17:8 If a matter is too difficult for you to judge – bloodshed, 5 legal claim, 6 or assault 7 – matters of controversy in your villages 8 – you must leave there and go up to the place the Lord your God chooses. 9
1:1 From Paul, 12 an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
1 tn Grk “about to open his mouth” (an idiom).
2 tn BDAG 902 s.v. ῥᾳδιούργημα states, “From the sense ‘prank, knavery, roguish trick, slick deed’ it is but a short step to that of a serious misdeed, crime, villainy…a serious piece of villainy Ac 18:14 (w. ἀδίκημα).”
3 tn According to BDAG 78 s.v. ἀνέχω 3 this is a legal technical term: “Legal t.t. κατὰ λόγον ἂν ἀνεσχόμην ὑμῶν I would have been justified in accepting your complaint Ac 18:14.”
4 tn Grk “accepting your complaint, O Jews.”
5 tn Heb “between blood and blood.”
6 tn Heb “between claim and claim.”
7 tn Heb “between blow and blow.”
8 tn Heb “gates.”
9 tc Several Greek recensions add “to place his name there,” thus completing the usual formula to describe the central sanctuary (cf. Deut 12:5, 11, 14, 18; 16:6). However, the context suggests that the local Levitical towns, and not the central sanctuary, are in mind.
10 tn Heb “to the
11 tn The Hebrew word תּוֹעֵבָה (to’evah, “an abomination”; cf. NAB) describes persons, things, or practices offensive to ritual or moral order. See M. Grisanti, NIDOTTE 4:314-18; see also the note on the word “abhorrent” in Deut 7:25.
12 tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.