Acts 26:11

26:11 I punished ¹  them often in all the synagogues ²  and tried to force ³  them to blaspheme. Because I was so furiously enraged ⁴  at them, I went to persecute ⁵  them even in foreign cities.

Acts 26:24-25

26:24 As Paul ⁶  was saying these things in his defense, Festus ⁷  exclaimed loudly, “You have lost your mind, ⁸  Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!” 26:25 But Paul replied, ⁹  “I have not lost my mind, most excellent Festus, ¹⁰  but am speaking ¹¹  true and rational ¹²  words.

[26:11]  ¹ tn Grk “and punishing…I tried.” The participle τιμωρῶν (timwrwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

[26:11]  ² sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.

[26:11]  ³ tn The imperfect verb ἠνάγκαζον (hnankazon) has been translated as a conative imperfect (so BDAG 60 s.v. ἀναγκάζω 1, which has “ἠνάγκαζον βλασφημεῖν I tried to force them to blaspheme Ac 26:11”).

[26:11]  ⁴ tn Or “was so insanely angry with them.” BDAG 322 s.v. ἐμμαίνομαι states, “to be filled with such anger that one appears to be mad, be enraged…περισσῶς ἐμμαινόμενος αὐτοῖς being furiously enraged at them Ac 26:11”; L&N 88.182 s.v. ἐμμαίνομαι, “to be so furiously angry with someone as to be almost out of one’s mind – ‘to be enraged, to be infuriated, to be insanely angry’ …‘I was so infuriated with them that I even went to foreign cities to persecute them’ Ac 26:11.”

[26:11]  ⁵ tn Or “I pursued them even as far as foreign cities.”

[26:24]  ⁶ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[26:24]  ⁷ sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.

[26:24]  ⁸ tn On the term translated “lost your mind” see BDAG 610 s.v. μαίνομαι, which has “you’re out of your mind, you’re raving, said to one whose enthusiasm seems to have outrun better judgment 26:24.”

[26:25]  ⁹ tn Grk “said.”

[26:25]  ¹⁰ sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.

[26:25]  ¹¹ tn Or “declaring.” BDAG 125 s.v. ἀποφθέγγομαι states, “speak out, declare boldly or loudly…τὶ: σωφροσύνης ῥήματα Ac 26:25.”

[26:25]  ¹² tn BDAG 987 s.v. σωφροσύνη 1 has “gener. soundness of mind, reasonableness, rationality…ἀληθείας καὶ σωφροσύνης ῥήματα true and rational words (opp. μαίνομαι) Ac 26:25.”