translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: ACT

label: NET translator note

text: Grk “And behold, a disciple.” Here ἰδού ( idou ) has not been translated.


text: L&N 31.103 translates this phrase “the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer.”


text: Grk “this one”; the referent (Timothy) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Grk “and taking him he circumcised him.” The participle λαβών ( labwn ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. Paul’s cultural sensitivity showed in his action here. He did not want Timothy’s lack of circumcision to become an issue ( 1 Cor 9:15-23 ).


text: The verb περιέτεμεν ( perietemen ) here may be understood as causative (cf. ExSyn 411-12) if Paul did not personally perform the circumcision.


text: Or “who lived in the area.”


text: The anarthrous predicate nominative has been translated as qualitative (“Greek”) rather than indefinite (“a Greek”). sn His father was Greek. Under Jewish law at least as early as the 2nd century, a person was considered Jewish if his or her mother was Jewish. It is not certain whether such a law was in effect in the 1st century, but even if it was, Timothy would not have been accepted as fully Jewish because he was not circumcised.


text: Or “cities.”


text: BDAG 762-63 s.v. παραδίδωμι 3 has “ they handed down to them the decisions to observe Ac 16:4 .”


text: For location see Map5-B1 ; Map6-F3 ; Map7-E2 ; Map8-F2 ; Map10-B3 ; JP1-F4 ; JP2-F4 ; JP3-F4 ; JP4-F4 .


text: Grk “for them”; the referent (Gentile believers) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Or “observe” or “follow.”


text: BDAG 437 s.v. ἡμέρα 2.c has “ every day ” for this phrase.


text: Or “forbidden.”


text: Or “word.”


text: 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.


text: BDAG 511 s.v. κατά B.1.b has “ to Mysia ” here.


text: Or “permit”; see BDAG 269 s.v. ἐάω 1.


text: The words “do this” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied for stylistic reasons, since English handles ellipses differently than Greek.


text: Although the normal meaning for παρέρχομαι ( parercomai ) is “pass by, go by,” it would be difficult to get to Troas from where Paul and his companions were without going through rather than around Mysia. BDAG 776 s.v. παρέρχομαι 6 list some nonbiblical examples of the meaning “go through, pass through,” and give that meaning for the usage here.


text: Grk “And a.” 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.


text: The word “there” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.


text: The participle λέγων ( legwn ) is redundant and has not been translated.


text: Grk “Coming over.” The participle διαβάς ( diabas ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Grk “sought.”


text: Or “summoned.”


text: 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 .”


text: BDAG 406 s.v. εὐθυδρομέω has “of a ship run a straight course ” here; L&N 54.3 has “to sail a straight course, sail straight to.”


text: For location see JP1-C1 ; JP2-C1 ; JP3-C1 ; JP4-C1 .


text: 36 81 323 945 1175 1891 pc . This has traditionally been translated to give the impression that Philippi was the capital city of the district, but it does not necessarily have to be translated this way. The translation of the article before μερίδος as “that” acknowledges that there were other districts in the province of Macedonia.


text: Grk “and sitting down we began to speak.” The participle καθίσαντες ( kaqisante" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: The imperfect verb ἐλαλοῦμεν ( elaloumen ) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.


text: On the term translated “a dealer in purple cloth” see BDAG 855 s.v. πορφυρόπωλις .


text: The words “to us” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.


text: Although BDAG 880 s.v. προσέχω 2.b gives the meaning “ pay attention to ” here, this could be misunderstood by the modern English reader to mean merely listening intently. The following context, however, indicates that Lydia responded positively to Paul’s message, so the verb here was translated “to respond.” sn Lydia is one of several significant women in Acts (see 17:4, 12, 34; 18:20 ).


text: Grk “urged us, saying.” The participle λέγουσα ( legousa ) is redundant in English and has not been translated.


text: This is a first class condition in Greek, with the statement presented as real or true for the sake of the argument.


text: Or “faithful to the Lord.” BDAG 821 s.v. πίστος 2 states concerning this verse, “Of one who confesses the Christian faith believing or a believer in the Lord, in Christ, in God πιστ . τῷ κυρίῳ Ac 16:15 .” L&N 11.17 has “one who is included among the faithful followers of Christ – ‘believer, Christian, follower.’”


text: Although BDAG 759 s.v. παραβιάζομαι has “ urge strongly, prevail upon ,” in contemporary English “persuade” is a more frequently used synonym for “prevail upon.”


text: 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.


text: Or “who had a spirit of divination”; Grk “who had a spirit of Python.” According to BDAG 896-97 s.v. πύθων , originally Πύθων ( Puqwn ) was the name of the serpent or dragon that guarded the Delphic oracle. According to Greek mythology, it lived at the foot of Mount Parnassus and was killed by Apollo. From this, the word came to designate a person who was thought to have a spirit of divination. Pagan generals, for example, might consult someone like this. So her presence here suggests a supernatural encounter involving Paul and her “spirit.” W. Foerster, TDNT 6:920, connects the term with ventriloquism but states: “We must assume, however, that for this girl, as for those mentioned by Origen…, the art of ventriloquism was inseparably connected with a (supposed or authentic) gift of soothsaying.” It should also be noted that if the girl in question here were only a ventriloquist, the exorcism performed by Paul in v. 18 would not have been effective.


text: Grk “who.” Because of the awkwardness in English of having two relative clauses follow one another (“who had a spirit…who brought her owners a great profit”) the relative pronoun here (“who”) has been translated as a pronoun (“she”) and a new sentence begun in the translation.


text: Or “masters.”


text: On this term see BDAG 616 s.v. μαντεύομαι . It was used of those who gave oracles.


text: Grk “crying out, saying”; the participle λέγουσα ( legousa ) is redundant in English and has not been translated. The imperfect verb ἔκραζεν ( ekrazen ) has been translated as a progressive imperfect.


text: Grk “slaves.” See the note on the word “servants” in 2:18 . The translation “servants” was used here because in this context there appears to be more emphasis on the activity of Paul and his companions (“proclaiming to you the way of salvation”) than on their status as “slaves of the Most High God.”


text: Or “a way.” The grammar of this phrase is a bit ambiguous. The phrase in Greek is ὁδὸν σωτηρίας ( Jodon swthria" ). Neither the head noun nor the genitive noun has the article; this is in keeping with Apollonius’ Canon (see ExSyn 239-40). Since both nouns are anarthrous, this construction also fits Apollonius’ Corollary (see ExSyn 250-54); since the genitive noun is abstract it is most naturally qualitative, so the head noun could either be definite or indefinite without being unusual as far as the grammar is concerned. Luke’s usage of ὁδός elsewhere is indecisive as far as this passage is concerned. However, when one looks at the historical background it is clear that (1) the woman is shut up (via exorcism) not because her testimony is false but because of its source (analogous to Jesus’ treatment of demons perhaps), and (b) “the way” is a par excellence description of the new faith throughout Acts. It thus seems that at least in Luke’s presentation “the way of salvation” is the preferred translation.


text: Grk “becoming greatly annoyed.” The participle διαπονηθείς ( diaponhqei" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. The aorist has been translated as an ingressive aorist (entry into a state or condition). See BDAG 235 s.v. διαπονέομαι .


text: Grk “and turning.” The participle ἐπιστρέψας ( epistreya" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”


text: BDAG 1102-3 s.v. ὥρα 2.c has “ at that very time, at once, instantly ” for the usage in this verse.


text: On this use of ἐργασία ( ergasia ), see BDAG 390 s.v. 4 . It is often the case that destructive practices and commerce are closely tied together.


text: Grk “was gone, seizing.” The participle ἐπιλαβόμενοι ( epilabomenoi ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: On the term ἕλκω ( {elkw ) see BDAG 318 s.v. 1 .


text: 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.


text: Grk “having brought them.” The participle ἐπιλαβόμενοι ( epilabomenoi ) has been taken temporally. It is also possible in English to translate this participle as a finite verb: “they brought them before the magistrates and said.”


text: BDAG 309 s.v. ἐκταράσσω has “ agitate, cause trouble to, throw into confusion ” for the meaning of this verb.


text: Grk “being Jews, and they are proclaiming.” The participle ὑπάρχοντες ( Juparconte" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: Grk “proclaiming,” but in relation to customs, “advocating” is a closer approximation to the meaning.


text: Or “acknowledge.”


text: Grk “we being Romans.” The participle οὖσιν ( ousin ) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.


text: L&N 39.50 has “the crowd joined the attack against them” for συνεπέστη ( sunepesth ) in this verse.


text: Grk “tearing the clothes off them, the magistrates ordered.” The participle περιρήξαντες ( perirhxante" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. Although it may be possible to understand the aorist active participle περιρήξαντες in a causative sense (“the magistrates caused the clothes to be torn off Paul and Silas”) in the mob scene that was taking place, it is also possible that the magistrates themselves actively participated. This act was done to prepare them for a public flogging ( 2 Cor 11:25 ; 1 Thess 2:2 ).


text: Grk “off them”; the referents (Paul and Silas) have been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: The infinitive ῥαβδίζειν ( rJabdizein ) means “to beat with rods or sticks” (as opposed to fists or clubs, BDAG 902 s.v. ῥαβδίζω ).


text: Grk “Having inflicted many blows on them.” The participle ἐπιθέντες ( epiqente" ) has been taken temporally. BDAG 384 s.v. ἐπιτίθημι 1.a. β has “ inflict blows upon someone ” for this expression, but in this context it is simpler to translate in English as “they had beaten them severely.”


text: Grk “commanding.” The participle παραγγείλαντες ( parangeilante" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: Or “prison.”


text: L&N 6.21 has “stocks” for εἰς τὸ ξύλον ( ei" to xulon ) here, as does BDAG 685 s.v. ξύλον 2.b. However, it is also possible (as mentioned in L&N 18.12) that this does not mean “stocks” but a block of wood (a log or wooden column) in the prison to which prisoners’ feet were chained or tied. Such a possibility is suggested by v. 26 , where the “bonds” (“chains”?) of the prisoners loosened.


text: Grk “praying, were singing.” The participle προσευχόμενοι ( proseucomenoi ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: The words “the rest of” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.


text: Or perhaps, “chains.” The translation of τὰ δεσμά ( ta desma ) is to some extent affected by the understanding of ξύλον ( xulon , “stocks”) in v. 24 . It is possible (as mentioned in L&N 18.12) that this does not mean “stocks” but a block of wood (a log or wooden column) in the prison to which prisoners’ feet were chained or tied.


text: L&N 23.75 has “had awakened” here. It is more in keeping with contemporary English style, however, to keep the two verbal ideas parallel in terms of tense (“when the jailer woke up and saw”) although logically the second action is subsequent to the first.


text: The additional semantic component “standing” is supplied (“standing open”) to convey a stative nuance in English.


text: Or “thought.”


text: Grk “But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying.” The dative phrase μεγάλῃ φωνῇ ( megalh fwnh ) has been simplified as an English adverb (“loudly”), and the participle λέγων ( legwn ) has not been translated since it is redundant in English.


text: Grk “he”; the referent (the jailer) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Or “and prostrated himself.” sn Fell down. The earthquake and the freeing of the prisoners showed that God’s power was present. Such power could only be recognized. The open doors opened the jailer’s heart.


text: Grk “And bringing them outside, he asked.” The participle προαγαγών ( proagagwn ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. Because of the length of the Greek sentence, the conjunction καί ( kai ) has not been translated here. Instead a new English sentence is begun by supplying the conjunction “then” to indicate the logical sequence.


text: The Greek term ( δεῖ , dei ) is used by Luke to represent divine necessity.


text: Grk “said.”


text: א A B 33 81 pc bo). The addition of “Christ” to “Lord Jesus” is an obviously motivated reading. Thus on both external and internal grounds, the shorter reading is strongly preferred.


text: Grk “And they.” Here καί ( kai ) has been translated as “then” to indicate the continuity with the preceding verse. Greek style often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” but English style does not.


text: Grk “And at.” 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.


text: Grk “taking them…he washed.” The participle παραλαβών ( paralabwn ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: On this phrase BDAG 603 s.v. λούω 1 gives a literal translation as “by washing he freed them from the effects of the blows.”


text: Here καί ( kai ) has been translated as “then” to indicate the logical sequence.


text: Or “immediately.”


text: Grk “He”; the referent (the jailer) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Grk “placed [food] on the table” (a figurative expression). Since the actual word for food is not specified, it would also be possible to translate “set a meal before them,” but since this is taking place in the middle of the night, the preparations necessary for a full meal would probably not have been made. More likely Paul and Silas were given whatever was on hand that needed little or no preparation.


text: Or “he was overjoyed.”


text: The translation “come to believe” reflects more of the resultative nuance of the perfect tense here.


text: The phrase “together with his entire household” is placed at the end of the English sentence so that it refers to both the rejoicing and the belief. A formal equivalence translation would have “and he rejoiced greatly with his entire household that he had come to believe in God,” but the reference to the entire household being baptized in v. 33 presumes that all in the household believed.


text: The translation “ day is breaking ” for ἡμέρα γίνεται ( Jhmera ginetai ) in this verse is given by BDAG 436 s.v. ἡμέρα 1.a.


text: On the term translated “magistrates,” see BDAG 947-48 s.v. στρατηγός 1. These city leaders were properly called duoviri , but were popularly known as praetors ( στρατηγοί , strathgoi ). They were the chief officials of Philippi. The text leaves the impression that they came to the decision to release Paul and Silas independently. God was at work everywhere.


text: On the term ῥαβδοῦχος ( rJabdouco" ) see BDAG 902 s.v. The term was used of the Roman lictor and roughly corresponds to contemporary English “constable, policeman.”


text: The word “saying” is not in the Greek text, but is implied; it is necessary in English because the content of what the jailer said to Paul and Silas is not the exact message related to him by the police officers, but is a summary with his own additions.


text: The word “orders” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.


text: Grk “So coming out now go in peace.” The participle ἐξελθόντες ( exelqonte" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: Grk “to them”; the referent (the police officers) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Grk “Having us beaten in public.” The participle δείραντες ( deirante" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: Or “in public, uncondemned.” BDAG 35 s.v. ἀκατάκριτος has “ uncondemned, without due process ” for this usage.


text: The participle ὑπάρχοντας ( Juparconta" ) has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.


text: The word “us” 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.


text: L&N 28.71 has “send us away secretly” for this verse.


text: Grk “But they.”


text: Grk “heard they”; the referents (Paul and Silas) have been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Grk “and coming, they apologized.” The participle ἐλθόντες ( elqonte" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: Grk “and after.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence, the conjunction καί ( kai ) has not been translated here. Instead a new English sentence is begun.


text: The verb ἐρώτων ( erwtwn ) has been translated as an iterative imperfect; the English adverb “repeatedly” brings out the iterative force in the translation.


text: “Then” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to clarify the logical sequence in the translation.