Acts 4:20

4:20 for it is impossible ¹  for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”

Acts 21:12

21:12 When we heard this, both we and the local people ²  begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

Acts 15:24

15:24 Since we have heard that some have gone out from among us with no orders from us and have confused ³  you, upsetting ⁴  your minds ⁵  by what they said, ⁶ 

Acts 19:2

19:2 and said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” ⁷  They replied, ⁸  “No, we have not even ⁹  heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

[4:20]  ¹ tn Grk “for we are not able not to speak about what we have seen and heard,” but the double negative, which cancels out in English, is emphatic in Greek. The force is captured somewhat by the English translation “it is impossible for us not to speak…” although this is slightly awkward.

[21:12]  ² tn Or “the people there.”

[15:24]  ³ tn Here BDAG 990-91 s.v. ταράσσω 2 states, “Of mental confusion caused by false teachings ταρ. τινά Ac 15:24 (w. λόγοις foll.).”

[15:24]  ⁴ tn BDAG 71 s.v. ἀνασκευάζω describes this verb with a figurative meaning: “to cause inward distress, upset, unsettle.”

[15:24]  ⁵ tn Grk “souls.”

[15:24]  ⁶ tn Grk “by words”; L&N 25.231 translates the phrase “they troubled and upset you by what they said.”

[19:2]  ⁴ tn The participle πιστεύσαντες (pisteusante") is taken temporally.

[19:2]  ⁵ tn Grk “they [said] to him” (the word “said” is implied in the Greek text).

[19:2]  ⁶ tn This use of ἀλλά (alla) is ascensive and involves an ellipsis (BDAG 45 s.v. ἀλλά 3): “No, [not only did we not receive the Spirit,] but also we have not heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” However, this is lengthy and somewhat awkward in English, and the ascensive meaning can be much more easily represented by including the word “even” after the negation. Apparently these disciples were unaware of the provision of the Spirit that is represented in baptism. The language sounds like they did not know about a Holy Spirit, but this seems to be only linguistic shorthand for not knowing about the Spirit’s presence (Luke 3:15-18). The situation is parallel to that of Apollos. Apollos and these disciples represent those who “complete” their transition to messianic faith as Jews.