Matthew 9:2

9:2 Just then ¹  some people ²  brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. ³  When Jesus saw their ⁴  faith, he said to the paralytic, “Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.” ⁵ 

John 16:33

16:33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, ⁶  but take courage ⁷  – I have conquered the world.” ⁸ 

Acts 23:11

23:11 The following night the Lord ⁹  stood near ¹⁰  Paul ¹¹  and said, “Have courage, ¹²  for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, ¹³  so you must also testify in Rome.” ¹⁴ 

[9:2]  ¹ tn Grk “And behold, they were bringing.” Here καὶ ἰδού (kai idou) has been translated as “just then” to indicate the somewhat sudden appearance of the people carrying the paralytic. The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1), especially in conjunction with the suddenness of the stretcher bearers’ appearance.

[9:2]  ² tn Grk “they”; the referent (some unnamed people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[9:2]  ³ tn Traditionally, “on a bed,” but this could be confusing to the modern reader who might envision a large piece of furniture. In various contexts, κλίνη (klinh) may be translated “bed, couch, cot, stretcher, or bier” (in the case of a corpse). See L&N 6.106.

[9:2]  ⁴ sn The plural pronoun their makes it clear that Jesus was responding to the faith of the entire group, not just the paralyzed man.

[9:2]  ⁵ sn The passive voice here is a divine passive (ExSyn 437). It is clear that God does the forgiving.

[16:33]  ⁶ tn The one Greek term θλῖψις (qliyis) has been translated by an English hendiadys (two terms that combine for one meaning) “trouble and suffering.” For modern English readers “tribulation” is no longer clearly understandable.

[16:33]  ⁷ tn Or “but be courageous.”

[16:33]  ⁸ tn Or “I am victorious over the world,” or “I have overcome the world.”

[23:11]  ⁹ sn The presence of the Lord indicated the vindicating presence and direction of God.

[23:11]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “standing near Paul, said.” The participle ἐπιστάς (epistas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:11]  ¹¹ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[23:11]  ¹² tn Or “Do not be afraid.”

[23:11]  ¹³ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[23:11]  ¹⁴ sn Like Jesus went to Jerusalem, Paul would now go to Rome. This trip forms the concluding backdrop to Acts. This is the second notice about going to Rome (see Acts 19:21 for the first).