Acts 9:19–43

Footnotes

1. 41 Grk “It happened that for several days.” 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.
2. 42 See the note on synagogue in .
3. 43 The ὅτι (hoti) is understood to introduce direct (“This man is the Son of God”) rather than indirect discourse (“that this man is the Son of God”) because the pronoun οὗτος (houtos) combined with the present tense verb ἐστιν (estin) suggests the contents of what was proclaimed are a direct (albeit summarized) quotation. This is the only use of the title Son of God in Acts. The book prefers to allow a variety of descriptions to present Jesus.
4. 44 Grk “And all.” 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.
5. 45 The Greek interrogative particle used in this verse (οὐχ, ouch) expects a positive reply. They all knew about Saul’s persecutions.
6. 46 Normally, “destroying,” but compare 4 Macc 4:23; 11:4 and πορθέω for examples from Koine papyri. See also πορθέω.
7. 47 Grk “bring them bound”; the translation “bring someone as prisoner” for δεδεμένον ἄγειν τινά (dedemenon agein tina) is given by δέω 1.b.
8. 48 Grk “was becoming stronger,” but this could be understood in a physical sense, while the text refers to Saul’s growing ability to demonstrate to fellow Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. The translation “to become capable” for ἐνδυναμόω (endunamoō) is given in L&N 74.7, with this specific verse as an example.
9. 49 Or “was confounding.” For the translation “to cause consternation” for συγχέω (suncheō) see L&N 25.221.
10. 50 Or “by showing for certain.”
11. 51 Grk “that this one”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
12. 52 Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.” Note again the variation in the titles used. See the note on Christ in .
13. 53 Fitting the pattern emphasized earlier with Stephen and his speech in Acts 7, some Jews plotted to kill God’s messenger (cf. Luke 11:53–54).
14. 54 The words “against him” are implied, as suggested by L&N 30.71.
15. 55 Or “guarding.” This is a negative term in Luke-Acts (Luke 6:7; 14:1; 20:20).
16. 56 The word πύλη (pulē) may refer to a house door or gate, or to the large gates used in a palace, temple, or city wall. Here the context clearly indicates a reference to the latter, so the translation “city gates” is used.
17. 57 The opening in the wall is not specifically mentioned here, but the parallel account in 2 Cor 11:33 mentions a “window” or “opening” (θυρίς, thuris) in the city wall through which Paul was lowered. One alternative to introducing mention of the opening is to translate Acts 9:25 “they let him down over the wall,” as suggested in L&N 7.61. This option is not employed by many translations, however, because for the English reader it creates an (apparent) contradiction between Acts 9:25 and 2 Cor 11:33. In reality the account here is simply more general, omitting the detail about the window.
18. 58 On the term for “basket” used here, see σπυρίς.
19. 59 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
20. 60 Or “join.”
21. 61 The participle πιστεύοντες (pisteuontes) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
22. 62 Grk “taking Saul, brought him.” The participle ἐπιλαβόμενος (epilabomenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
23. 63 Grk “him”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
24. 64 Grk “and brought,” but 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.
25. 65 Grk “and that,” but 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.
26. 66 On this verb which is used 7 times in Acts, see παρρησιάζομαι 1. See also v. 28.
27. 67 Grk “he was with them going in and going out in Jerusalem.” The expression “going in and going out” is probably best taken as an idiom for association without hindrance. Some modern translations (, ) translate the phrase “moving about freely in Jerusalem,” although the retains the literal “he went in and out among them in Jerusalem.”
28. 68 Or “arguing.” συζητέω 2 gives “dispute, debate, argue … τινί ‘w. someone’ ” for συνεζήτει (sunezētei).
29. 69 Grk “the Hellenists,” but this descriptive term is largely unknown to the modern English reader. The translation “Greek-speaking Jews” attempts to convey something of who these were, but it was more than a matter of language spoken; it involved a degree of adoption of Greek culture as well.
30. 70 Caesarea was a city on the coast of Palestine, south of Mount Carmel (not Caesarea Philippi). See the note on Caesarea in . For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
31. 71 Or “Therefore.” This verse is another summary text in Acts (cf. 2:41–47; 4:32–37; 5:12–16; 6:7).
32. 72 Grk “and Galilee,” but 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.
33. 73 Grk “had.”
34. 74 Or “Built up.” The participle οἰκοδομουμένη (oikodomoumenē) has been translated as a participle of result related to εἶχεν (eichen). It could also be understood as adverbial to ἐπληθύνετο (eplēthuneto): “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace. Strengthened and living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.” Although some scholars do not regard the participle of result as a legitimate category, it is actually fairly common (see ).
35. 75 Grk “And living.” 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.
36. 76 Grk “it”; the referent (the church) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
37. 77 Grk “Now it happened that.” 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.
38. 78 Grk “As Peter was going through all [the places],” which is somewhat awkward in English. The meaning is best expressed by a phrase like “going around from place to place” or “traveling around from place to place.”
39. 79 Lydda was a city northwest of Jerusalem on the way to Joppa. It was about 10.5 miles (17 km) southeast of Joppa.
40. 80 Since the participle κατακείμενον (katakeimenon), an adjectival participle modifying Αἰνέαν (Ainean), has been translated into English as a relative clause (“who had been confined to a mattress”), it would be awkward to follow with a second relative clause (Grk “who was paralyzed”). Furthermore, the relative pronoun here has virtually a causal force, giving the reason for confinement to the mattress, so it is best translated “because.”
41. 81 Grk “And Peter.” 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.
42. 82 Several variants occur at this juncture. Some of the earliest and best witnesses (𝔓74 א B* C Ψ 33vid Didpt) read “Jesus Christ” (Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Iēsous Christos); others ([A] 36 1175 it) have “the Lord Jesus Christ” (ὁ κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, ho kurios Iēsous Christos); a few read simply ὁ Χριστός (614 1241 1505); the majority of (B2 E 1739 𝔐 Didpt) have “Jesus the Christ” (Ἰησοῦς ὁ Χριστός). Although the pedigree of this last reading is relatively weak, it draws strength from the fact that (a) the other readings are much more natural and thus more predictable, and (b) there are several variants for this text. It seems hardly likely that scribes would intentionally change a more common expression into a title that is used nowhere else in the NT (although 1 John 2:22; 5:1 come close with “Jesus is the Christ”), nor would they unintentionally change a frequently used designation into an unusual one. Thus, in spite of the external evidence (which is nevertheless sufficient to argue for authenticity), Ἰησοῦς ὁ Χριστός is the reading that best explains the rise of the others. Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
43. 83 The translation “make your own bed” for στρῶσον σεαυτῷ (strōson seautō) is given by στρωννύω 1. Naturally this involves some adaptation, since a pallet or mat would not be ‘made up’ in the sense that a modern bed would be. The idea may be closer to “straighten” or “rearrange,” and the ’s “take care of your mat” attempts to reflect this, although this too probably conveys a slightly different idea to the modern English reader.
44. 84 Grk “And all.” 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.
45. 85 Lydda was a city northwest of Jerusalem on the way to Joppa.
46. 86 Sharon refers to the plain of Sharon, a region along the coast of Palestine.
47. 87 Repetition of the pronoun “they” as subject of ἐπέστρεψαν (epestrepsan) is not strictly necessary in English, but emphasizes slightly the resultative nature of the final clause: They turned to the Lord as a result of seeing Aeneas after he was healed.
48. 88 They turned. To “turn” is a good summary term for the response to the gospel.
49. 89 Joppa was a seaport on the Philistine coast, in the same location as modern Jaffa. “Though Joppa never became a major seaport, it was of some importance as a logistical base and an outlet to the Mediterranean” (A. F. Rainey, 2:).
50. 90 Grk “which being translated is called.” In English this would normally be expressed “which is translated as” or “which in translation means.” The second option is given by L&N 33.145.
51. 91 This is a parenthetical note by the author. Dorcas is the Greek translation of the Aramaic name Tabitha. Dorcas in Greek means “gazelle” or “deer.”
52. 92 Or “and helping the poor.” Grk “She was full of good deeds and acts of charity which she was continually doing.” Since it is somewhat redundant in English to say “she was full of good deeds … which she was continually doing,” the translation has been simplified to “she was continually doing good deeds and acts of charity.” The imperfect verb ἐποίει (epoiei) has been translated as a progressive imperfect (“was continually doing”).
53. 93 Grk “It happened that in those days.” 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.
54. 94 Grk “becoming sick, she died.” The participle ἀσθενήσασαν (asthenēsasan) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
55. 95 The participle λούσαντες (lousantes) is taken temporally.
56. 96 Grk “washed her,” but the reference is to her corpse.
57. 97 Lydda was a city northwest of Jerusalem on the way to Joppa.
58. 98 Grk “Do not delay to come to us.” It is somewhat smoother to say in English, “Come to us without delay.”
59. 99 Grk “who.” The relative clause makes for awkward English style here, so the following clause was made coordinate with the conjunction “and” supplied in place of the Greek relative pronoun.
60. 100 The participle παραγενόμενον (paragenomenon) is taken temporally.
61. 101 Grk “and all.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence, the conjunction καί (kai) has not been translated here. Instead a new English sentence is begun.
62. 102 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.
63. 103 Or “shirts” (a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin). The name for this garment (χιτών, chitōn) presents some difficulty in translation. Most modern readers would not understand what a ‘tunic’ was any more than they would be familiar with a ‘chiton.’ On the other hand attempts to find a modern equivalent are also a problem: “shirt” conveys the idea of a much shorter garment that covers only the upper body, and “undergarment” (given the styles of modern underwear) is more misleading still. “Tunic” was therefore employed, but with a note to explain its nature.
64. 104 Grk “and garments,” referring here to other types of clothing besides the tunics just mentioned.
65. 105 The verb ἐποίει (epoiei) has been translated as a customary imperfect.
66. 106 Grk “Peter, sending them all outside, knelt down.” The participle ἐκβαλών (ekbalōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
67. 107 Grk “and kneeling down,” but 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. Instead the “and” is placed before the verb προσηύξατο (prosēuxato, “and prayed”). The participle θείς (theis) is taken as a participle of attendant circumstance.
68. 108 Grk “and turning.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence, the conjunction καί (kai) has not been translated here. Instead a new English sentence is begun.
69. 109 She sat up. This event is told much like Luke 8:49–56 and Mark 5:35–43. Peter’s ministry mirrored that of Jesus.
70. 110 Grk “Giving her his hand, he helped her.” The participle δούς (dous) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
71. 111 Grk “Then calling the saints … he presented her.” The participle φωνήσας (phōnēsas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style; it could also be taken temporally (“After he called”).
72. 112 Or “known all over.” κατά A.1.c. has “became known throughout all Joppa” for γνωστὸν γενέσθαι καθʼ ὅλης Ἰόππης (gnōston genesthai kath’ holēs Ioppēs).
73. 113 This became known … many believed in the Lord. This is a “sign” miracle that pictures how the Lord can give life.
74. 114 Grk “So it happened that.” 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.
75. 115 Grk “he”; the referent (Peter) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
76. 116 Grk “with a certain Simon.”
77. 117 Or “with a certain Simon Berseus.” Although most modern English translations treat βυρσεῖ (bursei) as Simon’s profession (“Simon the tanner”), it is possible that the word is actually Simon’s surname (“Simon Berseus” or “Simon Tanner”). βυρσεύς regards it as a surname. See also .