Acts 20

Footnotes

1. 1 Or “exhorting.”
2. 2 Or “and taking leave of them.”
3. 3 Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.
4. 4 μέρος 1.b.γ gives the meanings “the parts (of a geographical area), region, district,” but the use of “district” in this context probably implies too much specificity.
5. 5 Grk “and encouraging them with many words.” The participle παρακαλέσας (parakalesas, “encouraging”) has been translated by the phrase “spoken … words of encouragement” because the formal equivalent is awkward in contemporary English.
6. 6 Grk “[to] them”; the referent (the believers there) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7. 7 In popular usage the term translated “Greece” here could also refer to the Roman province officially known as Achaia ( Ἐλλάς).
8. 8 ποιέω 5.c, “w. an of time spend, stay.”
9. 9 The participle βενομένης (benomenēs) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle. L&N 30.71 has “ἐπιβουλῆς αὐτῷ ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων ‘because the Jews had made a plot against him’ Ac 20:3.”
10. 10 This plot is one of several noted by Luke (Acts 9:20; 20:19; 23:30).
11. 11 μέλλω 1.c.γ has “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind … Ac 17:31; 20:3, 7, 13ab; 23:15; 26:2; 27:30.”
12. 12 ἀνάγω 4 gives “put out to sea” here (as a nautical technical term). However, since the English expression “put out to sea” could be understood to mean Paul was already aboard the ship (which is not clear from the context), the simpler expression “sail” is used at this point in the translation.
13. 13 γίνομαι 7 has “ἐγένετο γνώμης he decided Ac 20:3.”
14. 14 Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.
15. 15 Grk “He”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
16. 16 Berea (alternate spelling in Beroea; Greek Beroia) was a very old city in Macedonia on the river Astraeus about 45 mi (75 km) from Thessalonica. For location see ; ; ; .
17. 17 Grk “of the Thessalonians.” For location see ; ; ; .
18. 18 Grk “and Gaius,” but 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.
19. 19 Derbe was a city in Lycaonia about 30 mi (50 km) southeast of Lystra. For location see ; ; .
20. 20 Grk “the Asians Tychicus and Trophimus.” In the NT “Asia” 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.
21. 21 Grk “These, having gone on ahead, were waiting.” The participle προελθόντες (proelthontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
22. 22 Troas was a port city (and surrounding region) on the northwest coast of Asia Minor.
23. 23 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.
24. 24 For location see ; ; ; .
25. 25 The days of Unleavened Bread refer to the week following Passover. Originally an agricultural festival commemorating the beginning of harvest, it was celebrated for seven days beginning on the fifteenth day of the month Nisan (March–April). It was later combined with Passover (Exod 12:1–20; Ezek 45:21–24; Matt 26:17; Luke 22:1).
26. 26 ἄχρι 1.a.α has “ἄ. ἡμερῶν πέντε within five days Ac 20:6.”
27. 27 Grk “to them”; the referent (the others mentioned in v. 4) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
28. 28 Troas was a port city (and surrounding region) on the northwest coast of Asia Minor. From Philippi to Troas was about 125 mi (200 km).
29. 29 On the first day. This is the first mention of a Sunday gathering (1 Cor 16:2).
30. 30 Or “assembled.”
31. 31 The verb διαλέγομαι (dialegomai) is frequently used of Paul addressing Jews in the synagogue. As G. Schrenk ( 2:94–95) points out, “What is at issue is the address which any qualified member of a synagogue might give.” Other examples of this may be found in the NT in Matt 4:23 and Mark 1:21. In the context of a Christian gathering, it is preferable to translate διελέγετο (dielegeto) simply as “speak” here. The imperfect verb διελέγετο has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.
32. 32 μέλλω 1.c.γ has “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind … Ac 17:31; 20:3, 7, 13ab; 23:15; 26:2; 27:30.”
33. 33 Or “prolonged.”
34. 34 More commonly λαμπάς (lampas) means “torch,” but here according to λαμπάς 2, “lamp … a wick and space for oil.”
35. 35 This is best taken as a parenthetical note by the author.
36. 36 This window was probably a simple opening in the wall (see also θυρίς).
37. 37 Grk “sinking into a deep sleep.” καταφέρω 3 has “ὕπνῳ βαθεῖ sink into a deep sleep … Ac 20:9a.” The participle καταφερόμενος (katapheromenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
38. 38 The participle διαλεγομένου (dialegomenou) has been taken temporally.
39. 39 καταφέρω 3 has “κατενεχθεὶς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὔπνου overwhelmed by sleep vs. 9b,” but this expression is less common in contemporary English than phrases like “fast asleep” or “sound asleep.”
40. 40 Grk “going down.” The participle καταβάς (katabas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
41. 41 ἐπιπίπτω 1.b has “ἐπέπεσεν αὐτῷ he threw himself upon him Ac 20:10.”
42. 42 Grk “on him”; the referent (the young man) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
43. 43 συμπεριλαμβάνω has “to throw one’s arms around, embrace to be supplied Ac 20:10.” However, “embraced the young man” might be taken (out of context) to have erotic implications, while “threw his arms around him” would be somewhat redundant since “threw” has been used in the previous phrase.
44. 44 Grk “for his life is in him” (an idiom).
45. 45 Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
46. 46 Grk “going back upstairs.” The participle ἀναβάς (anabas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
47. 47 Grk “talking with them.” The participle ὁμιλήσας (homilēsas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
48. 48 Grk “were not to a moderate degree” (an idiom). L&N 78.11 states: “μετρίως: a moderate degree of some activity or state—‘moderately, to a moderate extent.’ ἤγαγον δὲ τὸν παῖδα ζῶντα, καὶ παρεκλήθησαν οὐ μετρίωθς ‘they took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted’ Ac 20:12. In Ac 20:12 the phrase οὐ μετρίως, literally ‘not to a moderate degree,’ is equivalent to a strong positive statement, namely, ‘greatly’ or ‘to a great extent.’ ”
49. 49 Grk “going on ahead.” The participle προελθόντες (proelthontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
50. 50 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.”
51. 51 Assos was a city of Mysia about 24 mi (40 km) southeast of Troas.
52. 52 μέλλω 1.c.γ has “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind … Ac 17:31; 20:3, 7, 13ab; 23:15; 26:2; 27:30.”
53. 53 Or “for he told us to do this.” Grk “for having arranged it this way, he.” The participle διατεταγμένος (diatetagmenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. διατάσσω 1 has “οὕτως διατεταγμένος ἦν he had arranged it so Ac 20:13.” L&N 15.224 has “ ‘he told us to do this.”
54. 54 A new sentence was begun here in the translation because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence; in Greek this is part of the preceding sentence beginning “We went on ahead.”
55. 55 μέλλω 1.c.γ has “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind … Ac 17:31; 20:3, 7, 13ab; 23:15; 26:2; 27:30.”
56. 56 Or “there on foot.”
57. 57 Assos was a city of Mysia about 24 mi (40 km) southeast of Troas.
58. 58 Grk “taking him aboard, we.” The participle ἀναλαβόντες (analabontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
59. 59 Mitylene was the most important city on the island of Lesbos in the Aegean Sea. It was about 44 mi (70 km) from Assos.
60. 60 Grk “setting sail from there.” The participle ἀποπλεύσαντες (apopleusantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
61. 61 Or “offshore from Chios.” Chios was an island in the Aegean Sea off the western coast of Asia Minor with a city of the same name.
62. 62 Or “crossed over to,” “arrived at.” L&N 54.12 has “παραβάλλω: (a technical, nautical term) to sail up to or near—‘to approach, to arrive at, to sail to.’ παρεβάλομεν εἰς Σάμον ‘we approached Samos’ or ‘we arrived at Samos’ Ac 20:15.”
63. 63 Samos is an island in the Aegean Sea off the western coast of Asia Minor.
64. 64 Miletus was a seaport on the western coast of Asia Minor about 40 mi (70 km) south of Ephesus. From Mitylene to Miletus was about 125 mi (200 km).
65. 65 For location see ; ; ; .
66. 66 Grk “so that he might not have to spend time.” L&N 67.79 has “ὅπως μὴ γένηται αὐτῷ χρονοτριβῆσαι ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ ‘so as not to spend any time in the province of Asia’ Ac 20:16.”
67. 67 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.
68. 68 Or “was eager.”
69. 69 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
70. 70 Grk “if it could be to him” (an idiom).
71. 71 Miletus was a seaport on the western coast of Asia Minor about 45 mi (72 km) south of Ephesus.
72. 72 The words “a message” 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.
73. 73 The words “to him” are not in the Greek text but are implied. L&N 33.311 has for the verb μετακαλέομαι (metakaleomai) “to summon someone, with considerable insistence and authority—‘to summon, to tell to come.’ ”
74. 74 Grk “You yourselves know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time.” This could be understood to mean “how I stayed with you the whole time,” but the following verses make it clear that Paul’s lifestyle while with the Ephesians is in view here. Thus the translation “how I lived the whole time I was with you” makes this clear.
75. 75 Or “I arrived.” ἐπιβαίνω 2, “set foot in … εἰς τ. Ἀσίαν set foot in Asia Ac 20:18.” However, L&N 15.83 removes the idiom: “you know that since the first day that I came to Asia.”
76. 76 Grk “Asia”; see the note on this word in v. .
77. 77 On humility see 2 Cor 10:1; 11:7; 1 Thess 2:6; Col 3:12; Eph 4:2; Phil 2:3–11.
78. 78 These plots are mentioned in Acts 9:24; 20:13.
79. 79 Or “declaring.”
80. 80 Or “profitable.” συμφέρω 2.b.α has “τὰ συμφέροντα what advances your best interests or what is good for you Ac 20:20,” but the broader meaning ( 2, “to be advantageous, help, confer a benefit, be profitable/useful”) is equally possible in this context.
81. 81 Or “openly.”
82. 82 διαμαρτύρομαι 1 has “testify of, bear witness to (orig. under oath) … of repentance to Judeans and Hellenes Ac 20:21.”
83. 83 Several , including some of the more important ones (𝔓74 א Α C [D] E 33 36 323 945 1175 1241 1505 1739 and a number of versions), read Χριστόν (Christon, “Christ”) at the end of this verse. This word is lacking in B H L P Ψ 614 . Although the inclusion is supported by many earlier and better , internal evidence is on the side of the omission: In Acts, both “Lord Jesus” and “Lord Jesus Christ” occur, though between 16:31 and the end of the book “Lord Jesus Christ” appears only in 28:31, perhaps as a kind of climactic assertion. Thus, the shorter reading is to be preferred. Repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus. Note the twofold description of the message. It is a turning to God involving faith in Jesus Christ.
84. 84 Grk “And now, behold.” Here ἰδού (idou) has not been translated.
85. 85 Grk “bound.”
86. 86 This journey to Jerusalem suggests a parallel between Paul and Jesus, since the “Jerusalem journey” motif figures so prominently in Luke’s Gospel (9:51–19:44).
87. 87 συναντάω 2 has τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ συναντήσοντα ἐμοὶ μὴ εἰδώς without knowing what will happen to me there Ac 20:22.”
88. 88 πλήν 1.d has “πλὴν ὅτι except that … Ac 20:23.”
89. 89 The verb διαμαρτύρομαι (diamarturomai) can mean “warn” ( διαμαρτύρομαι 2 has “solemnly urge, exhort, warn … of pers. addressed”), and this meaning better fits the context here, although categorizes Acts 20:23 under the meaning “testify of, bear witness to” ( 1).
90. 90 The Greek text here reads κατὰ πόλιν (kata polin).
91. 91 Grk “saying that,” but the participle λέγον (legon) is redundant in English and has not been translated.
92. 92 Grk “bonds.”
93. 93 Or “troubles,” “suffering.” See Acts 19:21; 21:4, 11.
94. 94 Grk “soul.”
95. 95 Or “I do not consider my life worth a single word.” According to λόγος 1.a.α, “In the textually uncertain pass. Ac 20:24 the text as it stands in N., οὐδενὸς λόγου (v.l. λόγον) ποιοῦμαι τὴν ψυχὴν τιμίαν, may well mean: I do not consider my life worth a single word (cp. λόγου ἅξιον [ἅξιος 1a] and our ‘worth mention’).”
96. 96 1106 ὡς 9 describes this use as “a final particle, expressing intention/purpose, with a view to, in order to.”
97. 97 Grk “course.” See L&N 42.26, “(a figurative extension of meaning of δρόμος ‘race’) a task or function involving continuity, serious, effort, and possibly obligation—‘task, mission’ … Ac 20:24.” On this Pauline theme see also Phil 1:19–26; Col 1:24; 2 Tim 4:6–7.
98. 98 Or “to the gospel.”
99. 99 Grk “And now, behold.” Here ἰδού (idou) has not been translated.
100. 100 Grk “all of you … will not see.” Greek handles its negation somewhat differently from English, and the translation follows English grammatical conventions.
101. 101 Note how Paul’s usage of the expression proclaiming the kingdom is associated with (and intertwined with) his testifying to the good news of God’s grace in v. 24. For Paul the two concepts were interrelated.
102. 102 Grk “will see my face” (an idiom for seeing someone in person).
103. 103 Or “testify.”
104. 104 Grk “clean, pure,” thus “guiltless” ( καθαρός 3.a). I am innocent. Paul had a clear conscience, since he had faithfully carried out his responsibility of announcing to (the Ephesians) the whole purpose of God.
105. 105 That is, “that if any of you should be lost, I am not responsible” (an idiom). According to L&N 33.223, the meaning of the phrase “that I am innocent of the blood of all of you” is “that if any of you should be lost, I am not responsible.” However, due to the length of this phrase and its familiarity to many modern English readers, the translation was kept closer to formal equivalence in this case. The word “you” is not in the Greek text, but is implied; Paul is addressing the Ephesian congregation (in the person of its elders) in both v. 25 and 27.
106. 106 Or “did not avoid.” ὑποστέλλω 2.b has “shrink from, avoid implying fear … οὐ γὰρ ὑπεστειλάμην τοῦ μὴ ἀναγγεῖλαι I did not shrink from proclaiming Ac 20:27”; L&N 13.160 has “to hold oneself back from doing something, with the implication of some fearful concern—‘to hold back from, to shrink from, to avoid’ … ‘for I have not held back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God’ Ac 20:27.”
107. 107 Or “proclaiming,” “declaring.”
108. 108 Or “plan.”
109. 109 Or “Be on your guard for” (cf. v. 29). Paul completed his responsibility to the Ephesians with this warning.
110. 110 Grk “in which.”
111. 111 Or “guardians.” ἐπίσκοπος 2 states, “The term was taken over in Christian communities in ref. to one who served as overseer or supervisor, with special interest in guarding the apostolic tradition … Ac 20:28.” This functional term describes the role of the elders (see v. 17). They were to guard and shepherd the congregation.
112. 112 The reading “of God” (τοῦ θεοῦ, tou theou) is found in א B 614 1175 1505 vg sy; other witnesses have “of the Lord” (τοῦ κυρίου, tou kuriou) here (so 𝔓74 A C* D E Ψ 33 1739 co), while the majority of the later minuscule conflate these two into “of the Lord and God” (τοῦ κυρίου καὶ [τοῦ] θεοῦ, tou kuriou kai [tou] theou). Although the evidence is evenly balanced between the first two readings, τοῦ θεοῦ is decidedly superior on internal grounds. The final prepositional phrase of this verse, διὰ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἰδίου (dia tou haimatos tou idiou), could be rendered “through his own blood” or “through the blood of his own.” In the latter translation, the object that “own” modifies must be supplied (see below for discussion). But this would not be entirely clear to scribes; those who supposed that ἰδίου modified αἵματος would be prone to alter “God” to “Lord” to avoid the inference that God had blood. In a similar way, later scribes would be prone to conflate the two titles, thereby affirming the deity (with the construction τοῦ κυρίου καὶ θεοῦ following the Granville Sharp rule and referring to a single person [see , , ]) and substitutionary atonement of Christ. For these reasons, τοῦ θεοῦ best explains the rise of the other readings and should be considered authentic.
113. 113 Or “acquired.”
114. 114 Or “with his own blood”; Grk “with the blood of his own.” The genitive construction could be taken in two ways: (1) as an attributive genitive (second attributive position) meaning “his own blood”; or (2) as a possessive genitive, “with the blood of his own.” In this case the referent is the Son, and the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity. See further C. F. DeVine, “The Blood of God,” 9 (1947): 381–408. That he obtained with the blood of his own Son. This is one of only two explicit statements in Luke-Acts highlighting the substitutionary nature of Christ’s death (the other is in Luke 22:19).
115. 115 Grk “after my departure.”
116. 116 That is, people like fierce wolves. See βαρύς 4 on the term translated “fierce.” The battle that will follow would be a savage one.
117. 117 Grk “from among yourselves.”
118. 118 The Greek term here is ἀνήρ (anēr), which only rarely is used in a generic sense to refer to both males and females. Since Paul is speaking to the Ephesian elders at this point and there is nothing in the context to suggest women were included in that group (“from among your own group”), it is most likely Paul was not predicting that these false teachers would include women.
119. 119 Grk “speaking crooked things”; BDAG 237 διαστρέφω 2 has “λαλεῖν διεστραμμένα teach perversions (of the truth) Ac 20:30.” These perversions of the truth refer to the kinds of threats that would undermine repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. v. 21). Instead these false teachers would arise from within the Ephesian congregation (cf. 1 John 2:18–19) and would seek to draw the disciples away after them.
120. 120 Or “be watchful.”
121. 121 Or “admonishing.”
122. 122 Or “commend.” παρατίθημι 3.b has “τινά τινι entrust someone to the care or protection of someone … Of divine protection παρέθεντο αὐτοὺς τῷ κυρίῳ Ac 14:23; cp. 20:32.”
123. 123 Grk “word.”
124. 124 Grk “the message of his grace, which.” The phrase τῷ δυναμένῳ οἰκοδομῆσαι … (tō dunamenō oikodomēsai …) refers to τῷ λόγω (tō logō), not τῆς χάριτος (tēs charitos); in English it could refer to either “the message” or “grace,” but in Greek, because of agreement in gender, the referent can only be “the message.” To make this clear, a new sentence was begun in the translation and the referent “the message” was repeated at the beginning of this new sentence.
125. 125 Traditionally, “coveted.” ἐπιθυμέω 1 has “to have a strong desire to do or secure someth., desire, long for of the thing desired … silver, gold, clothing Ac 20:33.” The traditional term “covet” is not in common usage and difficult for many modern English readers to understand. The statement affirms Paul’s integrity. He was not doing this for personal financial gain.
126. 126 The words “of mine” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied to clarify whose hands Paul is referring to.
127. 127 The expression By all these things means “In everything I did.”
128. 128 Or “must assist.”
129. 129 Or “the sick.” See Eph 4:28.
130. 130 The saying is similar to Matt 10:8. Service and generosity should be abundant. Interestingly, these exact words are not found in the gospels. Paul must have known of this saying from some other source.
131. 131 Grk “And when.” 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.
132. 132 Grk “kneeling down … he prayed.” The participle θείς (theis) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
133. 133 Grk “weeping a great deal,” thus “loudly” ( ἱκανός and κλαυθμός).
134. 134 Grk “fell on Paul’s neck” (an idiom, see τράχηλος).
135. 135 The Ephesians elders kissed Paul as a sign of both affection and farewell. The entire scene shows how much interrelationship Paul had in his ministry and how much he and the Ephesians meant to each other.
136. 136 Or “pained.”
137. 137 Grk “by the word that he had said.”
138. 138 Grk “to see his face” (an idiom for seeing someone in person).
139. 139 προπέμπω 1 has “they accompanied him to the ship Ac 20:38.”