2:1 Now 7 in those days a decree 8 went out from Caesar 9 Augustus 10 to register 11 all the empire 12 for taxes.
2:1 Now 17 in those days a decree 18 went out from Caesar 19 Augustus 20 to register 21 all the empire 22 for taxes.
1 tn Grk “And it happened that while.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
2 tn Grk “while he blessed them.”
3 tn Grk “he departed from them.”
4 tc The reference to the ascension (“and was taken up into heaven”) is lacking in א* D it sys, but it is found in Ì75 and the rest of the ms tradition. The authenticity of the statement here seems to be presupposed in Acts 1:2, for otherwise it is difficult to account for Luke’s reference to the ascension there. For a helpful discussion, see TCGNT 162-63.
5 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
6 sn Luke tells the story of the empty tomb with little drama. He simply notes that when they arrived the stone had been rolled away in a position where the tomb could be entered. This large stone was often placed in a channel so that it could be easily moved by rolling it aside. The other possibility is that it was merely placed over the opening in a position from which it had now been moved.
7 tn Grk “Now it happened that.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
8 sn This decree was a formal decree from the Roman Senate.
9 tn Or “from the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
10 sn Caesar Augustus refers to Octavian, who was Caesar from 27
11 tn Grk “that all the empire should be registered for taxes.” The passive infinitive ἀπογράφεσθαι (apografesqai) has been rendered as an active in the translation to improve the English style. The verb is regarded as a technical term for official registration in tax lists (BDAG 108 s.v. ἀπογράφω a).
12 tn Grk “the whole (inhabited) world,” but this was a way to refer to the Roman empire (L&N 1.83).
13 sn The Greek word for today (σήμερον, shmeron) occurs eleven times in the Gospel of Luke (2:11; 4:21; 5:26; 12:28; 13:32-33; 19:5, 9; 22:34, 61; 23:43) and nine times in Acts. Its use, especially in passages such as 2:11, 4:21, 5:26; 19:5, 9, signifies the dawning of the era of messianic salvation and the fulfillment of the plan of God. Not only does it underscore the idea of present fulfillment in Jesus’ ministry, but it also indicates salvific fulfillment present in the church (cf. Acts 1:6; 3:18; D. L. Bock, Luke [BECNT], 1:412; I. H. Marshall, Luke, [NIGTC], 873).
14 tn Or “town.” See the note on “city” in v. 4.
15 tn This is another indication of a royal, messianic connection.
16 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
17 tn Grk “Now it happened that.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
18 sn This decree was a formal decree from the Roman Senate.
19 tn Or “from the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
20 sn Caesar Augustus refers to Octavian, who was Caesar from 27
21 tn Grk “that all the empire should be registered for taxes.” The passive infinitive ἀπογράφεσθαι (apografesqai) has been rendered as an active in the translation to improve the English style. The verb is regarded as a technical term for official registration in tax lists (BDAG 108 s.v. ἀπογράφω a).
22 tn Grk “the whole (inhabited) world,” but this was a way to refer to the Roman empire (L&N 1.83).
23 tn This phrase is a descriptive comparison. The Spirit is not a dove, but descends like one in some type of bodily representation.
24 tn Grk “my beloved Son,” or “my Son, the beloved [one].” The force of ἀγαπητός (agaphtos) is often “pertaining to one who is the only one of his or her class, but at the same time is particularly loved and cherished” (L&N 58.53; cf. also BDAG 7 s.v. 1).
25 tc Instead of “You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight,” one Greek ms and several Latin