiping perspiration (see BDAG 934 s.v. σουδάριον) while the “aprons” might be material worn by workmen (BDAG 923-24 s.v. σιμικίνθιον).

[19:12]  ³⁶³ tn The words “of them” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

[19:13]  ³⁶⁶ tn Grk “some Jewish exorcists who traveled about.” The adjectival participle περιερχομένων (periercomenwn) has been translated as “itinerant.”

[19:13]  ³⁶⁷ tn Grk “to name the name.”

[19:13]  ³⁶⁸ tn Grk “who had.” Here ἔχω (ecw) is used of demon possession, a common usage according to BDAG 421 s.v. ἔχω 7.a.α.

[19:13]  ³⁶⁹ sn The expression I sternly warn you means “I charge you as under oath.”

[19:14]  ³⁷¹ tn Grk “a certain Sceva.”

[19:14]  ³⁷² sn Within the sequence of the narrative, this amounts to a parenthetical note by the author.

[19:15]  ³⁷⁶ tn Grk “answered and said to them.” The expression, redundant in English, has been simplified to “replied.”

[19:15]  ³⁷⁷ tn Grk “Jesus I know about.” Here ᾿Ιησοῦν (Ihsoun) is in emphatic position in Greek, but placing the object first is not normal in contemporary English style.

[19:15]  ³⁷⁸ tn BDAG 380 s.v. ἐπίσταμαι 2 has “know, be acquainted with τινά…τὸν Παῦλον Ac 19:15.” Here the translation “be acquainted with” was used to differentiate from the previous phrase which has γινώσκω (ginwskw).

[19:15]  ³⁷⁹ sn But who are you? This account shows how the power of Paul was so distinct that parallel claims to access that power were denied. In fact, such manipulation, by those who did not know Jesus, was judged (v. 16). The indirect way in which the exorcists made the appeal shows their distance from Jesus.

[19:16]  ³⁸¹ tn Grk “in whom the evil spirit was.”

[19:16]  ³⁸² tn Grk “the man in whom the evil spirit was, jumping on them.” The participle ἐφαλόμενος (efalomeno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. L&N 15.239 has “ἐφαλόμενος ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς ‘the man jumped on them’ Ac 19:16.”

[19:16]  ³⁸³ tn Grk “and beating them all into submission.” The participle κατακυριεύσας (katakurieusa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. According to W. Foerster, TDNT 3:1098, the word means “the exercise of dominion against someone, i.e., to one’s own advantage.” These exorcists were shown to be powerless in comparison to Jesus who was working through Paul.

[19:16]  ³⁸⁴ tn BDAG 484 s.v. ἰσχύω 3 has “win out, prevail…κατά τινος over, against someone Ac 19:16.”

[19:17]  ³⁸⁶ map For location see JP1 D2; JP2 D2; JP3 D2; JP4 D2.

[19:17]  ³⁸⁷ tn Grk “fell on.” BDAG 377 s.v. ἐπιπίπτω 2 has “φόβος ἐ. ἐπί τινα fear came upon someone…Ac 19:17.”

[19:17]  ³⁸⁸ tn Or “exalted.”

[19:18]  ³⁹¹ tn Grk “came”; the word “forward” is supplied in the translation to clarify the meaning and to conform to the contemporary English idiom.

[19:18]  ³⁹² tn Or “confessing and disclosing their deeds.” BDAG 59 s.v. ἀναγγέλλω 2 has “W. ἐξομολογεῖσθαι: ἀ. τὰς πράξεις αὐτο'ν make their deeds known Ac 19:18.”

[19:19]  ³⁹⁶ tn BDAG 472 s.v. ἱκανός 4.a has “many, quite a few” for ἱκανοί (Jikanoi) in this verse.

[19:19]  ³⁹⁷ tn On this term see BDAG 800 s.v. περίεργος 2.

[19:19]  ³⁹⁸ tn Or “scrolls.”

[19:19]  ³⁹⁹ tn Or “burned them up publicly.” L&N 14.66 has “‘they brought their books together and burned them up in the presence of everyone’ Ac 19:19.”

[19:19]  ⁴⁰⁰ tn Grk “and when.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence, the conjunction καί (kai) has not been translated here. Instead a new English sentence is begun.

[19:19]  ⁴⁰¹ tn Or “fifty thousand silver drachmas” (about $10,000 US dollars). BDAG 128 s.v. ἀργύριον 2.c states, “ἀργυρίου μυριάδας πέντε 50,000 (Attic silver) drachmas Ac 19:19.” Another way to express the value would be in sheep: One drachma could buy one sheep. So this many drachmas could purchase a huge flock of sheep. A drachma also equals a denarius, or a day’s wage for the average worker. So this amount would be equal to 50,000 work days or in excess of 8,300 weeks of labor (the weeks are calculated at six working days because of the Jewish cultural context). The impact of Christianity on the Ephesian economy was considerable (note in regard to this the concerns expressed in 19:26-27).

[19:20]  ⁴⁰¹ sn The word of the Lord is a technical expression in OT literature, often referring to a divine prophetic utterance (e.g., Gen 15:1, Isa 1:10, Jonah 1:1). In the NT it occurs 15 times: 3 times as ῥῆμα τοῦ κυρίου (rJhma tou kuriou; Luke 22:61, Acts 11:16, 1 Pet 1:25) and 12 times as λόγος τοῦ κυρίου (logo" tou kuriou; here and in Acts 8:25; 13:44, 48, 49; 15:35, 36; 16:32; 19:10; 1 Thess 1:8, 4:15; 2 Thess 3:1). As in the OT, this phrase focuses on the prophetic nature and divine origin of what has been said.

[19:20]  ⁴⁰² tn The imperfect verb ηὔξανεν (huxanen) has been translated as a progressive imperfect, as has the following verb ἴσχυεν (iscuen).

[19:20]  ⁴⁰³ sn The word of the Lord…to prevail. Luke portrays the impact of Christianity in terms of the Lord’s transforming power in the lives of individuals.

[19:21]  ⁴⁰⁶ tn Grk “all these things had been fulfilled.”

[19:21]  ⁴⁰⁷ tn Grk “Paul purposed in [his] spirit” (an idiom). According to BDAG 1003 s.v. τίθημι 1.b.ε the entire idiom means “to resolve” (or “decide”): “ἔθετο ὁ Παῦλος ἐν τῷ πνεύματι w. inf. foll. Paul resolved 19:21.”

[19:21]  ⁴⁰⁸ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[19:21]  ⁴⁰⁹ sn Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.

[19:21]  ⁴¹⁰ sn Achaia was the Roman province of Achaia located across the Aegean Sea from Ephesus. Its principal city was Corinth.

[19:21]  ⁴¹¹ tn Grk “Achaia, saying.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the awkwardness in English of having two participial clauses following one another (“passing through…saying”), the participle εἰπών (eipwn) has been translated as a finite verb and a new sentence begun here in the translation.

[19:21]  ⁴¹² sn This is the first time Paul mentions Rome. He realized the message of Christianity could impact that society even at its heights.

[19:22]  ⁴¹¹ tn The aorist participle ἀποστείλας (aposteila") has been taken temporally reflecting action antecedent to that of the main verb (ἐπέσχεν, epescen).

[19:22]  ⁴¹² tn Grk “two of those who ministered to him.”

[19:22]  ⁴¹³ sn Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.

[19:22]  ⁴¹⁴ tn Grk “Asia”; in the NT this always refers to the Roman province of Asia, made up of about one-third of the west and southwest end of modern Asia Minor. Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The words “the province of” are supplied to indicate to the modern reader that this does not refer to the continent of Asia.

[19:23]  ⁴¹⁶ tn Grk “There happened at that time.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Instead the verb “took place” has been supplied in the translation.

[19:23]  ⁴¹⁷ tn BDAG 512 s.v. κατά B.2.a, “in definite indications of time…Of the past: κ. ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρόν at that time, then…Ac 12:1; 19:23.”

[19:23]  ⁴¹⁸ tn Grk “no little disturbance” (an idiom; see BDAG 991 s.v. τάραχος 2).

[19:23]  ⁴¹⁹ sn The Way refers to the Christian movement (Christianity).

[19:24]  ⁴²¹ tn BDAG 665 s.v. ναός 1.a states, “Specif. of temples: of replicas of the temple of Artemis at Ephesus 19:24…but here, near ἱερόν vs. 27…ναός can be understood in the more restricted sense shrine, where the image of the goddess stood.”

[19:24]  ⁴²² sn Artemis was the name of a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.

[19:24]  ⁴²³ tn Grk “brought not a little business” (an idiom).

[19:24]  ⁴²⁴ sn A great deal of business. The charge that Christianity brought economic and/or social upheaval was made a number of times in Acts: 16:20-21; 17:6-7; 18:13.

[19:25]  ⁴²⁶ tn Grk “gathering.” The participle συναθροίσας (sunaqroisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[19:25]  ⁴²⁷ tn Grk “whom”; because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) has been replaced with a pronoun (“these”) and a new sentence begun in the translation.

[19:25]  ⁴²⁸ sn Workmen in similar trades. In effect, Demetrius gathered the Ephesian chamber of commerce together to hear about the threat to their prosperity.

[19:25]  ⁴²⁹ tn Another possible meaning is “that this business is an easy way for us to earn a living.”

[19:26]  ⁴³¹ tn Grk “persuading.” The participle πείσας (peisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[19:26]  ⁴³² tn Or “misled.”

[19:26]  ⁴³³ tn BDAG 472 s.v. ἱκανός 3.a has “of pers. ὄχλος a large crowd…Ac 11:24, 26; 19:26.”

[19:26]  ⁴³⁴ map For location see JP1 D2; JP2 D2; JP3 D2; JP4 D2.

[19:26]  ⁴³⁵ tn Grk “Asia”; see the note on this word in v. 22.

[19:26]  ⁴³⁶ tn The participle λέγων (legwn) has been regarded as indicating instrumentality.

[19:26]  ⁴³⁷ tn The words “at all” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

[19:27]  ⁴³⁶ tn Or “come under public criticism.” BDAG 101 s.v. ἀπελεγμός has “come into disrepute Ac 19:27.”

[19:27]  ⁴³⁷ sn Artemis was the name of a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.

[19:27]  ⁴³⁸ tn BDAG 597 s.v. λογίζομαι 1.b has “εἰς οὐθὲν λογισθῆναι be looked upon as nothing…Ac 19:27.”

[19:27]  ⁴³⁹ tn Grk “Asia”; see the note on this word in v. 22.

[19:27]  ⁴⁴⁰ tn Or “her magnificence.” BDAG 488 s.v. καθαιρέω 2.b has “καθαιρεῖσθαι τῆς μεγαλειότητος αὐτῆς suffer the loss of her magnificence Ac 19:27”; L&N 13.38 has “‘and to have her greatness done away with’ Ac 19:27.”

[19:28]  ⁴⁴¹ tn Grk “And when.” 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.

[19:28]  ⁴⁴² tn Grk “And hearing.” The participle ἀκούσαντες (akousante") has been taken temporally.

[19:28]  ⁴⁴³ tn Grk “they became filled with rage” (an idiom). The reaction of the Ephesians here is like that of the Jews earlier, though Luke referred to “zeal” or “jealousy” in the former case (Acts 7:54).

[19:28]  ⁴⁴⁴ tn Grk “and began shouting, saying.” The imperfect verb ἔκραζον (ekrazon) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect. The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in English and has not been translated.

[19:28]  ⁴⁴⁵ sn Artemis was a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.

[19:29]  ⁴⁴⁶ tn Grk “And the.” 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.

[19:29]  ⁴⁴⁷ tn L&N 39.43 has “‘the uproar spread throughout the whole city’ (literally ‘the city was filled with uproar’) Ac 19:29.” BDAG 954 s.v. σύγχυσις has “confusion, tumult.”

[19:29]  ⁴⁴⁸ tn Grk “they”; the referent (the crowd) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:29]  ⁴⁴⁹ sn To the theater. This location made the event a public spectacle. The Grand Theater in Ephesus (still standing today) stood facing down the main thoroughfare of the city toward the docks. It had a seating capacity of 25,000.

[19:29]  ⁴⁵⁰ tn Grk “to the theater with one accord.”

[19:30]  ⁴⁵¹ tn Or “enter 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…εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν δ. go into the assembly 19:30.”

[19:31]  ⁴⁵⁶ tn Grk “Asiarchs” (high-ranking officials of the province of Asia).

[19:31]  ⁴⁵⁷ tn Grk “sending”; the participle πέμψαντες (pemyante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[19:31]  ⁴⁵⁸ tn The words “a message” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.

[19:31]  ⁴⁵⁹ tn BDAG 242-43 s.v. δίδωμι 11 has “to cause (oneself) to go, go, venture somewhere (cp. our older ‘betake oneself’)…Ac 19:31.” The desire of these sympathetic authorities was surely to protect Paul’s life. The detail indicates how dangerous things had become.

[19:32]  ⁴⁶¹ tn Or “had assembled.”

[19:33]  ⁴⁶⁶ tn Or “Some of the crowd gave instructions to.”

[19:33]  ⁴⁶⁷ 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.

[19:33]  ⁴⁶⁸ 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.”

[19:33]  ⁴⁶⁹ tn Or “motioning.”

[19:33]  ⁴⁷⁰ 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.

[19:33]  ⁴⁷¹ 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.”

[19:34]  ⁴⁷¹ tn Grk “But recognizing.” The participle ἐπιγνόντες (epignonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[19:34]  ⁴⁷² tn Grk “[they shouted] with one voice from all of them” (an idiom).

[19:34]  ⁴⁷³ sn Artemis was a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus, 1.25 mi (2 km) northeast of the Grand Theater. Dimensions were 418 ft by 239 ft (125 m by 72 m) for the platform; the temple proper was 377 ft by 180 ft (113 m by 54 m). The roof was supported by 117 columns, each 60 ft (18 m) high by 6 ft (1.8 m) in diameter. The Emperor Justinian of Byzantium later took these columns for use in construction of the Hagia Sophia, where they still exist (in modern day Istanbul).

[19:34]  ⁴⁷⁴ sn They all shouted…for about two hours. The extent of the tumult shows the racial and social tensions of a cosmopolitan city like Ephesus, indicating what the Christians in such locations had to face.

[19:35]  ⁴⁷⁶ tn Or “clerk.” The “scribe” (γραμματεύς, grammateu") was the keeper of the city’s records.

[19:35]  ⁴⁷⁷ tn This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo").

[19:35]  ⁴⁷⁸ tn See BDAG 670 s.v. νεωκόρος. The city is described as the “warden” or “guardian” of the goddess and her temple.

[19:35]  ⁴⁷⁹ sn Artemis was a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.

[19:35]  ⁴⁸⁰ tn Or “from the sky” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”).

[19:36]  ⁴⁸¹ tn Grk “these things.”

[19:36]  ⁴⁸² tn The genitive absolute construction with the participle ὄντων (ontwn) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle. On the term translated “indisputable” see BDAG 68-69 s.v. ἀναντίρρητος which has “not to be contradicted, undeniable.”

[19:36]  ⁴⁸³ tn Grk “it is necessary that you be quiet.”

[19:36]  ⁴⁸⁴ tn L&N 88.98 has “pertaining to impetuous and reckless behavior – ‘reckless, impetuous.’…‘so then, you must calm down and not do anything reckless’ Ac 19:36.” The city secretary was asking that order be restored.

[19:37]  ⁴⁸⁶ tn Or perhaps, “desecrators of temples.”

[19:37]  ⁴⁸⁷ sn Nor blasphemers of our goddess. There was no formal crime with which Paul could be charged. He had the right to his religion as long as he did not act physically against the temple. Since no overt act had taken place, the official wanted the community to maintain the status quo on these religious matters. The remarks suggest Paul was innocent of any civil crime.

[19:38]  ⁴⁹¹ tn BDAG 600 s.v. λόγος 1.a.ε has “ἔχειν πρός τινα λόγον have a complaint against someone…19:38.”

[19:38]  ⁴⁹² tn L&N 56.1 has ‘if Demetrius and his workers have an accusation against someone, the courts are open’ Ac 19:38.”

[19:38]  ⁴⁹³ tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text but is implied. The official’s request is that the legal system be respected.

[19:39]  ⁴⁹⁶ tn Or “anything more than this.”

[19:39]  ⁴⁹⁷ tn Or “resolved.”

[19:39]  ⁴⁹⁸ tn Or “in a legal meeting of the citizens.” L&N 30.81 has “ἐν τῇ ἐννόμῳ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐπιλυθήσεται ‘it will have to be settled in a legal meeting of the citizens’ Ac 19:39.” This meeting took place three times a year.

[19:40]  ⁵⁰¹ tn Grk “For indeed.” The ascensive force of καί (kai) would be awkward to translate here.

[19:40]  ⁵⁰² 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.

[19:40]  ⁵⁰³ 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.

[19:40]  ⁵⁰⁴ 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.”

[19:41]  ⁵⁰⁶ tn Grk “And after.” 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.

[19:41]  ⁵⁰⁷ tn Grk “And saying.” The participle εἰπών (eipwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[19:41]  ⁵⁰⁸ tn Grk “these things.”

[19:41]  ⁵⁰⁹ sn Verse 41 in the English text is included as part of verse 40 in the standard critical editions of the Greek NT.