Acts 2:16-36
Context2:16 But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel: 1
2:17 ‘And in the last days 2 it will be,’ God says,
‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people, 3
and your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
and your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
2:18 Even on my servants, 4 both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 5
2:19 And I will perform wonders in the sky 6 above
and miraculous signs 7 on the earth below,
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
2:20 The sun will be changed to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the great and glorious 8 day of the Lord comes.
2:21 And then 9 everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ 10
2:22 “Men of Israel, 11 listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, 12 wonders, and miraculous signs 13 that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know – 2:23 this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed 14 by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles. 15 2:24 But God raised him up, 16 having released 17 him from the pains 18 of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power. 19 2:25 For David says about him,
‘I saw the Lord always in front of me, 20
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.
2:26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced;
my body 21 also will live in hope,
2:27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades, 22
nor permit your Holy One to experience 23 decay.
2:28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of joy with your presence.’ 24
2:29 “Brothers, 25 I can speak confidently 26 to you about our forefather 27 David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 2:30 So then, because 28 he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants 29 on his throne, 30 2:31 David by foreseeing this 31 spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, 32 that he was neither abandoned to Hades, 33 nor did his body 34 experience 35 decay. 36 2:32 This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it. 37 2:33 So then, exalted 38 to the right hand 39 of God, and having received 40 the promise of the Holy Spirit 41 from the Father, he has poured out 42 what you both see and hear. 2:34 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says,
‘The Lord said to my lord,
“Sit 43 at my right hand
2:35 until I make your enemies a footstool 44 for your feet.”’ 45
2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt 46 that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified 47 both Lord 48 and Christ.” 49
Acts 3:22-26
Context3:22 Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must obey 50 him in everything he tells you. 51 3:23 Every person 52 who does not obey that prophet will be destroyed and thus removed 53 from the people.’ 54 3:24 And all the prophets, from Samuel and those who followed him, have spoken about and announced 55 these days. 3:25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, 56 saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants 57 all the nations 58 of the earth will be blessed.’ 59 3:26 God raised up 60 his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning 61 each one of you from your iniquities.” 62
Acts 13:26-39
Context13:26 Brothers, 63 descendants 64 of Abraham’s family, 65 and those Gentiles among you who fear God, 66 the message 67 of this salvation has been sent to us. 13:27 For the people who live in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize 68 him, 69 and they fulfilled the sayings 70 of the prophets that are read every Sabbath by condemning 71 him. 72 13:28 Though 73 they found 74 no basis 75 for a death sentence, 76 they asked Pilate to have him executed. 13:29 When they had accomplished 77 everything that was written 78 about him, they took him down 79 from the cross 80 and placed him 81 in a tomb. 13:30 But God raised 82 him from the dead, 13:31 and 83 for many days he appeared to those who had accompanied 84 him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These 85 are now his witnesses to the people. 13:32 And we proclaim to you the good news about the promise to our ancestors, 86 13:33 that this promise 87 God has fulfilled to us, their children, by raising 88 Jesus, as also it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son; 89 today I have fathered you.’ 90 13:34 But regarding the fact that he has raised Jesus 91 from the dead, never 92 again to be 93 in a state of decay, God 94 has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you 95 the holy and trustworthy promises 96 made to David.’ 97 13:35 Therefore he also says in another psalm, 98 ‘You will not permit your Holy One 99 to experience 100 decay.’ 101 13:36 For David, after he had served 102 God’s purpose in his own generation, died, 103 was buried with his ancestors, 104 and experienced 105 decay, 13:37 but the one 106 whom God raised up did not experience 107 decay. 13:38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one 108 forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 13:39 and by this one 109 everyone who believes is justified 110 from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify 111 you. 112
[2:16] 1 sn Note how in the quotation that follows all genders, ages, and classes are included. The event is like a hope Moses expressed in Num 11:29.
[2:17] 2 sn The phrase in the last days is not quoted from Joel, but represents Peter’s interpretive explanation of the current events as falling “in the last days.”
[2:17] 3 tn Grk “on all flesh.”
[2:18] 4 tn Grk “slaves.” Although this translation frequently renders δοῦλος (doulos) as “slave,” the connotation is often of one who has sold himself into slavery; in a spiritual sense, the idea is that of becoming a slave of God or of Jesus Christ voluntarily. The voluntary notion is not conspicuous here; hence, the translation “servants.” In any case, the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual 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.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.
[2:18] 5 sn The words and they will prophesy in Acts 2:18 are not quoted from Joel 2:29 at this point but are repeated from earlier in the quotation (Acts 2:17) for emphasis. Tongues speaking is described as prophecy, just like intelligible tongues are described in 1 Cor 14:26-33.
[2:19] 6 tn Or “in the heaven.” The Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) may be translated “sky” or “heaven” depending on the context. Here, in contrast to “the earth below,” a reference to the sky is more likely.
[2:19] 7 tn Here the context indicates the miraculous nature of the signs mentioned; this is made explicit in the translation.
[2:20] 8 tn Or “and wonderful.”
[2:21] 9 tn Grk “And it will be that.”
[2:21] 10 sn A quotation from Joel 2:28-32.
[2:22] 11 tn Or “Israelite men,” although this is less natural English. The Greek term here is ἀνήρ (anhr), which only exceptionally is used in a generic sense of both males and females. In this context, it is conceivable that this is a generic usage, although it can also be argued that Peter’s remarks were addressed primarily to the men present, even if women were there.
[2:22] 12 tn Or “miraculous deeds.”
[2:22] 13 tn Again, the context indicates the miraculous nature of these signs, and this is specified in the translation.
[2:23] 15 tn Grk “at the hands of lawless men.” At this point the term ἄνομος (anomo") refers to non-Jews who live outside the Jewish (Mosaic) law, rather than people who broke any or all laws including secular laws. Specifically it is a reference to the Roman soldiers who carried out Jesus’ crucifixion.
[2:24] 16 tn Grk “Whom God raised up.”
[2:24] 17 tn Or “having freed.”
[2:24] 18 sn The term translated pains is frequently used to describe pains associated with giving birth (see Rev 12:2). So there is irony here in the mixed metaphor.
[2:24] 19 tn Or “for him to be held by it” (in either case, “it” refers to death’s power).
[2:25] 20 tn Or “always before me.”
[2:27] 22 tn Or “will not abandon my soul to Hades.” Often “Hades” is the equivalent of the Hebrew term Sheol, the place of the dead.
[2:27] 23 tn Grk “to see,” but the literal translation of the phrase “to see decay” could be misunderstood to mean simply “to look at decay,” while here “see decay” is really figurative for “experience decay.”
[2:28] 24 sn A quotation from Ps 16:8-11.
[2:29] 25 tn Since this represents a continuation of the address beginning in v.14 and continued in v. 22, “brothers” has been used here rather than a generic expression like “brothers and sisters.”
[2:29] 26 sn Peter’s certainty is based on well-known facts.
[2:29] 27 tn Or “about our noted ancestor,” “about the patriarch.”
[2:30] 28 tn The participles ὑπάρχων (Juparcwn) and εἰδώς (eidw") are translated as causal adverbial participles.
[2:30] 29 tn Grk “one from the fruit of his loins.” “Loins” is the traditional translation of ὀσφῦς (osfu"), referring to the male genital organs. A literal rendering like “one who came from his genital organs” would be regarded as too specific and perhaps even vulgar by many contemporary readers. Most modern translations thus render the phrase “one of his descendants.”
[2:30] 30 sn An allusion to Ps 132:11 and 2 Sam 7:12-13, the promise in the Davidic covenant.
[2:31] 31 tn Grk “David foreseeing spoke.” The participle προϊδών (proidwn) is taken as indicating means. It could also be translated as a participle of attendant circumstance: “David foresaw [this] and spoke.” The word “this” is supplied in either case as an understood direct object (direct objects in Greek were often omitted, but must be supplied for the modern English reader).
[2:31] 32 tn Or “the Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
[2:31] 33 tn Or “abandoned in the world of the dead.” The translation “world of the dead” for Hades is suggested by L&N 1.19. The phrase is an allusion to Ps 16:10.
[2:31] 34 tn Grk “flesh.” See vv. 26b-27. The reference to “body” in this verse picks up the reference to “body” in v. 26. The Greek term σάρξ (sarx) in both verses literally means “flesh”; however, the translation “body” stresses the lack of decay of his physical body. The point of the verse is not merely the lack of decay of his flesh alone, but the resurrection of his entire person, as indicated by the previous parallel line “he was not abandoned to Hades.”
[2:31] 35 tn Grk “see,” but the literal translation of the phrase “see decay” could be misunderstood to mean simply “look at decay,” while here “see decay” is really figurative for “experience decay.”
[2:31] 36 sn An allusion to Ps 16:10.
[2:32] 37 tn Or “of him”; Grk “of which [or whom] we are all witnesses” (Acts 1:8).
[2:33] 38 tn The aorist participle ὑψωθείς (Juywqei") could be taken temporally: “So then, after he was exalted…” In the translation the more neutral “exalted” (a shorter form of “having been exalted”) was used to preserve the ambiguity of the original Greek.
[2:33] 39 sn The expression the right hand of God represents supreme power and authority. Its use here sets up the quotation of Ps 110:1 in v. 34.
[2:33] 40 tn The aorist participle λαβών (labwn) could be taken temporally: “So then, after he was exalted…and received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit.” In the translation the more neutral “having received” was used to preserve the ambiguity of the original Greek.
[2:33] 41 tn Here the genitive τοῦ πνεύματος (tou pneumato") is a genitive of apposition; the promise consists of the Holy Spirit.
[2:33] 42 sn The use of the verb poured out looks back to 2:17-18, where the same verb occurs twice.
[2:34] 43 sn Sit at my right hand. The word “sit” alludes back to the promise of “seating one on his throne” in v. 30.
[2:35] 44 sn The metaphor make your enemies a footstool portrays the complete subjugation of the enemies.
[2:35] 45 sn A quotation from Ps 110:1, one of the most often-cited OT passages in the NT, pointing to the exaltation of Jesus.
[2:36] 46 tn Or “know for certain.” This term is in an emphatic position in the clause.
[2:36] 47 tn Grk “has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” The clause has been simplified in the translation by replacing the pronoun “him” with the explanatory clause “this Jesus whom you crucified” which comes at the end of the sentence.
[2:36] 48 sn Lord. This looks back to the quotation of Ps 110:1 and the mention of “calling on the Lord” in 2:21. Peter’s point is that the Lord on whom one calls for salvation is Jesus, because he is the one mediating God’s blessing of the Spirit as a sign of the presence of salvation and the last days.
[2:36] 49 tn Or “and Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
[3:22] 50 tn Grk “hear,” but the idea of “hear and obey” or simply “obey” is frequently contained in the Greek verb ἀκούω (akouw; see L&N 36.14) and the following context (v. 23) makes it clear that failure to “obey” the words of this “prophet like Moses” will result in complete destruction.
[3:22] 51 sn A quotation from Deut 18:15. By quoting Deut 18:15 Peter declared that Jesus was the eschatological “prophet like [Moses]” mentioned in that passage, who reveals the plan of God and the way of God.
[3:23] 52 tn Grk “every soul” (here “soul” is an idiom for the whole person).
[3:23] 53 tn Or “will be completely destroyed.” In Acts 3:23 the verb ἐξολεθρεύω (exoleqreuw) is translated “destroy and remove” by L&N 20.35.
[3:23] 54 sn A quotation from Deut 18:19, also Lev 23:29. The OT context of Lev 23:29 discusses what happened when one failed to honor atonement. One ignored the required sacrifice of God at one’s peril.
[3:25] 56 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”
[3:25] 57 tn Or “in your offspring”; Grk “in your seed.”
[3:25] 58 tn Or “families.” The Greek word πατριά (patria) can indicate persons of succeeding generations who are related by birth (“lineage,” “family”) but it can also indicate a relatively large unit of people who make up a sociopolitical group and who share a presumed biological descent. In many contexts πατριά is very similar to ἔθνος (eqnos) and λαός (laos). In light of the context of the OT quotation, it is better to translate πατριά as “nations” here.
[3:25] 59 sn A quotation from Gen 22:18.
[3:26] 60 tn Grk “God raising up his servant, sent him.” The participle ἀναστήσας (anasthsa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. Some translations (e.g., NIV, NRSV) render this participle as temporal (“when God raised up his servant”).
[3:26] 61 sn The picture of turning is again seen as the appropriate response to the message. See v. 19 above. In v. 19 it was “turning to,” here it is “turning away from.” The direction of the two metaphors is important.
[3:26] 62 tn For the translation of plural πονηρία (ponhria) as “iniquities,” see G. Harder, TDNT 6:565. The plural is important, since for Luke turning to Jesus means turning away from sins, not just the sin of rejecting Jesus.
[13:26] 63 tn Grk “Men brothers,” but this is both awkward and unnecessary in English.
[13:26] 66 tn Grk “and those among you who fear God,” but this is practically a technical term for the category called God-fearers, Gentiles who worshiped the God of Israel and in many cases kept the Mosaic law, but did not take the final step of circumcision necessary to become a proselyte to Judaism. See further K. G. Kuhn, TDNT 6:732-34, 743-44. Note how Paul includes God-fearing Gentiles as recipients of this promise.
[13:27] 68 tn BDAG 12-13 s.v. ἀγνοέω 1.b gives “not to know w. acc. of pers.” as the meaning here, but “recognize” is a better translation in this context because recognition of the true identity of the one they condemned is the issue. See Acts 2:22-24; 4:26-28.
[13:27] 70 tn Usually φωνή (fwnh) means “voice,” but BDAG 1071-72 s.v. φωνή 2.c has “Also of sayings in scripture…Ac 13:27.”
[13:27] 71 tn The participle κρίναντες (krinante") is instrumental here.
[13:27] 72 tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
[13:28] 73 tn Grk “And though.” 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.
[13:28] 74 tn The participle εὑρόντες (Jeuronte") has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.
[13:28] 75 sn No basis. Luke insists on Jesus’ innocence again and again in Luke 23:1-25.
[13:28] 76 tn Grk “no basis for death,” but in this context a sentence of death is clearly indicated.
[13:29] 77 tn Or “carried out.”
[13:29] 78 sn That is, everything that was written in OT scripture.
[13:29] 79 tn Grk “taking him down from the cross, they placed him.” The participle καθελόντες (kaqelonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
[13:29] 80 tn Grk “tree,” but frequently figurative for a cross. The allusion is to Deut 21:23. See Acts 5:30; 10:39.
[13:29] 81 tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
[13:30] 82 sn See the note on the phrase “raised up” in v. 22, which is the same Greek verb used here.
[13:31] 83 tn Grk “who.” The relative pronoun (“who”) was replaced by the conjunction “and” and the pronoun “he” at this point to improve the English style.
[13:31] 84 sn Those who had accompanied him refers to the disciples, who knew Jesus in ministry. Luke is aware of resurrection appearances in Galilee though he did not relate any of them in Luke 24.
[13:31] 85 tn Grk “who.” The relative pronoun (“who”) was replaced by the demonstrative pronoun “these” and a new sentence was begun in the translation at this point to improve the English style, due to the length of the sentence in Greek and the awkwardness of two relative clauses (“who for many days appeared” and “who are now his witnesses”) following one another.
[13:32] 86 tn Or “to our forefathers”; Grk “the fathers.”
[13:33] 87 tn Grk “that this”; the referent (the promise mentioned in the previous verse) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[13:33] 88 tn Or “by resurrecting.” The participle ἀναστήσας (anasthsa") is taken as instrumental here.
[13:33] 89 sn You are my Son. The key to how the quotation is used is the naming of Jesus as “Son” to the Father. The language is that of kingship, as Ps 2 indicates. Here is the promise about what the ultimate Davidic heir would be.
[13:33] 90 tn Grk “I have begotten you.” The traditional translation for γεγέννηκα (gegennhka, “begotten”) is misleading to the modern English reader because it is no longer in common use. Today one speaks of “fathering” a child in much the same way speakers of English formerly spoke of “begetting a child.”
[13:34] 91 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[13:34] 92 tn Although μηκέτι (mhketi) can mean “no longer” or “no more,” the latter is more appropriate here, since to translate “no longer” in this context could give the reader the impression that Jesus did experience decay before his resurrection. Since the phrase “no more again to be” is somewhat awkward in English, the simpler phrase “never again to be” was used instead.
[13:34] 93 tn The translation “to be in again” for ὑποστρέφω (Jupostrefw) is given in L&N 13.24.
[13:34] 94 tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[13:34] 95 tn The pronoun “you” is plural here. The promises of David are offered to the people.
[13:34] 96 tn Or “the trustworthy decrees made by God to David.” The phrase τὰ ὅσια Δαυὶδ τὰ πιστά (ta Josia Dauid ta pista) is “compressed,” that is, in a very compact or condensed form. It could be expanded in several different ways. BDAG 728 s.v. ὅσιος 3 understands it to refer to divine decrees: “I will grant you the sure decrees of God relating to David.” BDAG then states that this quotation from Isa 55:3 is intended to show that the following quotation from Ps 16:10 could not refer to David himself, but must refer to his messianic descendant (Jesus). L&N 33.290 render the phrase “I will give to you the divine promises made to David, promises that can be trusted,” although they also note that τὰ ὅσια in Acts 13:34 can mean “divine decrees” or “decrees made by God.” In contemporary English it is less awkward to translate πιστά as an adjective (“trustworthy”). The concept of “divine decrees,” not very understandable to the modern reader, has been replaced by “promises,” and since God is the implied speaker in the context, it is clear that these promises were made by God.
[13:34] 97 sn A quotation from Isa 55:3. The point of this citation is to make clear that the promise of a Davidic line and blessings are made to the people as well.
[13:35] 98 tn Grk “Therefore he also says in another”; the word “psalm” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
[13:35] 99 tn The Greek word translated “Holy One” here (ὅσιόν, {osion) is related to the use of ὅσια (Josia) in v. 34. The link is a wordplay. The Holy One, who does not die, brings the faithful holy blessings of promise to the people.
[13:35] 100 tn Grk “to see,” but the literal translation of the phrase “to see decay” could be misunderstood to mean simply “to look at decay,” while here “see decay” is really figurative for “experience decay.”
[13:35] 101 sn A quotation from Ps 16:10.
[13:36] 102 tn The participle ὑπηρετήσας (Juphrethsa") is taken temporally.
[13:36] 103 tn The verb κοιμάω (koimaw) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for the death of a believer.
[13:36] 104 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “was gathered to his fathers” (a Semitic idiom).
[13:36] 105 tn Grk “saw,” but the literal translation of the phrase “saw decay” could be misunderstood to mean simply “looked at decay,” while here “saw decay” is really figurative for “experienced decay.” This remark explains why David cannot fulfill the promise.
[13:37] 106 sn The one whom God raised up refers to Jesus.
[13:37] 107 tn Grk “see,” but the literal translation of the phrase “did not see decay” could be misunderstood to mean simply “did not look at decay,” while here “did not see decay” is really figurative for “did not experience decay.”
[13:38] 108 tn That is, Jesus. This pronoun is in emphatic position in the Greek text. Following this phrase in the Greek text is the pronoun ὑμῖν (Jumin, “to you”), so that the emphasis for the audience is that “through Jesus to you” these promises have come.
[13:39] 109 sn This one refers here to Jesus.
[13:39] 110 tn Or “is freed.” The translation of δικαιωθῆναι (dikaiwqhnai) and δικαιοῦται (dikaioutai) in Acts 13:38-39 is difficult. BDAG 249 s.v. δικαιόω 3 categorizes δικαιωθῆναι in 13:38 (Greek text) under the meaning “make free/pure” but categorizes δικαιοῦται in Acts 13:39 as “be found in the right, be free of charges” (BDAG 249 s.v. δικαιόω 2.b.β). In the interest of consistency both verbs are rendered as “justified” in this translation.
[13:39] 111 tn Or “could not free.”
[13:39] 112 tn Grk “from everything from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation, with “by the law of Moses” becoming the subject of the final clause. The words “from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you” are part of v. 38 in the Greek text, but due to English style and word order must be placed in v. 39 in the translation.