Acts 1:1

Jesus Ascends to Heaven

1:1 I wrote ¹  the former ²  account, ³  Theophilus, ⁴  about all that Jesus began to do and teach

Acts 27:35

27:35 After he said this, Paul ⁵  took bread ⁶  and gave thanks to God in front of them all, ⁷  broke ⁸  it, and began to eat.

Acts 18:26

18:26 He began to speak out fearlessly ⁹  in the synagogue, ¹⁰  but when Priscilla and Aquila ¹¹  heard him, they took him aside ¹²  and explained the way of God to him more accurately.

Acts 24:2

24:2 When Paul ¹³  had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, ¹⁴  saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time ¹⁵  of peace through your rule, ¹⁶  and reforms ¹⁷  are being made in this nation ¹⁸  through your foresight. ¹⁹ 

[1:1]  ¹ tn Or “produced,” Grk “made.”

[1:1]  ² tn Or “first.” The translation “former” is preferred because “first” could imply to the modern English reader that the author means that his previous account was the first one to be written down. The Greek term πρῶτος (prwtos) does not necessarily mean “first” in an absolute sense, but can refer to the first in a set or series. That is what is intended here – the first account (known as the Gospel of Luke) as compared to the second one (known as Acts).

[1:1]  ³ tn The Greek word λόγος (logos) is sometimes translated “book” (NRSV, NIV) or “treatise” (KJV). A formal, systematic treatment of a subject is implied, but the word “book” may be too specific and slightly misleading to the modern reader, so “account” has been used.

[1:1]  ⁴ tn Grk “O Theophilus,” but the usage of the vocative in Acts with ὦ (w) is unemphatic, following more the classical idiom (see ExSyn 69).

[27:35]  ⁵ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[27:35]  ⁶ tn Grk “taking bread, gave thanks.” The participle λαβών (labwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:35]  ⁷ tn Or “before them all,” but here this could be misunderstood to indicate a temporal sequence.

[27:35]  ⁸ tn Grk “and breaking it, he began.” The participle κλάσας (klasas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[18:26]  ⁹ tn Or “boldly.” This is a frequent term in Acts (9:27-28; 13:46; 14:3; 19:8; 26:26).

[18:26]  ¹⁰ sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.

[18:26]  ¹¹ sn Priscilla and Aquila. This key couple, of which Priscilla was an important enough figure to be mentioned by name, instructed Apollos about the most recent work of God. See also the note on Aquila in 18:2.

[18:26]  ¹² tn BDAG 883 s.v. προσλαμβάνω 3 has “take aside, mid. τινά someone…So prob. also Ac 18:26: Priscilla and Aquila take Apollos aside to teach him undisturbed.”

[24:2]  ¹³ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[24:2]  ¹⁴ tn Or “began to bring charges, saying.”

[24:2]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “experienced much peace.”

[24:2]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “through you” (“rule” is implied).

[24:2]  ¹⁷ tn This term is used only once in the NT (a hapax legomenon). It refers to improvements in internal administration (BDAG 251 s.v. διόρθωμα).

[24:2]  ¹⁸ tn Or “being made for this people.”

[24:2]  ¹⁹ sn References to peaceful rule, reforms, and the governor’s foresight in the opening address by Tertullus represent an attempt to praise the governor and thus make him favorable to the case. Actual descriptions of his rule portray him as inept (Tacitus, Annals 12.54; Josephus, J. W. 2.13.2-7 [2.253-270]).