Acts 13:13-43

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Acts 13:13 tn BDAG 62 s.v. 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.”
2. Acts 13:13 sn Paphos was a city on the southwestern coast of the island of Cyprus. See Acts 13:6.
3. Acts 13:13 sn Perga was a city in Pamphylia near the southern coast of Asia Minor. The journey from Paphos to Perga is about 105 mi (175 km).
4. Acts 13:13 sn Pamphylia was a province in the southern part of Asia Minor.
5. Acts 13:13 sn That is, John Mark.
6. Acts 13:13 sn Returned to Jerusalem. John Mark had originally accompanied them from Jerusalem (see Acts 12:25). John Mark’s decision to leave became an issue later for Barnabas and Paul (Acts 15:36-39).
7. Acts 13:14 tn Or “Passing by.”
8. Acts 13:14 sn Perga was a city in Pamphylia near the southern coast of Asia Minor.
9. Acts 13:14 tn Or “at Antioch in Pisidia.”sn Pisidian Antioch was a city in Pisidia about 100 mi (160 km) north of Perga. It was both a Roman colony and the seat of military and civil authority in S. Galatia. One had to trek over the Taurus Mountains to get there, since the city was 3,600 ft (1,100 m) above sea level.
10. Acts 13:14 tn Grk “going into the synagogue they sat down.” The participle εἰσελθόντες (eiselthontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
11. Acts 13:14 sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.
12. Acts 13:15 sn After the reading from the law and the prophets. In the 1st century Jewish synagogue, it was customary after the reading of the Torah (law) and prophets for men to give exhortation from the scriptures.
13. Acts 13:15 tn Normally ἀρχισυνάγωγος (archisunagōgos) refers to the “president of a synagogue” (so BDAG 139 s.v. and L&N 53.93). Since the term is plural here, however, and it would sound strange to the English reader to speak of “the presidents of the synagogue,” the alternative translation “leaders” is used. “Rulers” would also be acceptable, but does not convey quite the same idea.
14. Acts 13:15 tn Grk “sent to them”; the word “message” is an understood direct object. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
15. Acts 13:15 tn Grk “Men brothers,” but this is both awkward and unnecessary in English.
16. Acts 13:15 tn Or “word.”
17. Acts 13:15 tn Or “encouragement.”
18. Acts 13:15 tn Or “give it.”
19. Acts 13:16 tn This participle, ἀναστάς (anastas), and the following one, κατασείσας (kataseisas), are both translated as adverbial participles of attendant circumstance.
20. Acts 13:16 tn Or “motioned.”
21. Acts 13:16 tn Or “Israelite men,” although this is less natural English. The Greek term here is ἀνήρ (anēr), which only exceptionally is used in a generic sense of both males and females. In this context involving an address to a synagogue gathering, it is conceivable that this is a generic usage, although it can also be argued that Paul’s remarks were addressed primarily to the men present, even if women were there.
22. Acts 13:16 tn Grk “and those who fear God,” but this is practically a technical term for the category called God-fearers, Gentiles who worshiped the God of Israel and in many cases kept the Mosaic law, but did not take the final step of circumcision necessary to become a proselyte to Judaism. See further K. G. Kuhn, TDNT 6:732-34, 743-44.
23. Acts 13:17 tn Or “people of Israel.”
24. Acts 13:17 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”sn Note how Paul identifies with his audience by referring to our ancestors. He speaks as a Jew. God’s design in history is the theme of the speech. The speech is like Stephen’s, only here the focus is on a promised Son of David.
25. Acts 13:17 tn That is, in both numbers and in power. The implication of greatness in both numbers and in power is found in BDAG 1046 s.v. ὑψόω 2.
26. Acts 13:17 tn Or “as resident aliens.”
27. Acts 13:17 tn Or “land.”
28. Acts 13:17 sn Here uplifted arm is a metaphor for God’s power by which he delivered the Israelites from Egypt. See Exod 6:1, 6; 32:11; Deut 3:24; 4:34; Ps 136:11-12.
29. Acts 13:18 tn Grk “And for.” 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.
30. Acts 13:18 tn For this verb, see BDAG 1017 s.v. τροποφορέω (cf. also Deut 1:31; Exod 16:35; Num 14:34).
31. Acts 13:18 tn Or “desert.”
32. Acts 13:19 tn Grk “And after.” 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.
33. Acts 13:19 tn The participle καθελών (kathelōn) is taken temporally.
34. Acts 13:19 sn Seven nations. See Deut 7:1.
35. Acts 13:19 tn Grk “he gave their land as an inheritance.” The words “his people” are supplied to complete an ellipsis specifying the recipients of the land.
36. Acts 13:20 tn The words “all this took” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied to make a complete statement in English. There is debate over where this period of 450 years fits and what it includes: (1) It could include the years in Egypt, the conquest of Canaan, and the distribution of the land; (2) some connect it with the following period of the judges. This latter approach seems to conflict with 1 Kgs 6:1; see also Josephus, Ant. 8.3.1 (8.61).
37. Acts 13:20 tn Grk “And after these things.” 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.
38. Acts 13:20 tn The words “the time of” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
39. Acts 13:21 tn The words “who ruled” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. They have been supplied as a clarification for the English reader. See Josephus, Ant. 6.14.9 (6.378).
40. Acts 13:22 tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
41. Acts 13:22 sn The expression raised up refers here to making someone king. There is a wordplay here: “raising up” refers to bringing someone onto the scene of history, but it echoes with the parallel to Jesus’ resurrection.
42. Acts 13:22 tn Grk “about whom.” The relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced by the pronoun “him” and a new sentence was begun in the translation at this point to improve the English style, due to the length of the sentence in Greek. The verb εἶπεν (eipen) has not been translated (literally “he said testifying”) because it is redundant when combined with the participle μαρτυρήσας (marturēsas, “testifying”). Instead the construction of verb plus participle has been translated as a single English verb (“testified”).
43. Acts 13:22 sn A quotation from Ps 89:20.
44. Acts 13:22 sn A quotation from 1 Sam 13:14.
45. Acts 13:22 tn Or “who will perform all my will,” “who will carry out all my wishes.”
46. Acts 13:23 tn Or “From the offspring”; Grk “From the seed.”sn From the descendants (Grk “seed”). On the importance of the seed promise involving Abraham, see Gal 3:6-29.
47. Acts 13:23 sn The phrase this man is in emphatic position in the Greek text.
48. Acts 13:23 tn Grk “according to [his] promise.” The comparative clause “just as he promised” is less awkward in English.sn Just as he promised. Note how Paul describes Israel’s history carefully to David and then leaps forward immediately to Jesus. Paul is expounding the initial realization of Davidic promise as it was delivered in Jesus.
49. Acts 13:24 tn Grk “John having already proclaimed before his coming a baptism…,” a genitive absolute construction which is awkward in English. A new sentence was begun in the translation at this point.
50. Acts 13:24 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the context for clarity, since God is mentioned in the preceding context and John the Baptist in the following clause.
51. Acts 13:24 sn John refers here to John the Baptist.
52. Acts 13:24 tn Grk “a baptism of repentance”; the genitive has been translated as a genitive of purpose.
53. Acts 13:25 tn Or “task.”
54. Acts 13:25 tn The verb ἔλεγεν (elegen) has been translated as an iterative imperfect, since John undoubtedly said this or something similar on numerous occasions.
55. Acts 13:25 tn Literally a relative clause, “of whom I am not worthy to untie the sandals of his feet.” Because of the awkwardness of this construction in English, a new sentence was begun here.
56. Acts 13:26 tn Grk “Men brothers,” but this is both awkward and unnecessary in English.
57. Acts 13:26 tn Grk “sons”
58. Acts 13:26 tn Or “race.”
59. Acts 13:26 tn Grk “and those among you who fear God,” but this is practically a technical term for the category called God-fearers, Gentiles who worshiped the God of Israel and in many cases kept the Mosaic law, but did not take the final step of circumcision necessary to become a proselyte to Judaism. See further K. G. Kuhn, TDNT 6:732-34, 743-44. Note how Paul includes God-fearing Gentiles as recipients of this promise.
60. Acts 13:26 tn Grk “word.”
61. Acts 13:27 tn BDAG 12-13 s.v. ἀγνοέω 1.b gives “not to know w. acc. of pers.” as the meaning here, but “recognize” is a better translation in this context because recognition of the true identity of the one they condemned is the issue. See Acts 2:22-24; 4:26-28.
62. Acts 13:27 tn Grk “this one.”
63. Acts 13:27 tn Usually φωνή (phōnē) means “voice,” but BDAG 1071-72 s.v. φωνή 2.c has “Also of sayings in scripture…Ac 13:27.” sn They fulfilled the sayings. The people in Jerusalem and the Jewish rulers should have known better, because they had the story read to them weekly in the synagogue.
64. Acts 13:27 tn The participle κρίναντες (krinantes) is instrumental here.
65. Acts 13:27 tn 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.
66. Acts 13:28 tn Grk “And though.” 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.
67. Acts 13:28 tn The participle εὑρόντες (heurontes) has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.
68. Acts 13:28 sn No basis. Luke insists on Jesus’ innocence again and again in Luke 23:1-25.
69. Acts 13:28 tn Grk “no basis for death,” but in this context a sentence of death is clearly indicated.
70. Acts 13:29 tn Or “carried out.”
71. Acts 13:29 sn That is, everything that was written in OT scripture.
72. Acts 13:29 tn Grk “taking him down from the cross, they placed him.” The participle καθελόντες (kathelontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
73. Acts 13:29 tn Grk “tree,” but frequently figurative for a cross. The allusion is to Deut 21:23. See Acts 5:30; 10:39.
74. Acts 13:29 tn 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.
75. Acts 13:30 sn See the note on the phrase “raised up” in v. 22, which is the same Greek verb used here.
76. Acts 13:31 tn Grk “who.” The relative pronoun (“who”) was replaced by the conjunction “and” and the pronoun “he” at this point to improve the English style.
77. Acts 13:31 sn Those who had accompanied him refers to the disciples, who knew Jesus in ministry. Luke is aware of resurrection appearances in Galilee though he did not relate any of them in Luke 24.
78. Acts 13:31 tn Grk “who.” The relative pronoun (“who”) was replaced by the demonstrative pronoun “these” and a new sentence was begun in the translation at this point to improve the English style, due to the length of the sentence in Greek and the awkwardness of two relative clauses (“who for many days appeared” and “who are now his witnesses”) following one another.
79. Acts 13:32 tn Or “to our forefathers”; Grk “the fathers.”
80. Acts 13:33 tn Grk “that this”; the referent (the promise mentioned in the previous verse) has been specified in the translation for clarity.sn This promise refers to the promise of a Savior through the seed (descendants) of David that is proclaimed as fulfilled (Rom 1:1-7).
81. Acts 13:33 tn Or “by resurrecting.” The participle ἀναστήσας (anastēsas) is taken as instrumental here.sn By raising (i.e., by resurrection) tells how this promise came to be realized, though again the wordplay also points to his presence in history through this event (see the note on “raised up” in v. 22).
82. Acts 13:33 sn You are my Son. The key to how the quotation is used is the naming of Jesus as “Son” to the Father. The language is that of kingship, as Ps 2 indicates. Here is the promise about what the ultimate Davidic heir would be.
83. Acts 13:33 tn Grk “I have begotten you.” The traditional translation for γεγέννηκα (gegennēka, “begotten”) is misleading to the modern English reader because it is no longer in common use. Today one speaks of “fathering” a child in much the same way speakers of English formerly spoke of “begetting a child.”sn A quotation from Ps 2:7.
84. Acts 13:34 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
85. Acts 13:34 tn Although μηκέτι (mēketi) can mean “no longer” or “no more,” the latter is more appropriate here, since to translate “no longer” in this context could give the reader the impression that Jesus did experience decay before his resurrection. Since the phrase “no more again to be” is somewhat awkward in English, the simpler phrase “never again to be” was used instead.
86. Acts 13:34 tn The translation “to be in again” for ὑποστρέφω (hupostrephō) is given in L&N 13.24.
87. Acts 13:34 tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
88. Acts 13:34 tn The pronoun “you” is plural here. The promises of David are offered to the people.
89. Acts 13:34 tn Or “the trustworthy decrees made by God to David.” The phrase τὰ ὅσια Δαυὶδ τὰ πιστά (ta hosia Dauid ta pista) is “compressed,” that is, in a very compact or condensed form. It could be expanded in several different ways. BDAG 728 s.v. ὅσιος 3 understands it to refer to divine decrees: “I will grant you the sure decrees of God relating to David.” BDAG then states that this quotation from Isa 55:3 is intended to show that the following quotation from Ps 16:10 could not refer to David himself, but must refer to his messianic descendant (Jesus). L&N 33.290 render the phrase “I will give to you the divine promises made to David, promises that can be trusted,” although they also note that τὰ ὅσια in Acts 13:34 can mean “divine decrees” or “decrees made by God.” In contemporary English it is less awkward to translate πιστά as an adjective (“trustworthy”). The concept of “divine decrees,” not very understandable to the modern reader, has been replaced by “promises,” and since God is the implied speaker in the context, it is clear that these promises were made by God.
90. Acts 13:34 sn A quotation from Isa 55:3. The point of this citation is to make clear that the promise of a Davidic line and blessings are made to the people as well.
91. Acts 13:35 tn Grk “Therefore he also says in another”; the word “psalm” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
92. Acts 13:35 tn The Greek word translated “Holy One” here (ὅσιόν, hosion) is related to the use of ὅσια (hosia) in v. 34. The link is a wordplay. The Holy One, who does not die, brings the faithful holy blessings of promise to the people.
93. Acts 13:35 tn Grk “to see,” but the literal translation of the phrase “to see decay” could be misunderstood to mean simply “to look at decay,” while here “see decay” is really figurative for “experience decay.”
94. Acts 13:35 sn A quotation from Ps 16:10.
95. Acts 13:36 tn The participle ὑπηρετήσας (hupēretēsas) is taken temporally.
96. Acts 13:36 tn The verb κοιμάω (koimaō) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for the death of a believer.
97. Acts 13:36 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “was gathered to his fathers” (a Semitic idiom).
98. Acts 13:36 tn Grk “saw,” but the literal translation of the phrase “saw decay” could be misunderstood to mean simply “looked at decay,” while here “saw decay” is really figurative for “experienced decay.” This remark explains why David cannot fulfill the promise.
99. Acts 13:37 sn The one whom God raised up refers to Jesus.
100. Acts 13:37 tn Grk “see,” but the literal translation of the phrase “did not see decay” could be misunderstood to mean simply “did not look at decay,” while here “did not see decay” is really figurative for “did not experience decay.”
101. Acts 13:38 tn That is, Jesus. This pronoun is in emphatic position in the Greek text. Following this phrase in the Greek text is the pronoun ὑμῖν (humin, “to you”), so that the emphasis for the audience is that “through Jesus to you” these promises have come.
102. Acts 13:39 sn This one refers here to Jesus.
103. Acts 13:39 tn Or “is freed.” The translation of δικαιωθῆναι (dikaiōthēnai) and δικαιοῦται (dikaioutai) in Acts 13:38-39 is difficult. BDAG 249 s.v. δικαιόω 3 categorizes δικαιωθῆναι in 13:38 (Greek text) under the meaning “make free/pure” but categorizes δικαιοῦται in Acts 13:39 as “be found in the right, be free of charges” (BDAG 249 s.v. δικαιόω 2.b.β). In the interest of consistency both verbs are rendered as “justified” in this translation.
104. Acts 13:39 tn Or “could not free.”
105. Acts 13:39 tn Grk “from everything from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation, with “by the law of Moses” becoming the subject of the final clause. The words “from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you” are part of v. 38 in the Greek text, but due to English style and word order must be placed in v. 39 in the translation.
106. Acts 13:40 sn The speech closes with a warning, “Watch out,” that also stresses culpability.
107. Acts 13:40 tn Or “in.”
108. Acts 13:41 tn Or “and die!”
109. Acts 13:41 sn A quotation from Hab 1:5. The irony in the phrase even if someone tells you, of course, is that Paul has now told them. So the call in the warning is to believe or else face the peril of being scoffers whom God will judge. The parallel from Habakkuk is that the nation failed to see how Babylon’s rising to power meant perilous judgment for Israel.
110. Acts 13:42 tn Grk “they”; the referents (Paul and Barnabas) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
111. Acts 13:42 tn Or “were leaving.” The participle ἐξιόντων (exiontōn) is taken temporally.
112. Acts 13:42 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
113. Acts 13:42 tn Or “begging,” “inviting.”
114. Acts 13:42 tn Or “matters.”
115. Acts 13:43 sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.
116. Acts 13:43 tn BDAG 607 s.v. λύω 3 has “λυθείσης τ. συναγωγῆς when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up Ac 13:43.”
117. Acts 13:43 tn Normally the phrase σεβόμενοι τὸν θεόν (sebomenoi ton theon) refers to Gentiles (“God-fearers”) who believed in God, attended the synagogue, and followed the Mosaic law to some extent, but stopped short of undergoing circumcision. BDAG 918 s.v. σέβω 1.b lists in this category references in Acts 16:14; 18:7; with σεβόμενοι alone, Acts 13:50; 17:4, 17; the phrase is also found in Josephus, Ant. 14.7.2 (14.110). Unique to this particular verse is the combination σεβόμενοι προσηλύτων (sebomenoi prosēlutōn). Later rabbinic discussion suggests that to be regarded as a proper proselyte, a Gentile male had to submit to circumcision. If that is the case here, these Gentiles in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch should be regarded as full proselytes who had converted completely to Judaism and undergone circumcision. It is probably more likely, however, that προσηλύτων is used here in a somewhat looser sense (note the use of σεβομένας [sebomenas] alone to refer to women in Acts 13:50) and that these Gentiles were still in the category commonly called “God-fearers” without being full, technical proselytes to Judaism. See further K. G. Kuhn, TDNT 6:732-34, 743-44. Regardless, the point is that many Gentiles, as well as Jews, came to faith.
118. Acts 13:43 tn This is the meaning given for ἔπειθον (epeithon) in this verse by BDAG 791 s.v. πείθω 1.b.
119. Acts 13:43 tn Grk “who, as they were speaking with them, were persuading them.”
120. Acts 13:43 tn The verb προμένειν (promenein) is similar in force to the use of μένω (menō, “to reside/remain”) in the Gospel and Epistles of John.