16:15 Now, brothers and sisters, 1 you know about the household of Stephanus, that as the first converts 2 of Achaia, they devoted themselves to ministry for the saints. I urge you
1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10.
2 tn Grk “firstfruits.”
3 tn Or “they have made up for your absence” (BDAG 70 s.v. ἀναπληρόω 3).
4 tn Grk “urged us, saying.” The participle λέγουσα (legousa) is redundant in English and has not been translated.
5 tn This is a first class condition in Greek, with the statement presented as real or true for the sake of the argument.
6 tn Or “faithful to the Lord.” BDAG 821 s.v. πίστος 2 states concerning this verse, “Of one who confesses the Christian faith believing or a believer in the Lord, in Christ, in God πιστ. τῷ κυρίῳ Ac 16:15.” L&N 11.17 has “one who is included among the faithful followers of Christ – ‘believer, Christian, follower.’”
7 tn Although BDAG 759 s.v. παραβιάζομαι has “urge strongly, prevail upon,” in contemporary English “persuade” is a more frequently used synonym for “prevail upon.”
8 tn Grk “And at.” 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.
9 tn Grk “taking them…he washed.” The participle παραλαβών (paralabwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
10 tn On this phrase BDAG 603 s.v. λούω 1 gives a literal translation as “by washing he freed them from the effects of the blows.”
11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the logical sequence.
12 sn All his family. It was often the case in the ancient world that conversion of the father led to the conversion of all those in the household.
13 tn Or “immediately.”