Discovery BoxActs 21:33
Context21:33 Then the commanding officer 1 came up and arrested 2 him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains; 3 he 4 then asked who he was and what 5 he had done.
Acts 21:1
Context21:1 After 6 we 7 tore ourselves away 8 from them, we put out to sea, 9 and sailing a straight course, 10 we came to Cos, 11 on the next day to Rhodes, 12 and from there to Patara. 13
Acts 24:1--25:27
Context24:1 After five days the high priest Ananias 14 came down with some elders and an attorney 15 named 16 Tertullus, and they 17 brought formal charges 18 against Paul to the governor. 24:2 When Paul 19 had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, 20 saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time 21 of peace through your rule, 22 and reforms 23 are being made in this nation 24 through your foresight. 25 24:3 Most excellent Felix, 26 we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way 27 with all gratitude. 28 24:4 But so that I may not delay 29 you any further, I beg 30 you to hear us briefly 31 with your customary graciousness. 32 24:5 For we have found 33 this man to be a troublemaker, 34 one who stirs up riots 35 among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader 36 of the sect of the Nazarenes. 37 24:6 He 38 even tried to desecrate 39 the temple, so we arrested 40 him. 24:7 [[EMPTY]] 41 24:8 When you examine 42 him yourself, you will be able to learn from him 43 about all these things we are accusing him of doing.” 44 24:9 The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, 45 claiming 46 that these things were true.
24:10 When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know 47 that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense. 48 24:11 As you can verify 49 for yourself, not more than twelve days ago 50 I went up to Jerusalem 51 to worship. 24:12 They did not find me arguing 52 with anyone or stirring up a crowd 53 in the temple courts 54 or in the synagogues 55 or throughout the city, 56 24:13 nor can they prove 57 to you the things 58 they are accusing me of doing. 59 24:14 But I confess this to you, that I worship 60 the God of our ancestors 61 according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law 62 and that is written in the prophets. 24:15 I have 63 a hope in God (a hope 64 that 65 these men 66 themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. 67 24:16 This is the reason 68 I do my best to always 69 have a clear 70 conscience toward God and toward people. 71 24:17 After several years 72 I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor 73 and to present offerings, 74 24:18 which I was doing when they found me in the temple, ritually purified, 75 without a crowd or a disturbance. 76 24:19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia 77 who should be here before you and bring charges, 78 if they have anything against me. 24:20 Or these men here 79 should tell what crime 80 they found me guilty of 81 when I stood before the council, 82 24:21 other than 83 this one thing 84 I shouted out while I stood before 85 them: ‘I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.’” 86
24:22 Then Felix, 87 who understood the facts 88 concerning the Way 89 more accurately, 90 adjourned their hearing, 91 saying, “When Lysias the commanding officer comes down, I will decide your case.” 92 24:23 He ordered the centurion 93 to guard Paul, 94 but to let him have some freedom, 95 and not to prevent any of his friends 96 from meeting his needs. 97
24:24 Some days later, when Felix 98 arrived with his wife Drusilla, 99 who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak 100 about faith in Christ Jesus. 101 24:25 While Paul 102 was discussing 103 righteousness, self-control, 104 and the coming judgment, Felix 105 became 106 frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, 107 I will send for you.” 24:26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would give him money, 108 and for this reason he sent for Paul 109 as often as possible 110 and talked 111 with him. 24:27 After two years 112 had passed, Porcius Festus 113 succeeded Felix, 114 and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. 115
25:1 Now 116 three days after Festus 117 arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem 118 from Caesarea. 119 25:2 So the chief priests and the most prominent men 120 of the Jews brought formal charges 121 against Paul to him. 25:3 Requesting him to do them a favor against Paul, 122 they urged Festus 123 to summon him to Jerusalem, planning an ambush 124 to kill him along the way. 25:4 Then Festus 125 replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, 126 and he himself intended to go there 127 shortly. 25:5 “So,” he said, “let your leaders 128 go down there 129 with me, and if this man has done anything wrong, 130 they may bring charges 131 against him.”
25:6 After Festus 132 had stayed 133 not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, 134 and the next day he sat 135 on the judgment seat 136 and ordered Paul to be brought. 25:7 When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, 137 bringing many serious 138 charges that they were not able to prove. 139 25:8 Paul said in his defense, 140 “I have committed no offense 141 against the Jewish law 142 or against the temple or against Caesar.” 143 25:9 But Festus, 144 wanting to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried 145 before me there on these charges?” 146 25:10 Paul replied, 147 “I am standing before Caesar’s 148 judgment seat, 149 where I should be tried. 150 I have done nothing wrong 151 to the Jews, as you also know very well. 152 25:11 If then I am in the wrong 153 and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying, 154 but if not one of their charges against me is true, 155 no one can hand me over to them. 156 I appeal to Caesar!” 157 25:12 Then, after conferring with his council, 158 Festus 159 replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; 160 to Caesar 161 you will go!” 162
25:13 After several days had passed, King Agrippa 163 and Bernice arrived at Caesarea 164 to pay their respects 165 to Festus. 166 25:14 While 167 they were staying there many days, Festus 168 explained Paul’s case to the king to get his opinion, 169 saying, “There is a man left here as a prisoner by Felix. 25:15 When I was in Jerusalem, 170 the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed 171 me about him, 172 asking for a sentence of condemnation 173 against him. 25:16 I answered them 174 that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone 175 before the accused had met his accusers face to face 176 and had been given 177 an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation. 178 25:17 So after they came back here with me, 179 I did not postpone the case, 180 but the next day I sat 181 on the judgment seat 182 and ordered the man to be brought. 25:18 When his accusers stood up, they did not charge 183 him with any of the evil deeds I had suspected. 184 25:19 Rather they had several points of disagreement 185 with him about their own religion 186 and about a man named Jesus 187 who was dead, whom Paul claimed 188 to be alive. 25:20 Because I was at a loss 189 how I could investigate these matters, 190 I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried 191 there on these charges. 192 25:21 But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, 193 I ordered him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.” 194 25:22 Agrippa 195 said to Festus, 196 “I would also like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he replied, 197 “you will hear him.”
25:23 So the next day Agrippa 198 and Bernice came with great pomp 199 and entered the audience hall, 200 along with the senior military officers 201 and the prominent men of the city. When Festus 202 gave the order, 203 Paul was brought in. 25:24 Then Festus 204 said, “King Agrippa, 205 and all you who are present here with us, you see this man about whom the entire Jewish populace 206 petitioned 207 me both in Jerusalem 208 and here, 209 shouting loudly 210 that he ought not to live any longer. 25:25 But I found that he had done nothing that deserved death, 211 and when he appealed 212 to His Majesty the Emperor, 213 I decided to send him. 214 25:26 But I have nothing definite 215 to write to my lord 216 about him. 217 Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, 218 so that after this preliminary hearing 219 I may have something to write. 25:27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without clearly indicating 220 the charges against him.”
[21:33] 1 tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 31.
[21:33] 3 tn The two chains would be something like handcuffs (BDAG 48 s.v. ἅλυσις and compare Acts 28:20).
[21:33] 4 tn Grk “and he.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was begun in the translation, and καί (kai) has been replaced with a semicolon. “Then” has been supplied after “he” to clarify the logical sequence.
[21:33] 5 tn Grk “and what it is”; this has been simplified to “what.”
[21:1] 6 tn Grk “It happened that when.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Since the action described by the participle ἀποσπασθέντας (apospasqenta", “tearing ourselves away”) is prior to the departure of the ship, it has been translated as antecedent action (“after”).
[21:1] 7 sn This marks the beginning of another “we” section in Acts. These have been traditionally understood to mean that Luke was in the company of Paul for this part of the journey.
[21:1] 8 tn BDAG 120 s.v. ἀποσπάω 2.b has “pass. in mid. sense ἀ. ἀπό τινος tear oneself away Ac 21:1”; LSJ 218 gives several illustrations of this verb meaning “to tear or drag away from.”
[21:1] 9 tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4, “as a nautical t.t. (ἀ. τὴν ναῦν put a ship to sea), mid. or pass. ἀνάγεσθαι to begin to go by boat, put out to sea.”
[21:1] 10 tn BDAG 406 s.v. εὐθυδρομέω has “of a ship run a straight course”; L&N 54.3 has “to sail a straight course, sail straight to.”
[21:1] 11 sn Cos was an island in the Aegean Sea.
[21:1] 12 sn Rhodes was an island off the southwestern coast of Asia Minor.
[21:1] 13 sn Patara was a city in Lycia on the southwestern coast of Asia Minor. The entire journey was about 185 mi (295 km).
[24:1] 11 sn Ananias was in office from
[24:1] 12 tn The term refers to a professional advocate (BDAG 905 s.v. ῥήτωρ).
[24:1] 13 tn Grk “an attorney, a certain Tertullus.”
[24:1] 14 tn Grk “who” (plural). Because in English the relative pronoun “who” could be understood to refer only to the attorney Tertullus and not to the entire group, it has been replaced with the third person plural pronoun “they.” “And” has been supplied to provide the connection to the preceding clause.
[24:1] 15 tn BDAG 326 s.v. ἐμφανίζω 3 has “ἐ. τινὶ κατά τινος bring formal charges against someone…Ac 24:1; 25:2.”
[24:2] 16 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[24:2] 17 tn Or “began to bring charges, saying.”
[24:2] 18 tn Grk “experienced much peace.”
[24:2] 19 tn Grk “through you” (“rule” is implied).
[24:2] 20 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] 21 tn Or “being made for this people.”
[24:2] 22 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]).
[24:3] 21 sn Most excellent Felix. See the note on Felix in 23:24.
[24:3] 22 tn Grk “in every way and everywhere.”
[24:3] 23 tn Or “with complete thankfulness.” BDAG 416 s.v. εὐχαριστία 1 has “μετὰ πάσης εὐ.…with all gratitude Ac 24:3.” L&N 31.26 has “‘we acknowledge this anywhere and everywhere with complete thankfulness’ Ac 24:3.”
[24:4] 26 tn Or “may not weary.” BDAG 274 s.v. ἐγκόπτω states, “ἵνα μὴ ἐπὶ πλεῖόν σε ἐγκόπτω Ac 24:4 is understood by Syr. and Armen. versions to mean in order not to weary you any further; cp. ἔγκοπος weary Diog. L. 4, 50; LXX; and ἔγκοπον ποιεῖν to weary Job 19:2; Is 43:23. But impose on is also prob.; detain NRSV.”
[24:4] 28 tn This term is another NT hapax legomenon (BDAG 976 s.v. συντόμως 2). Tertullus was asking for a brief hearing, and implying to the governor that he would speak briefly and to the point.
[24:4] 29 tn BDAG 371 s.v. ἐπιείκεια has “τῇ σῇ ἐ. with your (customary) indulgence Ac 24:4.”
[24:5] 31 tn Grk “For having found.” The participle εὑρόντες (Jeurontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
[24:5] 32 tn L&N 22.6 has “(a figurative extension of meaning of λοιμός ‘plague,’ 23.158) one who causes all sorts of trouble – ‘troublemaker, pest.’ … ‘for we have found this man to be a troublemaker” Ac 24:5.”
[24:5] 33 tn Or “dissensions.” While BDAG 940 s.v. στάσις 3 translates this phrase “κινεῖν στάσεις (v.l. στάσιν) τισί create dissension among certain people Ac 24:5,” it is better on the basis of the actual results of Paul’s ministry to categorize this usage under section 2, “uprising, riot, revolt, rebellion” (cf. the use in Acts 19:40).
[24:5] 34 tn This term is yet another NT hapax legomenon (BDAG 894 s.v. πρωτοστάτης).
[24:5] 35 sn The sect of the Nazarenes is a designation for followers of Jesus the Nazarene, that is, Christians.
[24:6] 36 tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“who”) was replaced by the third person singular pronoun (“he”) and a new sentence begun here in the translation.
[24:6] 37 tn Or “profane” (BDAG 173 s.v. βεβηλόω). The term was also used of profaning the Sabbath.
[24:6] 38 tn Or “seized.” Grk “whom also we arrested.” Because of the awkwardness of a relative clause in English at this point, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced by the pronoun “him” as object of the verb.
[24:7] 41 tc Some later
[24:8] 47 tn Grk “From whom when you examine him yourself, you will be able to learn…” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced by the third person singular pronoun (“him”) and a new sentence begun at the beginning of v. 8 in the translation.
[24:8] 48 tn Grk “about all these things of which we are accusing him.” This has been simplified to eliminate the relative pronoun (“of which”) in the translation.
[24:9] 51 tn Grk “joined in the attack,” but the adjective “verbal” has been supplied to clarify that this was not another physical assault on Paul. The verb is another NT hapax legomenon (BDAG 969 s.v. συνεπιτίθημι).
[24:9] 52 tn Or “asserting” (BDAG 1050 s.v. φάσκω).
[24:10] 56 tn Grk “knowing.” The participle ἐπιστάμενος (epistamenos) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
[24:10] 57 sn “Because…defense.” Paul also paid an indirect compliment to the governor, implying that he would be fair in his judgment.
[24:11] 61 tn BDAG 369 s.v. ἐπιγινώσκω 2.c has “notice, perceive, learn of, ascertain…Also as legal t.t. ascertain (2 Macc 14:9) τὶ Ac 23:28; cp. 24:8. W. ὅτι foll. Ac 24:11.” “Verify” is an English synonym for “ascertain.”
[24:11] 62 tn Grk “it is not more than twelve days from when.” This has been simplified to “not more than twelve days ago.”
[24:11] 63 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[24:12] 66 tn Or “disputing,” “conducting a heated discussion.”
[24:12] 67 tn BDAG 381 s.v. ἐπίστασις 2 has “ἐ. ποιεῖν ὄχλου to cause a crowd to gather Ac 24:12.” Roman authorities would not allow a mob to gather and threaten the peace, and anyone suspected of instigating a mob would certainly be arrested.
[24:12] 68 tn Grk “in the temple.” This is actually a reference to the courts surrounding the temple proper, and has been translated accordingly.
[24:12] 69 sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.
[24:12] 70 sn A second part of Paul’s defense is that he did nothing while he was in Jerusalem to cause unrest, neither arguing nor stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city.
[24:13] 71 tn BDAG 778 s.v. παρίστημι/παριστάνω 1.f has “οὐδὲ παραστῆσαι δύνανταί σοι περὶ ὧν νυνὶ κατηγοροῦσίν μου nor can they prove to you the accusations they are now making against me Ac 24:13.”
[24:13] 72 tn The words “the things” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
[24:13] 73 tn Grk “nor can they prove to you [the things] about which they are now accusing me.” This has been simplified to eliminate the relative pronoun (“which”) in the translation.
[24:14] 77 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”
[24:14] 78 sn That is, the law of Moses. Paul was claiming that he legitimately worshiped the God of Israel. He was arguing that this amounted to a religious dispute rather than a political one, so that the Roman authorities need not concern themselves with it.
[24:15] 81 tn Grk “having.” The participle ἔχων (ecwn) has been translated as a finite verb and a new sentence begun at this point in the translation because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence.
[24:15] 82 sn This mention of Paul’s hope sets up his appeal to the resurrection of the dead. At this point Paul was ignoring the internal Jewish dispute between the Pharisees (to which he had belonged) and the Sadducees (who denied there would be a resurrection of the dead).
[24:15] 83 tn Grk “a hope in God (which these [men] themselves accept too).” Because the antecedent of the relative pronoun “which” is somewhat unclear in English, the words “a hope” have been repeated at the beginning of the parenthesis for clarity.
[24:15] 84 tn Grk “that they”; the referent (these men, Paul’s accusers) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[24:15] 85 tn Or “the unjust.”
[24:16] 86 tn BDAG 329 s.v. ἐν 9.a, “ἐν τούτῳ πιστεύομεν this is the reason why we believe Jn 16:30; cp. Ac 24:16.”
[24:16] 87 tn BDAG 224 s.v. διά 2.a, “διὰ παντός…always, continually, constantly…Ac 2:25 (Ps 15:8); 10:2; 24:16.” However, the positioning of the adverb “always” in the English translation is difficult; the position used is one of the least awkward.
[24:16] 88 tn BDAG 125 s.v. ἀπρόσκοπος 1 has “ἀ. συνείδησις a clear conscience Ac 24:16.”
[24:16] 89 tn Grk “men,” but this is a generic use (Paul does not have only males in view).
[24:17] 91 tn BDAG 401 s.v. ἔτος has “δι᾿ ἐ. πλειόνων after several years 24:17.”
[24:17] 92 tn Grk “to bring alms,” but the term “alms” is not in common use today, so the closest modern equivalent, “gifts for the poor,” is used instead.
[24:17] 93 tn Or “sacrifices.” BDAG 887 s.v. προσφορά 1 has “προσφοράς ποιεῖν have sacrifices made Ac 24:17,” but this may be overly specific. It is not clear from the immediate context whether the offering of sacrificial animals (so BDAG assumes) or offerings of some other sort (such as financial gifts) are in view. The combination with ἐλεημοσύνας (elehmosuna") in the preceding clause may suggest monetary offerings. Some have suggested this is an allusion to the payments made by Paul on behalf of the four other men mentioned in Acts 21:23-26, but the text here seems to suggest something Paul had planned to do before he came, while the decision to pay for the expenses of the men in 21:23ff. was made at the suggestion of the Jerusalem leadership after he arrived. In either case, Paul was portraying himself as a pious worshiper of his God.
[24:18] 96 sn Ritually purified. Paul’s claim here is that he was honoring the holiness of God by being sensitive to issues of ritual purity. Not only was he not guilty of the charges against him, but he was thoroughly devout.
[24:18] 97 tn BDAG 458 s.v. θόρυβος 3.b has “μετὰ θορύβου…with a disturbance Ac 24:18.”
[24:19] 101 tn Grk “Asia”; in the NT this always refers to the Roman province of Asia, made up of about one-third of the west and southwest end of modern Asia Minor. Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The words “the province of” are supplied to indicate to the modern reader that this does not refer to the continent of Asia.
[24:19] 102 tn BDAG 533 s.v. κατηγορέω 1 states, “nearly always as legal t.t.: bring charges in court.” L&N 33.427 states for κατηγορέω (kathgorew), “to bring serious charges or accusations against someone, with the possible connotation of a legal or court context – ‘to accuse, to bring charges.’”
[24:20] 106 tn Grk “these [men] themselves.”
[24:20] 107 tn Or “unrighteous act.”
[24:20] 108 tn The words “me guilty of” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. L&N 88.23 has “αὐτοὶ οὗτοι εἰπάτωσαν τί εὗρον ἀδίκημα στάντος μου ‘let these men themselves tell what unrighteous act they found me guilty of’ Ac 24:20.”
[24:20] 109 tn Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
[24:21] 111 tn BDAG 433 s.v. ἤ 2.c has “οὐδὲν ἕτερον ἤ nothing else than…Ac 17:21. τί…ἤ what other…than…24:21.”
[24:21] 112 tn Grk “one utterance.”
[24:21] 113 tn Cf. BDAG 327 s.v. ἐν 1.e, which has “before, in the presence of, etc.”
[24:21] 114 sn The resurrection of the dead. Paul’s point was, what crime was there in holding this religious belief?
[24:22] 116 sn See the note on Antonius Felix in 23:24.
[24:22] 117 tn Grk “the things.”
[24:22] 118 tn That is, concerning Christianity.
[24:22] 119 tn BDAG 39 s.v. ἀκριβῶς has “Comp. ἀκριβέστερον more exactly…ἀ. ἐκτίθεσθαι explain more exactly Ac 18:26, cp. 23:15, 20; also more accurately…24:22.” Felix knew more about the Christian movement than what the Jewish leaders had told him.
[24:22] 120 tn L&N 56.18 s.v. ἀναβάλλω has “to adjourn a court proceeding until a later time – ‘to adjourn a hearing, to stop a hearing and put it off until later.’…‘then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned their hearing’ Ac 24:22.”
[24:22] 121 tn BDAG 227 s.v. διαγινώσκω 2 states, “to make a judicial decision, decide/hear (a case)…τὰ καθ᾿ ὑμᾶς decide your case Ac 24:22.”
[24:23] 121 sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.
[24:23] 122 tn Grk “that he was to be guarded.” The passive construction (τηρεῖσθαι, threisqai) has been converted to an active one in parallel with the following clauses, and the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[24:23] 123 tn BDAG 77 s.v. ἄνεσις 1 states, “lit. relaxation of custodial control, some liberty, ἀ. ἔχειν have some freedom Ac 24:23.”
[24:23] 124 tn Grk “any of his own” (this could also refer to relatives).
[24:23] 125 tn Grk “from serving him.”
[24:24] 126 sn See the note on Antonius Felix in 23:24.
[24:24] 127 sn It is possible that Drusilla, being Jewish, was the source of Felix’s knowledge about the new movement called Christianity. The youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I and sister of Agrippa II, she would have been close to 20 years old at the time. She had married the king of a small region in Syria but divorced him at the age of 16 to marry Felix. This was her second marriage and Felix’s third (Josephus, Ant. 19.9.1 [19.354], 20.7.2 [20.141-144]). As a member of Herod’s family, she probably knew about the Way.
[24:24] 128 tn The word “speak” is implied; BDAG 32 s.v. ἀκούω 1.c has “ἤκουσεν αὐτοῦ περὶ τῆς…πίστεως he heard him speak about faith Ac 24:24.”
[24:24] 129 tn Or “Messiah Jesus”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
[24:25] 131 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[24:25] 132 tn Or “speaking about.”
[24:25] 133 tn Grk “and self-control.” This 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.
[24:25] 134 sn See the note on Felix in 23:26.
[24:25] 135 tn Grk “becoming.” The participle γενόμενος (genomenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
[24:25] 136 tn Or “when I find time.” BDAG 639 s.v. μεταλαμβάνω 2 has “καιρὸν μ. have an opportunity = find time…Ac 24:25.”
[24:26] 136 tn Grk “he was hoping that money would be given to him by Paul.” To simplify the translation, the passive construction has been converted to an active one.
[24:26] 137 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[24:26] 138 tn “As often as possible” reflects the comparative form of the adjective πυκνός (puknos); see BDAG 897 s.v. πυκνός, which has “Neut. of the comp. πυκνότερον as adv. more often, more frequently and in an elative sense very often, quite frequently…also as often as possible…Ac 24:26.”
[24:26] 139 tn On this term, which could mean “conferred with him,” see BDAG 705 s.v. ὁμιλέω.
[24:27] 141 tn Grk “After a two-year period.”
[24:27] 142 sn Porcius Festus was the procurator of Palestine who succeeded Felix; neither the beginning nor the end of his rule (at his death) can be determined with certainty, although he appears to have died in office after about two years. Nero recalled Felix in
[24:27] 143 tn Grk “Felix received as successor Porcius Festus.”
[24:27] 144 tn Grk “left Paul imprisoned.”
[25:1] 146 tn BDAG 736-37 s.v. οὖν 2.b states, “οὖν serves to indicate a transition to someth. new…now, then, well…Ac 25:1.”
[25:1] 147 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
[25:1] 148 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[25:1] 149 sn Caesarea was a city on the coast of Palestine south of Mount Carmel (not Caesarea Philippi). See the note on Caesarea in Acts 10:1. This was a journey of 65 mi (just over 100 km).
[25:2] 151 tn BDAG 893-94 s.v. πρῶτος 2.a.β has “οἱ πρῶτοι the most prominent men, the leading men w. gen. of the place…or of a group…οἱ πρ. τοῦ λαοῦ…Lk 19:47; cp. Ac 25:2; 28:17.”
[25:2] 152 tn BDAG 326 s.v. ἐμφανίζω 3 has “ἐ. τινὶ κατά τινος bring formal charges against someone…Ac 24:1; 25:2.”
[25:3] 156 tn Grk “Requesting a favor against him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation, the understood direct object of “requesting” has been supplied, and the phrase “to do them” supplied for clarity.
[25:3] 157 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Festus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. The words “they urged him” are in v. 2 in the Greek text.
[25:3] 158 sn Planning an ambush. The Jewish leadership had not forgotten the original plan of several years ago (see 23:16). They did not trust the Roman legal process, but preferred to take matters into their own hands.
[25:4] 161 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
[25:4] 162 sn Caesarea was a city on the coast of Palestine south of Mount Carmel (not Caesarea Philippi). See the note on Caesarea in Acts 10:1.
[25:4] 163 tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
[25:5] 166 tn Grk “let those who are influential among you” (i.e., the powerful).
[25:5] 167 tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
[25:5] 168 tn Grk “and if there is anything wrong with this man,” but this could be misunderstood in English to mean a moral or physical defect, while the issue in context is the commission of some crime, something legally improper (BDAG 149 s.v. ἄτοπος 2).
[25:5] 169 tn BDAG 533 s.v. κατηγορέω 1 states, “nearly always as legal t.t.: bring charges in court.” L&N 33.427 states for κατηγορέω, “to bring serious charges or accusations against someone, with the possible connotation of a legal or court context – ‘to accuse, to bring charges.”
[25:6] 171 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Festus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[25:6] 172 tn Grk “Having stayed.” The participle διατρίψας (diatriya") has been taken temporally.
[25:6] 173 sn Caesarea was a city on the coast of Palestine south of Mount Carmel (not Caesarea Philippi). See the note on Caesarea in Acts 10:1.
[25:6] 174 tn Grk “sitting down…he ordered.” The participle καθίσας (kaqisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
[25:6] 175 tn Although BDAG 175 s.v. βῆμα 3 gives the meaning “tribunal” for this verse, and a number of modern translations use similar terms (“court,” NIV; “tribunal,” NRSV), since the bhma was a standard feature in Greco-Roman cities of the time, there is no need for an alternative translation here.
[25:7] 176 tn BDAG 801 s.v. περιίστημι 1.a has “περιέστησαν αὐτὸν οἱ ᾿Ιουδαῖοι the Judeans stood around him 25:7.”
[25:7] 177 tn Grk “many and serious.” The term βαρύς (barus) refers to weighty or serious charges (BDAG 167 s.v. 1).
[25:7] 178 tn The term ἀποδείκνυμι (apodeiknumi) in a legal context refers to legal proof (4 Macc 1:8; BDAG 108 s.v. 3).
[25:8] 181 tn Grk “Paul saying in his defense”; the participle ἀπολογουμένου (apologoumenou) could be taken temporally (“when Paul said…”), but due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the participle was translated as a finite verb and a new sentence begun here in the translation. BDAG 116-17 s.v. ἀπολογέομαι has “W. ὅτι foll. τοῦ Παύλου ἀπολογουμένου, ὅτι when Paul said in his defense (direct quot. foll.) Ac 25:8.”
[25:8] 182 tn Grk “I have sinned…in nothing.”
[25:8] 183 tn Grk “against the law of the Jews.” Here τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων has been translated as an attributive genitive.
[25:8] 184 tn Or “against the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
[25:9] 186 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
[25:9] 187 tn Or “stand trial.”
[25:9] 188 tn Grk “concerning these things.”
[25:10] 192 tn Or “before the emperor’s” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
[25:10] 193 tn Although BDAG 175 s.v. βῆμα 3 gives the meaning “tribunal” for this verse, and a number of modern translations use similar terms (“court,” NIV; “tribunal,” NRSV), since the bema was a standard feature in Greco-Roman cities of the time, there is no need for an alternative translation here. Here of course Paul’s reference to “Caesar’s judgment seat” is a form of metonymy; since Festus is Caesar’s representative, Festus’ judgment seat represents Caesar’s own.
[25:10] 194 tn That is, tried by an imperial representative and subject to Roman law.
[25:10] 195 sn “I have done nothing wrong.” Here is yet another declaration of total innocence on Paul’s part.
[25:10] 196 tn BDAG 506 s.v. καλῶς 7 states, “comp. κάλλιον (for the superl., as Galen, Protr. 8 p. 24, 19J.=p. 10, 31 Kaibel; s. B-D-F §244, 2) ὡς καί σὺ κ. ἐπιγινώσκεις as also you know very well Ac 25:10.”
[25:11] 196 tn BDAG 20 s.v. ἀδικέω 1.b has “intr. be in the wrong (Ex 2:13) εἰ ἀδικῶ Ac 25:11.”
[25:11] 197 tn BDAG 764 s.v. παραιτέομαι 2.b.β, “οὐ παραιτοῦμαι τὸ ἀποθανεῖν I am not trying to escape death Ac 25:11 (cp. Jos., Vi. 141).” To avoid redundancy in the translation, the English gerund “dying” is used to translate the Greek infinitive ἀποθανεῖν (apoqanein).
[25:11] 198 tn Or “but if there is nothing to their charges against me.” Both “if” clauses in this verse are first class conditions. Paul stated the options without prejudice, assuming in turn the reality of each for the sake of the argument.
[25:11] 199 sn That is, no one can hand me over to them lawfully. Paul was aware of the dangers of a return to Jerusalem.
[25:11] 200 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
[25:12] 201 tn That is, with his advisers.
[25:12] 202 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
[25:12] 203 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
[25:12] 204 tn Or “to the emperor.”
[25:12] 205 sn “To Caesar you will go!” In all probability Festus was pleased to send Paul on to Rome and get this political problem out of his court.
[25:13] 206 sn King Agrippa was Herod Agrippa II (
[25:13] 207 sn Caesarea was a city on the coast of Palestine south of Mount Carmel (not Caesarea Philippi). See the note on Caesarea in Acts 10:1.
[25:13] 208 tn BDAG 144 s.v. ἀσπάζομαι 1.b states, “Of official visits pay one’s respects to…Ac 25:13.”
[25:13] 209 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
[25:14] 211 tn BDAG 1105-6 s.v. ὡς 8.b states, “w. pres. or impf. while, when, as long as…Ac 1:10; 7:23; 9:23; 10:17; 13:25; 19:9; 21:27; 25:14.”
[25:14] 212 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
[25:14] 213 tn Grk “Festus laid Paul’s case before the king for consideration.” BDAG 74 s.v. ἀνατίθημι 2 states, “otherw. only mid. to lay someth. before someone for consideration, declare, communicate, refer w. the added idea that the pers. to whom a thing is ref. is asked for his opinion lay someth. before someone for consideration…Ac 25:14.”
[25:15] 216 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[25:15] 217 tn BDAG 326 s.v. ἐμφανίζω 3 has “to convey a formal report about a judicial matter, present evidence, bring charges…ἐ. περί τινος concerning someone 25:15.”
[25:15] 218 tn Grk “about whom.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) has been replaced with a personal pronoun (“him”) and a new sentence started in the translation at the beginning of v. 15 (where the phrase περὶ οὗ [peri Jou] occurs in the Greek text).
[25:15] 219 tn BDAG 516 s.v. καταδίκη states, “condemnation, sentence of condemnation, conviction, guilty verdict…αἰτεῖσθαι κατά τινος κ. ask for a conviction of someone Ac 25:15.”
[25:16] 221 tn Grk “to whom I answered.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) has been replaced with a personal pronoun (“them”) and a new sentence started in the translation at the beginning of v. 16.
[25:16] 222 tn Grk “any man.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpos).
[25:16] 223 tn Or “has met his accusers in person.”
[25:16] 224 tn Grk “and receives.”
[25:16] 225 tn Or “indictment” (a legal technical term). BDAG 273-74 s.v. ἔγκλημα 1 states, “legal t.t.…ἀπολογία περὶ τοῦ ἐ. defense against the accusation Ac 25:16.” L&N 56.6 defines ἔγκλημα (enklhma) as “(a technical, legal term) a formal indictment or accusation brought against someone – ‘indictment, accusation, case.’ …‘and might receive an opportunity for a defense against the indictment’ Ac 25:16.”
[25:17] 226 tn BDAG 969-70 s.v. συνέρχομαι 2 states, “συνελθόντων ἐνθάδε prob. means (because of συνκαταβάντες 25:5) they came back here with (me) 25:17.”
[25:17] 227 tn BDAG 59 s.v. ἀναβολή states, “‘delay’…legal t.t. postponement…ἀ. μηδεμίαν ποιησάμενος I did not postpone the matter Ac 25:17.” “Case” has been supplied instead of “matter” since it is more specific to the context. The participle ποιησάμενος (poihsameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
[25:17] 228 tn Grk “sitting…I ordered.” The participle καθίσας (kaqisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
[25:17] 229 tn Although BDAG 175 s.v. βῆμα 3 gives the meaning “tribunal” for this verse, and a number of modern translations use similar terms (“court,” NIV; “tribunal,” NRSV), since the bema was a standard feature in Greco-Roman cities of the time, there is no need for an alternative translation here.
[25:18] 231 tn Grk “they brought no charge of any of the evil deeds.” BDAG 31 s.v. αἰτία 3.b has “αἰτίαν φέρειν…bring an accusation Ac 25:18.” Since κατήγοροι (kathgoroi, “accusers”) in the previous clause is somewhat redundant with this, “charge” was used instead.
[25:18] 232 tn Or “I was expecting.”
[25:19] 236 tn Grk “several controversial issues.” BDAG 428 s.v. ζήτημα states, “in our lit. only in Ac, w. the mng. it still has in Mod. Gk. (controversial) question, issue, argument…Ac 15:2; 26:3. ζ. περί τινος questions about someth.…18:15; 25:19.”
[25:19] 237 tn On this term see BDAG 216 s.v. δεισιδαιμονία 2. It is a broad term for religion.
[25:19] 238 tn Grk “a certain Jesus.”
[25:20] 241 tn Or “Because I was undecided.” Grk “Being at a loss.” The participle ἀπορούμενος (aporoumeno") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
[25:20] 242 tn L&N 27.34 states, “ἀπορούμενος δὲ ἐγὼ τὴν περὶ τούτων ζήτησιν ‘I was undecided about how I could get information on these matters’ Ac 25:20. The clause ‘about how I could get information on these matters’ may also be rendered as ‘about how I should try to find out about these matters’ or ‘about how I could learn about these matters.’”
[25:20] 243 tn Or “stand trial.”
[25:20] 244 tn Grk “on these things.”
[25:21] 246 tn A designation of the Roman emperor (in this case, Nero). BDAG 917 s.v. σεβαστός states, “ὁ Σεβαστός His Majesty the Emperor Ac 25:21, 25 (of Nero).” It was a translation into Greek of the Latin “Augustus.”
[25:21] 247 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
[25:22] 251 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.
[25:22] 252 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
[25:23] 256 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.
[25:23] 257 tn Or “great pageantry” (BDAG 1049 s.v. φαντασία; the term is a NT hapax legomenon).
[25:23] 258 tn Or “auditorium.” “Auditorium” may suggest to the modern English reader a theater where performances are held. Here it is the large hall where a king or governor would hold audiences. Paul once spoke of himself as a “spectacle” to the world (1 Cor 4:8-13).
[25:23] 259 tn Grk “the chiliarchs” (officers in command of a thousand soldiers). In Greek the term χιλίαρχος (ciliarco") literally described the “commander of a thousand,” but it was used as the standard translation for the Latin tribunus militum or tribunus militare, the military tribune who commanded a cohort of 600 men.
[25:23] 260 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
[25:23] 261 tn Grk “and Festus ordering, Paul was brought in.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was begun in the translation, and καί (kai) has not been translated. The participle κελεύσαντος (keleusanto") has been taken temporally.
[25:24] 261 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
[25:24] 262 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.
[25:24] 263 tn Probably best understood as rhetorical hyperbole. BDAG 825 s.v. πλῆθος 2.b.γ states, “people, populace, population…τὸ πλῆθος the populace…ἅπαν τὸ πλ. τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων Ac 25:24.” However, the actions of the leadership are seen by Luke as representing the actions of the entire nation, so the remark is not inaccurate.
[25:24] 264 tn Or “appealed to” (BDAG 341 s.v. ἐντυγχάνω 1.a).
[25:24] 265 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[25:24] 266 sn Here means “here in Caesarea.”
[25:24] 267 tn Or “screaming.”
[25:25] 266 sn He had done nothing that deserved death. Festus’ opinion of Paul’s guilt is like Pilate’s of Jesus (Luke 23:4, 14, 22).
[25:25] 267 tn The participle ἐπικαλεσαμένου (epikalesamenou) has been taken temporally. It could also be translated as causal: “and because he appealed…”
[25:25] 268 tn A designation of the Roman emperor (in this case, Nero). BDAG 917 s.v. σεβαστός states, “ὁ Σεβαστός His Majesty the Emperor Ac 25:21, 25 (of Nero).”
[25:25] 269 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.
[25:26] 271 sn There is irony here. How can Festus write anything definite about Paul, if he is guilty of nothing.
[25:26] 272 sn To my lord means “to His Majesty the Emperor.”
[25:26] 273 tn Grk “about whom I have nothing definite…” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced with a personal pronoun (“him”) and a new sentence begun in the translation at the beginning of v. 26.
[25:26] 274 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.
[25:26] 275 tn Or “investigation.” BDAG 66 s.v. ἀνάκρισις has “a judicial hearing, investigation, hearing, esp. preliminary hearing…τῆς ἀ. γενομένης Ac 25:26.” This is technical legal language.
[25:27] 276 tn L&N 33.153 s.v. σημαίνω, “to cause something to be both specific and clear – ‘to indicate clearly, to make clear’… ‘for it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without clearly indicating the charges against him’ Ac 25:27.”
