1 tn Grk “at about the ninth hour of the day.” This would be the time for afternoon prayer.
2 tn Or “the angel of God.” Linguistically, “angel of God” is the same in both testaments (and thus, he is either “an angel of God” or “the angel of God” in both testaments). For arguments and implications, see ExSyn 252; M. J. Davidson, “Angels,” DJG, 9; W. G. MacDonald argues for “an angel” in both testaments: “Christology and ‘The Angel of the Lord’,” Current Issues in Biblical and Patristic Interpretation, 324-35.
3 tn The participles εἰσελθόντα (eiselqonta) and εἰπόντα (eiponta) are accusative, and thus best taken as adjectival participles modifying ἄγγελον (angelon): “an angel who came in and said.”
4 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Cornelius) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 tn Grk “said,” but in response to the angel’s address, “replied” is better English style.
6 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Or “your gifts to the needy.”
8 sn The language used in the expression gone up as a memorial before God parallels what one would say of acceptable sacrifices (Ps 141:2; Sir 35:6; 50:16).
9 tn Grk “And now.” 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.
10 sn Joppa was a seaport on the Philistine coast, in the same location as modern Jaffa.
11 tn Grk “a certain Simon.”
12 tn Or “with a certain Simon Berseus.” Although most modern English translations treat βυρσεῖ (bursei) as Simon’s profession (“Simon the tanner”), it is possible that the word is actually Simon’s surname (“Simon Berseus” or “Simon Tanner”). BDAG 185 s.v. βυρσεύς regards it as a surname. See also MM 118.
13 sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.
14 tn Or “just.”
15 tn The phrase τοῦ ἔθνους τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων (tou eqnou" twn Ioudaiwn) is virtually a technical term for the Jewish nation (1 Macc 10:25; 11:30, 33; Josephus, Ant. 14.10.22 [14.248]). “All the Jewish people,” while another possible translation of the Greek phrase, does not convey the technical sense of a reference to the nation in English.
16 tn Grk “hear words.”
17 tn Grk “And Cornelius.” 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.
18 tn Grk “said.”
19 tn Grk “at the ninth hour.” Again, this is the hour of afternoon prayer.
20 tn Grk “and behold.” The interjection ἰδού (idou) is difficult at times to translate into English. Here it has been translated as “suddenly” to convey the force of Cornelius’ account of the angel’s appearance.
21 tn Or “your gifts to the needy.”
22 sn This statement is a paraphrase rather than an exact quotation of Acts 10:4.
23 tn Or “with a certain Simon Berseus.” Although most modern English translations treat βυρσεῖ (bursei) as Simon’s profession (“Simon the tanner”), it is possible that the word is actually Simon’s surname (“Simon Berseus” or “Simon Tanner”). BDAG 185 s.v. βυρσεύς regards it as a surname.
24 tn Grk “And when.” 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.
25 tn Or “delivered.”
26 sn Here the hand of Herod is a metaphor for Herod’s power or control.
27 sn King Herod was Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod I (Herod the Great).
28 sn Luke characterizes the opposition here as the Jewish people, including their leadership (see 12:3).
29 tn Grk “sent for service for the sake of those.”