2:17 ‘And in the last days 13 it will be,’ God says,
‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people, 14
and your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
and your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
4:1 Therefore we must be wary 15 that, while the promise of entering his rest remains open, none of you may seem to have come short of it.
1:1 After God spoke long ago 16 in various portions 17 and in various ways 18 to our ancestors 19 through the prophets,
1:1 After God spoke long ago 20 in various portions 21 and in various ways 22 to our ancestors 23 through the prophets,
1:1 After God spoke long ago 24 in various portions 25 and in various ways 26 to our ancestors 27 through the prophets,
1 tn Grk “the flesh counts for nothing.”
2 tn Or “are spirit-giving and life-producing.”
3 tn Grk “Men brothers,” but this is both awkward and unnecessary in English.
4 tn Grk “sons”
5 tn Or “race.”
6 tn Grk “and those among you who fear God,” but this is practically a technical term for the category called God-fearers, Gentiles who worshiped the God of Israel and in many cases kept the Mosaic law, but did not take the final step of circumcision necessary to become a proselyte to Judaism. See further K. G. Kuhn, TDNT 6:732-34, 743-44. Note how Paul includes God-fearing Gentiles as recipients of this promise.
7 tn Grk “word.”
8 tn This term is frequently used in the LXX of the service performed by priests and Levites in the tabernacle (Exod 28:35, 43; 29:30; 30:20; 35:19; 39:26; Num 1:50; 3:6, 31) and the temple (2 Chr 31:2; 35:3; Joel 1:9, 13; 2:17, and many more examples). According to BDAG 591 s.v. λειτουργέω 1.b it is used “of other expression of religious devotion.” Since the previous verse described the prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch, it is probable that the term here describes two of them (Barnabas and Saul) as they were serving in that capacity. Since they were not in Jerusalem where the temple was located, general religious service is referred to here.
9 tn Or “Appoint.”
10 tn Grk “These men are not drunk, as you suppose.”
11 tn Grk “only the third hour.”
12 sn Note how in the quotation that follows all genders, ages, and classes are included. The event is like a hope Moses expressed in Num 11:29.
13 sn The phrase in the last days is not quoted from Joel, but represents Peter’s interpretive explanation of the current events as falling “in the last days.”
14 tn Grk “on all flesh.”
15 tn Grk “let us fear.”
16 tn Or “spoke formerly.”
17 tn Or “parts.” The idea is that God’s previous revelation came in many parts and was therefore fragmentary or partial (L&N 63.19), in comparison with the final and complete revelation contained in God’s Son. However, some interpret πολυμερῶς (polumerw") in Heb 1:1 to mean “on many different occasions” and would thus translate “many times” (L&N 67.11). This is the option followed by the NIV: “at many times and in various ways.” Finally, this word is also understood to refer to the different manners in which something may be done, and would then be translated “in many different ways” (L&N 89.81). In this last case, the two words πολυμερῶς and πολυτρόπως (polutropw") mutually reinforce one another (“in many and various ways,” NRSV).
18 tn These two phrases are emphasized in Greek by being placed at the beginning of the sentence and by alliteration.
19 tn Grk “to the fathers.”
20 tn Or “spoke formerly.”
21 tn Or “parts.” The idea is that God’s previous revelation came in many parts and was therefore fragmentary or partial (L&N 63.19), in comparison with the final and complete revelation contained in God’s Son. However, some interpret πολυμερῶς (polumerw") in Heb 1:1 to mean “on many different occasions” and would thus translate “many times” (L&N 67.11). This is the option followed by the NIV: “at many times and in various ways.” Finally, this word is also understood to refer to the different manners in which something may be done, and would then be translated “in many different ways” (L&N 89.81). In this last case, the two words πολυμερῶς and πολυτρόπως (polutropw") mutually reinforce one another (“in many and various ways,” NRSV).
22 tn These two phrases are emphasized in Greek by being placed at the beginning of the sentence and by alliteration.
23 tn Grk “to the fathers.”
24 tn Or “spoke formerly.”
25 tn Or “parts.” The idea is that God’s previous revelation came in many parts and was therefore fragmentary or partial (L&N 63.19), in comparison with the final and complete revelation contained in God’s Son. However, some interpret πολυμερῶς (polumerw") in Heb 1:1 to mean “on many different occasions” and would thus translate “many times” (L&N 67.11). This is the option followed by the NIV: “at many times and in various ways.” Finally, this word is also understood to refer to the different manners in which something may be done, and would then be translated “in many different ways” (L&N 89.81). In this last case, the two words πολυμερῶς and πολυτρόπως (polutropw") mutually reinforce one another (“in many and various ways,” NRSV).
26 tn These two phrases are emphasized in Greek by being placed at the beginning of the sentence and by alliteration.
27 tn Grk “to the fathers.”