21:10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise up in arms 1 against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
2:32 a light, 7
for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory 8 to your people Israel.”
21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, 21 and on the earth nations will be in distress, 22 anxious 23 over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves.
1 tn For the translation “rise up in arms” see L&N 55.2.
2 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
3 tn Grk “by the mouth of the sword” (an idiom for the edge of a sword).
4 sn Here is the predicted judgment against the nation until the time of Gentile rule has passed: Its people will be led away as captives.
5 tn Grk “And Jerusalem.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
6 sn Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled implies a time when Israel again has a central role in God’s plan.
3 tn The syntax of this verse is disputed. Most read “light” and “glory” in parallelism, so Jesus is a light for revelation to the Gentiles and is glory to the people for Israel. Others see “light” (1:78-79) as a summary, while “revelation” and “glory” are parallel, so Jesus is light for all, but is revelation for the Gentiles and glory for Israel. Both readings make good sense and either could be correct, but Luke 1:78-79 and Acts 26:22-23 slightly favor this second option.
4 sn In other words, Jesus is a special cause for praise and honor (“glory”) for the nation.
4 tn Or “people.” The use of ἔθνος (eqnos, “nation”) here instead of “God” probably meant the man was not a full proselyte, but that he had simply been supportive of the Jews and their culture. He could have been a God-fearer. The Romans saw a stable religious community as politically helpful and often supported it (Josephus, Ant. 16.6.2 [16.162-165], 19.6.3 [19.300-311]).
5 tn In the Greek text, the pronoun αὐτός (autos) is included, making this emphatic. Naturally the force of this statement is causative, meaning the centurion either had the synagogue built or donated the cost of its construction.
6 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:15.
5 sn The passive voice verb be handed over does not indicate by whom, but other passages note the Jewish leadership and betrayal (9:22, 44).
6 sn See Luke 22:63; 23:11, 36.
7 tn Or “and insulted.” L&N 33.390 and 88.130 note ὑβρίζω (Jubrizw) can mean either “insult” or “mistreat with insolence.”
8 sn And spat on. Later Luke does not note this detail in the passion narrative in chaps. 22-23, but see Mark 14:65; 15:19; Matt 26:67; 27:30 where Jesus’ prediction is fulfilled.
6 tn Grk “seek.”
7 sn This repentance has its roots in declarations of the Old Testament. It is the Hebrew concept of a turning of direction.
8 tn Or “preached,” “announced.”
9 sn To all nations. The same Greek term (τὰ ἔθνη, ta eqnh) may be translated “the Gentiles” or “the nations.” The hope of God in Christ was for all the nations from the beginning.
10 sn Beginning from Jerusalem. See Acts 2, which is where it all starts.
8 sn Signs in the sun and moon and stars are cosmic signs that turn our attention to the end and the Son of Man’s return for the righteous. OT imagery is present: See Isa 13:9-10; 24:18-20; 34:4; Ezek 32:7-8; Joel 2:1, 30-31; 3:15.
9 tn Grk “distress of nations.”
10 tn Or “in consternation” (L&N 32.9).
9 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the dispute among the apostles.
10 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
11 sn The title ‘benefactor,’ highlighting grace and meaning something like “helper of the people,” was even given to tyrants (2 Macc 4:2; 3 Macc 3:19; Josephus, J. W. 3.9.8 [3.459]).
10 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
11 sn They began to accuse him. There were three charges: (1) disturbing Jewish peace; (2) fomenting rebellion through advocating not paying taxes (a lie – 20:20-26); and (3) claiming to be a political threat to Rome, by claiming to be a king, an allusion to Jesus’ messianic claims. The second and third charges were a direct challenge to Roman authority. Pilate would be forced to do something about them.
12 tn On the use of the term διαστρέφω (diastrefw) here, see L&N 31.71 and 88.264.
13 tn Grk “and forbidding.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated to suggest to the English reader that this and the following charge are specifics, while the previous charge was a summary one. See the note on the word “misleading” earlier in this verse.
14 tn This was a “poll tax.” L&N 57.182 states this was “a payment made by the people of one nation to another, with the implication that this is a symbol of submission and dependence – ‘tribute tax.’”
15 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
16 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”