Acts 26:18

26:18 to open their eyes so that they turn ¹  from darkness to light and from the power ²  of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share ³  among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Acts 26:1

Paul Offers His Defense

26:1 So Agrippa ⁴  said to Paul, “You have permission ⁵  to speak for yourself.” Then Paul held out his hand ⁶  and began his defense: ⁷ 

Acts 1:9

1:9 After ⁸  he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Acts 1:1

Jesus Ascends to Heaven

1:1 I wrote ⁹  the former ¹⁰  account, ¹¹  Theophilus, ¹²  about all that Jesus began to do and teach

Acts 4:3

4:3 So ¹³  they seized ¹⁴  them and put them in jail ¹⁵  until the next day (for it was already evening).

¹ sn To open their eyes so that they turn… Here is Luke’s most comprehensive report of Paul’s divine calling. His role was to call humanity to change their position before God and experience God’s forgiveness as a part of God’s family. The image of turning is a key one in the NT: Luke 1:79; Rom 2:19; 13:12; 2 Cor 4:6; 6:14; Eph 5:8; Col 1:12; 1 Thess 5:5. See also Luke 1:77-79; 3:3; 24:47.

² tn BDAG 352-53 s.v. ἐξουσία 2 states, “Also of Satan’s power Ac 26:18.” It is also possible to translate this “the domain of Satan” (cf. BDAG 353 s.v. 6)

³ tn Or “and an inheritance.”

⁴ sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.

⁵ tn Grk “It is permitted for you.”

⁶ tn Or “extended his hand” (a speaker’s gesture).

⁷ tn Or “and began to speak in his own defense.”

⁸ 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.

⁹ tn Or “produced,” Grk “made.”

¹⁰ tn Or “first.” The translation “former” is preferred because “first” could imply to the modern English reader that the author means that his previous account was the first one to be written down. The Greek term πρῶτος (prwtos) does not necessarily mean “first” in an absolute sense, but can refer to the first in a set or series. That is what is intended here – the first account (known as the Gospel of Luke) as compared to the second one (known as Acts).

¹¹ tn The Greek word λόγος (logos) is sometimes translated “book” (NRSV, NIV) or “treatise” (KJV). A formal, systematic treatment of a subject is implied, but the word “book” may be too specific and slightly misleading to the modern reader, so “account” has been used.

¹² tn Grk “O Theophilus,” but the usage of the vocative in Acts with ὦ (w) is unemphatic, following more the classical idiom (see ExSyn 69).

¹³ tn Grk “And” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the logical sequence of events.

¹⁴ tn Or “they arrested”; Grk “they laid hands on.”

¹⁵ tn Or “prison,” “custody.”