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 4:2

4:2 angry ⁵  because they were teaching the people and announcing ⁶  in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

Acts 4:18

4:18 And they called them in and ordered ⁷  them not to speak or teach at all in the name ⁸  of Jesus.

Acts 5:42

5:42 And every day both in the temple courts ⁹  and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news ¹⁰  that Jesus was the Christ. ¹¹ 

Acts 20:20

20:20 You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming ¹²  to you anything that would be helpful, ¹³  and from teaching you publicly ¹⁴  and from house to house,

Acts 28:31

28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ ¹⁵  with complete boldness ¹⁶  and without restriction. ¹⁷ 

[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).

[4:2]  ⁵ tn Or “greatly annoyed,” “provoked.”

[4:2]  ⁶ tn Or “proclaiming.”

[4:18]  ⁹ tn Or “commanded.”

[4:18]  ¹⁰ sn In the name of Jesus. Once again, the “name” reflects the person. The person of Jesus and his authority is the “troubling” topic that, as far as the Jewish leadership is concerned, needs controlling.

[5:42]  ¹³ tn Grk “temple.” This is actually a reference to the courts surrounding the temple proper and has been translated accordingly.

[5:42]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “teaching and evangelizing.” They were still obeying God, not men (see 4:18-20; 5:29).

[5:42]  ¹⁵ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[20:20]  ¹⁷ tn Or “declaring.”

[20:20]  ¹⁸ tn Or “profitable.” BDAG 960 s.v. συμφέρω 2.b.α has “τὰ συμφέροντα what advances your best interests or what is good for you Ac 20:20,” but the broader meaning (s.v. 2, “to be advantageous, help, confer a benefit, be profitable/useful”) is equally possible in this context.

[20:20]  ¹⁹ tn Or “openly.”

[28:31]  ²¹ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[28:31]  ²² tn Or “openness.”

[28:31]  ²³ sn Proclaiming…with complete boldness and without restriction. Once again Paul’s imprisonment is on benevolent terms. The word of God is proclaimed triumphantly and boldly in Rome. Acts ends with this note: Despite all the attempts to stop it, the message goes forth.