2 Samuel 5:23-24

5:23 So David asked the Lord what he should do. ¹  This time ²  the Lord ³  said to him, “Don’t march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees. ⁴  5:24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army ⁵  of the Philistines.”

Isaiah 28:16

28:16 Therefore, this is what the sovereign master, the Lord, says:

“Look, I am laying ⁶  a stone in Zion,

an approved ⁷  stone,

set in place as a precious cornerstone for the foundation. ⁸ 

The one who maintains his faith will not panic. ⁹ 

Luke 24:49

24:49 And look, I am sending you ¹⁰  what my Father promised. ¹¹  But stay in the city ¹²  until you have been clothed with power ¹³  from on high.”

Acts 1:7

1:7 He told them, “You are not permitted to know ¹⁴  the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.

¹ tn The words “what to do” are not in the Hebrew text.

² tn The words “this time” are not in the Hebrew text.

³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn Some translate as “balsam trees” (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV, NJB, NLT); cf. KJV, NKJV, ASV “mulberry trees”; NAB “mastic trees”; NEB, REB “aspens.” The exact identification of the type of tree or plant is uncertain.

⁵ tn Heb “camp” (so NAB).

⁶ tc The Hebrew text has a third person verb form, which does not agree with the first person suffix that precedes. The form should be emended to יֹסֵד (yosed), a Qal active participle used in a present progressive or imminent future sense.

⁷ tn Traditionally “tested,” but the implication is that it has passed the test and stands approved.

⁸ sn The reality behind the metaphor is not entirely clear from the context. The stone appears to represent someone or something that gives Zion stability. Perhaps the ideal Davidic ruler is in view (see 32:1). Another option is that the image of beginning a building project by laying a precious cornerstone suggests that God is about to transform Zion through judgment and begin a new covenant community that will experience his protection (see 4:3-6; 31:5; 33:20-24; 35:10).

⁹ tn Heb “will not hurry,” i.e., act in panic.

¹⁰ tn Grk “sending on you.”

¹¹ tn Grk “the promise of my Father,” with τοῦ πατρός (tou patros) translated as a subjective genitive. This is a reference to the Holy Spirit and looks back to how one could see Messiah had come with the promise of old (Luke 3:15-18). The promise is rooted in Jer 31:31 and Ezek 36:26.

¹² sn The city refers to Jerusalem.

¹³ sn Until you have been clothed with power refers to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. What the Spirit supplies is enablement. See Luke 12:11-12; 21:12-15. The difference the Spirit makes can be seen in Peter (compare Luke 22:54-62 with Acts 2:14-41).

¹⁴ tn Grk “It is not for you to know.”