53:7 He was treated harshly and afflicted, 1
but he did not even open his mouth.
Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block,
like a sheep silent before her shearers,
he did not even open his mouth. 2
“He was led like a sheep to slaughter,
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did 24 not open his mouth.
Now on that day a great 26 persecution began 27 against the church in Jerusalem, 28 and all 29 except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions 30 of Judea and Samaria.
2:22 “Men of Israel, 31 listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, 32 wonders, and miraculous signs 33 that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know – 2:23 this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed 34 by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles. 35
1 tn The translation assumes the Niphal is passive; another option is take the clause (note the subject + verb pattern) as concessive and the Niphal as reflexive, “though he humbled himself.”
2 sn This verse emphasizes the servant’s silent submission. The comparison to a sheep does not necessarily suggest a sacrificial metaphor. Sheep were slaughtered for food as well as for sacrificial rituals, and טֶבַח (tevakh) need not refer to sacrificial slaughter (see Gen 43:16; Prov 7:22; 9:2; Jer 50:27; note also the use of the related verb in Exod 21:37; Deut 28:31; 1 Sam 25:11).
3 tn The articular πονηρός (ponhro", “the evildoer”) cannot be translated simply as “evil” for then the command would be “do not resist evil.” Every instance of this construction in Matthew is most likely personified, referring either to an evildoer (13:49) or, more often, “the evil one” (as in 5:37; 6:13; 13:19, 38).
4 tc ‡ Many
5 sn A legion was a Roman army unit of about 6,000 soldiers, so twelve legions would be 72,000.
6 tn Grk “But answering, Jesus said.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation.
7 tn Grk “his”; the referent (the slave of the high priest mentioned in the previous verse) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 sn When Jesus healed the man’s ear he showed grace even to those who hated him, following his own teaching (Luke 6:27-36).
9 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
10 tn This title, literally “official of the temple” (στρατηγὸς τοῦ ἱεροῦ, strathgo" tou Jierou), referred to the commander of the Jewish soldiers who guarded and maintained order in the Jerusalem temple. Here, since the term is plural, it has been translated “officers of the temple guard” rather than “commanders of the temple guard,” since the idea of a number of commanders might be confusing to the modern English reader.
11 tn Or “a revolutionary.” This term can refer to one who stirs up rebellion: BDAG 594 s.v. λῃστής 2 has “revolutionary, insurrectionist, guerrilla” citing evidence from Josephus (J. W. 2.13.2-3 [2.253-254]). However, this usage generally postdates Jesus’ time. It does refer to a figure of violence. Luke uses the same term for the highwaymen who attack the traveler in the parable of the good Samaritan (10:30).
12 tn Grk “in the temple.”
13 tn Grk “lay hands on me.”
14 tn Or “your time.”
15 tn Or “authority,” “domain.”
16 tn Grk “into the praetorium.”
17 tn Grk “said to him.” The words “to him” are not translated because they are unnecessary in contemporary English style.
18 tn Or “the power.”
19 tn Grk “know that I have the authority to release you and the authority to crucify you.” Repetition of “the authority” is unnecessarily redundant English style.
20 tn Or “power.”
21 tn Or “who delivered me over to you.”
22 tn Grk “has the greater sin” (an idiom).
23 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the man) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
24 tn Grk “does.” The present tense here was translated as a past tense to maintain consistency with the first line of the quotation (“he was led like a sheep to slaughter”), which has an aorist passive verb normally translated as a past tense in English.
25 tn The term ἀναίρεσις (anairesi") can refer to murder (BDAG 64 s.v.; 2 Macc 5:13; Josephus, Ant. 5.2.12 [5.165]).
26 tn Or “severe.”
27 tn Grk “Now there happened on that day a great persecution.” It is less awkward to say in English “Now on that day a great persecution began.”
28 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
29 sn All. Given that the Jerusalem church is still active after this and that the Hellenists are the focus of Acts 6-8, it is possible to argue that only the Hellenistic Christians were forced to scatter.
30 tn Or “countryside.”
31 tn Or “Israelite men,” although this is less natural English. The Greek term here is ἀνήρ (anhr), which only exceptionally is used in a generic sense of both males and females. In this context, it is conceivable that this is a generic usage, although it can also be argued that Peter’s remarks were addressed primarily to the men present, even if women were there.
32 tn Or “miraculous deeds.”
33 tn Again, the context indicates the miraculous nature of these signs, and this is specified in the translation.
34 tn Or “you killed.”
35 tn Grk “at the hands of lawless men.” At this point the term ἄνομος (anomo") refers to non-Jews who live outside the Jewish (Mosaic) law, rather than people who broke any or all laws including secular laws. Specifically it is a reference to the Roman soldiers who carried out Jesus’ crucifixion.