4:27 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against 3 your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 4 4:28 to do as much as your power 5 and your plan 6 had decided beforehand 7 would happen.
1 tn Or “you killed.”
2 tn Grk “at the hands of lawless men.” At this point the term ἄνομος (anomo") refers to non-Jews who live outside the Jewish (Mosaic) law, rather than people who broke any or all laws including secular laws. Specifically it is a reference to the Roman soldiers who carried out Jesus’ crucifixion.
3 sn The application of Ps 2:1-2 is that Jews and Gentiles are opposing Jesus. The surprise of the application is that Jews are now found among the enemies of God’s plan.
4 sn A wordplay on “Christ,” v. 26, which means “one who has been anointed.”
5 tn Grk “hand,” here a metaphor for God’s strength or power or authority.
6 tn Or “purpose,” “will.”
7 tn Or “had predestined.” Since the term “predestine” is something of a technical theological term, not in wide usage in contemporary English, the translation “decide beforehand” was used instead (see L&N 30.84). God’s direction remains as the major theme.