‘Why do the nations 3 rage, 4
and the peoples plot foolish 5 things?
4:26 The kings of the earth stood together, 6
and the rulers assembled together,
against the Lord and against his 7 Christ.’ 8
4:27 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against 9 your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 10 4:28 to do as much as your power 11 and your plan 12 had decided beforehand 13 would happen.
1 tn Grk “by the mouth of” (an idiom).
2 tn Or “ancestor”; Grk “father.”
3 tn Or “Gentiles.”
4 sn The Greek word translated rage includes not only anger but opposition, both verbal and nonverbal. See L&N 88.185.
5 tn Or “futile”; traditionally, “vain.”
6 tn Traditionally, “The kings of the earth took their stand.”
7 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
8 sn A quotation from Ps 2:1-2.
9 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.
10 sn A wordplay on “Christ,” v. 26, which means “one who has been anointed.”
11 tn Grk “hand,” here a metaphor for God’s strength or power or authority.
12 tn Or “purpose,” “will.”
13 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.
14 tn Grk “hearts.”
15 tn Or “his intent.”
16 tn The infinitive ποιῆσαι (poihsai) was translated here as giving the logical means by which God’s purpose was carried out.
17 tn On this term BDAG 203 s.v. γνώμη 4 states, “declaration, decision, resolution…of God Rv 17:17.”
18 tn For this translation see BDAG 168 s.v. βασιλεία 1.a, “kingship, royal power, royal rule.”
19 tn Or “completed.”