Acts 9:11

9:11 Then the Lord told him, “Get up and go to the street called ‘Straight,’ ¹  and at Judas’ house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying,

Acts 13:1

The Church at Antioch Commissions Barnabas and Saul

13:1 Now there were these prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: ²  Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, ³  Lucius the Cyrenian, ⁴  Manaen (a close friend of Herod ⁵  the tetrarch ⁶  from childhood ⁷ ) and Saul.

Acts 15:22

15:22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided ⁸  to send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, ⁹  leaders among the brothers, to Antioch ¹⁰  with Paul and Barnabas.

Acts 24:2

24:2 When Paul ¹¹  had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, ¹²  saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time ¹³  of peace through your rule, ¹⁴  and reforms ¹⁵  are being made in this nation ¹⁶  through your foresight. ¹⁷ 

[9:11]  ¹ sn The noting of the detail of the locale, ironically called ‘Straight’ Street, shows how directive and specific the Lord was.

[13:1]  ² sn Antioch was a city in Syria (not Antioch in Pisidia).

[13:1]  ³ sn Simeon may well have been from North Africa, since the Latin loanword Niger refers to someone as “dark-complexioned.”

[13:1]  ⁴ sn The Cyrenian refers to a native of the city of Cyrene, on the coast of northern Africa west of Egypt.

[13:1]  ⁵ sn Herod is generally taken as a reference to Herod Antipas, who governed Galilee from 4 b.c. to a.d. 39, who had John the Baptist beheaded, and who is mentioned a number of times in the gospels.

[13:1]  ⁶ tn Or “the governor.”

[13:1]  ⁷ tn Or “(a foster brother of Herod the tetrarch).” The meaning “close friend from childhood” is given by L&N 34.15, but the word can also mean “foster brother” (L&N 10.51). BDAG 976 s.v. σύντροφας states, “pert. to being brought up with someone, either as a foster-brother or as a companion/friend,” which covers both alternatives. Context does not given enough information to be certain which is the case here, although many modern translations prefer the meaning “close friend from childhood.”

[15:22]  ³ tn BDAG 255 s.v. δοκέω 2.b.β lists this verse under the meaning “it seems best to me, I decide, I resolve.”

[15:22]  ⁴ sn Silas. See 2 Cor 1:19; 1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1 (= Silvanus).

[15:22]  ⁵ sn Antioch was a city in Syria (not Antioch in Pisidia).

[24:2]  ⁴ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[24:2]  ⁵ tn Or “began to bring charges, saying.”

[24:2]  ⁶ tn Grk “experienced much peace.”

[24:2]  ⁷ tn Grk “through you” (“rule” is implied).

[24:2]  ⁸ 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]  ⁹ tn Or “being made for this people.”

[24:2]  ¹⁰ 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]).