2:29 “Now, according to your word, 4 Sovereign Lord, 5 permit 6 your servant 7 to depart 8 in peace.
7:1 After Jesus 25 had finished teaching all this to the people, 26 he entered Capernaum. 27
2:15 When 57 the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem 58 and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord 59 has made known to us.”
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
2 sn On his words see Luke 9:22.
3 tn In Greek, the phrase πᾶν ῥῆμα (pan rJhma, “nothing”) has an emphatic position, giving it emphasis as the lesson in the entire discussion. The remark is a call for faith.
5 sn The phrase according to your word again emphasizes that God will perform his promise.
6 tn The Greek word translated here by “Sovereign Lord” is δεσπότης (despoth").
7 sn This short prophetic declaration is sometimes called the Nunc dimittis, which comes from the opening phrase of the saying in Latin, “now dismiss,” a fairly literal translation of the Greek verb ἀπολύεις (apolueis, “now release”) in this verse.
8 tn Here the Greek word δοῦλος (doulos, “slave”) has been translated “servant” since it acts almost as an honorific term for one specially chosen and appointed to carry out the Lord’s tasks.
9 tn Grk “now release your servant.”
7 tn Grk “And they.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast.
8 tn Grk “they”; the referent (his parents) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
9 sn This was the first of many times those around Jesus did not understand what he was saying at the time (9:45; 10:21-24; 18:34).
10 tn Or “the matter.”
11 tn Grk “which he spoke.”
9 sn The term pure nonsense can describe idle talk or a tale. The point is important, since the disciples reacted with disbelief that a resurrection was possible. Sometimes it is thought the ancients were gullible enough to believe anything. But these disciples needed convincing about the resurrection.
11 tn Grk “it”; the referent (the meaning of the statement) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
12 sn The passive verb had been concealed probably indicates that some force was preventing them from responding. It is debated whether God or Satan is meant here. By 24:25 it is clear that their lack of response is their own responsibility. The only way to reverse this is to pay careful attention as v. 44a urges.
13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate that in spite of their lack of understanding, the disciples were afraid to ask about it. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
13 tn Grk “And when.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
14 tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
15 tn Grk “the word which had been spoken to them.”
15 tn The term συμβάλλουσα (sumballousa) suggests more than remembering. She is trying to put things together here (Josephus, Ant. 2.5.3 [2.72]). The words “what they might mean” have been supplied in the translation to make this clear. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
17 sn Use of the singular high priesthood to mention two figures is unusual but accurate, since Annas was the key priest from
18 tn The term translated “word” here is not λόγος (logos) but ῥῆμα (rJhma), and thus could refer to the call of the Lord to John to begin ministry.
19 tn Or “desert.”
19 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
20 tn Grk “After he had completed all his sayings in the hearing of the people.”
21 sn Capernaum was a town on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, 680 ft (204 m) below sea level. It was a major trade and economic center in the North Galilean region.
21 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “thus” to indicate the implied result of Jesus’ unexpected answer.
22 tn On this term, see BDAG 374 s.v. ἐπιλαμβάνομαι 3.
23 tn Grk “to trap him in a saying.”
24 tn Or “amazed.”
23 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
24 tn Grk “behold.”
25 tn Traditionally, “handmaid”; Grk “slave woman.” Though δούλη (doulh) is normally translated “woman servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free woman serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times… in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v. δοῦλος). The most accurate translation is “bondservant,” sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος (doulos), in that it often indicates one who sells himself or herself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.
26 tn Grk “let this be to me.”
27 sn The remark according to your word is a sign of Mary’s total submission to God’s will, a response that makes her exemplary.
28 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
25 tn Grk “And all.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
27 tn Grk “And Simon.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
28 tn Grk “answering, Simon said.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation to “Simon answered.”
29 tn The word ἐπιστάτης is a term of respect for a person of high status (see L&N 87.50).
30 tn The expression “at your word,” which shows Peter’s obedience, stands first in the Greek clause for emphasis.
31 tn Or “let down.”
29 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast.
30 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the twelve, v. 31) has been specified in the context for clarity.
31 tn Grk “And this.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
32 sn This failure of the Twelve to grasp what Jesus meant probably does not mean that they did not understand linguistically what Jesus said, but that they could not comprehend how this could happen to him, if he was really God’s agent. The saying being hidden probably refers to God’s sovereign timing.
33 tn Grk “the things having been said.” The active agent, Jesus, has been specified for clarity, and “said” has been translated as “meant” to indicate that comprehension of the significance is really in view here.
31 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
32 map For location see Map1-D3; Map2-C2; Map3-D5; Map4-C1; Map5-G3.
33 tn Or “was submitting.”
34 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast.
35 tn Or “all these words.”
36 sn On the phrase his mother kept all these things in her heart compare Luke 2:19.
33 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
34 tn “The word of the Lord” is a technical expression in OT literature, often referring to a divine prophetic utterance (e.g., Gen 15:1, Isa 1:10, Jonah 1:1). In the NT it occurs 15 times: 3 times as ῥῆμα τοῦ κυρίου (rJhma tou kuriou; here and in Acts 11:16, 1 Pet 1:25) and 12 times as λόγος τοῦ κυρίου (logo" tou kuriou; Acts 8:25; 13:44, 48, 49; 15:35, 36; 16:32; 19:10, 20; 1 Thess 1:8, 4:15; 2 Thess 3:1). As in the OT, this phrase focuses on the prophetic nature and divine origin of what has been said. Because of its technical nature the expression has been retained in the translation in preference to a smoother rendering like “remembered what the Lord had said” (cf. TEV, NLT).
35 tn Grk “And it happened that when.” 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. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
36 map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.
37 sn Note how although angels delivered the message, it was the Lord whose message is made known, coming through them.