Acts 2:45

2:45 and they began selling ¹  their property ²  and possessions and distributing the proceeds ³  to everyone, as anyone had need.

Acts 4:35

4:35 and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds ⁴  were distributed to each, as anyone had need.

Acts 9:31

9:31 Then ⁵  the church throughout Judea, Galilee, ⁶  and Samaria experienced ⁷  peace and thus was strengthened. ⁸  Living ⁹  in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church ¹⁰  increased in numbers.

Acts 18:18

Paul Returns to Antioch in Syria

18:18 Paul, after staying ¹¹  many more days in Corinth, ¹²  said farewell to ¹³  the brothers and sailed away to Syria accompanied by ¹⁴  Priscilla and Aquila. ¹⁵  He ¹⁶  had his hair cut off ¹⁷  at Cenchrea ¹⁸  because he had made a vow. ¹⁹ 

[2:45]  ¹ tn The imperfect verb has been translated as an ingressive (“began…”). Since in context this is a description of the beginning of the community of believers, it is more likely that these statements refer to the start of various activities and practices that the early church continued for some time.

[2:45]  ² tn It is possible that the first term for property (κτήματα, kthmata) refers to real estate (as later usage seems to indicate) while the second term (ὑπάρξεις, Juparxeis) refers to possessions in general, but it may also be that the two terms are used together for emphasis, simply indicating that all kinds of possessions were being sold. However, if the first term is more specifically a reference to real estate, it foreshadows the incident with Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11.

[2:45]  ³ tn Grk “distributing them” (αὐτά, auta). The referent (the proceeds of the sales) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[4:35]  ⁴ tn Grk “It” (or “They,” plural). The referent of the understood pronoun subject, the proceeds from the sales, of the verb διεδίδετο (diedideto) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[9:31]  ⁷ tn Or “Therefore.” This verse is another summary text in Acts (cf. 2:41-47; 4:32-37; 5:12-16; 6:7).

[9:31]  ⁸ tn Grk “and Galilee,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.

[9:31]  ⁹ tn Grk “had.”

[9:31]  ¹⁰ tn Or “Built up.” The participle οἰκοδομουμένη (oikodomoumenh) has been translated as a participle of result related to εἶχεν (eicen). It could also be understood as adverbial to ἐπληθύνετο (eplhquneto): “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace. Strengthened and living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.” Although some scholars do not regard the participle of result as a legitimate category, it is actually fairly common (see ExSyn 637-39).

[9:31]  ¹¹ tn Grk “And living.” 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.

[9:31]  ¹² tn Grk “it”; the referent (the church) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:18]  ¹⁰ tn The participle προσμείνας (prosmeina") is taken temporally.

[18:18]  ¹¹ map For location see JP1 C2; JP2 C2; JP3 C2; JP4 C2.

[18:18]  ¹² tn Or “Corinth, took leave of.” Grk “saying farewell to”; the participle ἀποταξάμενος (apotaxameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[18:18]  ¹³ tn Grk “Syria, and with him.”

[18:18]  ¹⁴ sn See the note on Aquila in 18:2.

[18:18]  ¹⁵ tn Or “Aquila, who.” The relationship of the participle κειράμενος (keirameno") is difficult to determine. Traditionally it is taken to refer to Paul, meaning that Paul had his hair cut off because of the vow. However, due to the proximity of the noun ᾿Ακύλας (Akula") and the reversal of the normal order (Aquila and Priscilla, Acts 17:34), the participle is taken as adjectival referring to Aquila by H. Greeven, TDNT 2:777, n. 11. The later references to Paul in Jerusalem (Acts 21:23) do not resolve the problem, because the cutting of Paul’s own hair, while it may be implied, is not specifically mentioned in connection with the completion of the vows made by the other four.

[18:18]  ¹⁶ tn The word “off” is supplied in the translation to indicate that this was not a normal haircut, but the shaving of the head connected with taking the vow (see Acts 21:24).

[18:18]  ¹⁷ tn That is, “before he sailed from Cenchrea.”

[18:18]  ¹⁸ sn He had made a vow. It is debated whether this vow is a private vow of thanksgiving or the Nazirite vow, because it is not clear whether the Nazirite vow could be taken outside Jerusalem. Some have cited the Mishnah (m. Nazir 3:6, 5:4) to argue that the shaving of the hair can occur outside Jerusalem, and Josephus, J. W. 2.15.1 (2.313) is sometimes suggested as a parallel, but these references are not clear. H. Greeven, TDNT 2:777, is certain that this refers to the Nazirite vow. Regardless, it is clear that Paul reflected his pious dependence on God.