Acts 1:7

1:7 He told them, “You are not permitted to know¹ the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.

Acts 2:24

2:24 But God raised him up,² having released³ him from the pains⁴ of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power.⁵

Acts 6:3

6:3 But carefully select from among you, brothers,⁶ seven⁷ men who are well-attested,⁸ full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge⁹ of this necessary task.¹⁰

Acts 7:55

7:55 But Stephen,¹¹ full¹² of the Holy Spirit, looked intently¹³ toward heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing¹⁴ at the right hand of God.

Acts 11:24

11:24 because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a significant number of people¹⁵ were brought to the Lord.

Acts 14:19

14:19 But Jews came from Antioch¹⁶ and Iconium,¹⁷ and after winning¹⁸ the crowds over, they stoned¹⁹ Paul and dragged him out of the city, presuming him to be dead.

Acts 21:31

21:31 While they were trying²⁰ to kill him, a report²¹ was sent up²² to the commanding officer²³ of the cohort²⁴ that all Jerusalem was in confusion.²⁵

¹tn Grk “It is not for you to know.”

²tn Grk “Whom God raised up.”

³tn Or “having freed.”

⁴sn The term translated pains is frequently used to describe pains associated with giving birth (see Rev 12:2). So there is irony here in the mixed metaphor.

⁵tn Or “for him to be held by it” (in either case, “it” refers to death’s power).

³tn It is not clear from a historical standpoint (but it is unlikely) that women would have been involved in the selection process too. For this reason the translation “brothers” has been retained, rather than “brothers and sisters” (used in contexts where both male and female believers are clearly addressed).

⁴sn Seven. Jewish town councils often had seven members (Josephus, Ant. 4.18.14 [4.214]).

⁵tn Or “are of good reputation” (BDAG 618 s.v. μαρτυρέω 2.b).

⁶tn The translation “put in charge” is given by BDAG 492 s.v. καθίστημι 2.

⁷tn Grk “of this need”; translated “necessary work” or “needed task” by L&N 42.22.

⁴tn Grk “he”; the referent (Stephen) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵tn Grk “being full,” but the participle ὑπάρχων (Juparcwn) has not been translated since it would be redundant in English.

⁶tn Grk “looking intently toward heaven, saw.” The participle ἀτενίσας (atenisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

⁷sn The picture of Jesus standing (rather than seated) probably indicates his rising to receive his child. By announcing his vision, Stephen thoroughly offended his audience, who believed no one could share God’s place in heaven. The phrase is a variation on Ps 110:1.

⁵tn Grk “a significant crowd.”

⁶sn Antioch was a city in Pisidia about 90 mi (145 km) west northwest of Lystra.

⁷sn Iconium was a city in Lycaonia about 18 mi (30 km) north of Lystra. Note how Jews from other cities were chasing Paul (2 Cor 11:4-6; Gal 2:4-5; Acts 9:16).

⁸tn The participle πείσαντες (peisante") is taken temporally (BDAG 791 s.v. πείθω 1.c).

⁹tn Grk “stoning Paul they dragged him.” The participle λιθάσαντες (liqasante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

⁷tn Grk “seeking.”

⁸tn Or “information” (originally concerning a crime; BDAG 1050 s.v. φάσις).

⁹tn Grk “went up”; this verb is used because the report went up to the Antonia Fortress where the Roman garrison was stationed.

¹⁰tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). In Greek the term χιλίαρχος (ciliarco") literally described the “commander of a thousand,” but it was used as the standard translation for the Latin tribunus militum or tribunus militare, the military tribune who commanded a cohort of 600 men.

¹¹sn A cohort was a Roman military unit of about 600 soldiers, one-tenth of a legion.

¹²tn BDAG 953 s.v. συγχέω has “Pass. w. act.force be in confusion…ὅλη συγχύννεται ᾿Ιερουσαλήμ 21:31.”