translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: ACT

label: NET translator note

text: Or “exhorting.”


text: Or “and taking leave of them.”


text: BDAG 633 s.v. 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.


text: Grk “and encouraging them with many words.” The participle παρακαλέσας ( parakalesa" , “encouraging”) has been translated by the phrase “spoken…words of encouragement” because the formal equivalent is awkward in contemporary English.


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


text: In popular usage the term translated “Greece” here could also refer to the Roman province officially known as Achaia (BDAG 318 s.v. ῾Ελλάς ).


text: BDAG 841 s.v. ποιέω 5.c, “w. an acc. of time spend, stay .”


text: The participle βενομένης ( benomenh" ) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle. L&N 30.71 has “ ἐπιβουλῆς αὐτῷ ὑπὸ τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων ‘because the Jews had made a plot against him’ Ac 20:3 .”


text: BDAG 628 s.v. μέλλω 1.c. γ has “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind … Ac 17:31; 20:3, 7, 13 ab; 23:15; 26:2; 27:30 .”


text: BDAG 62 s.v. 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.


text: BDAG 199 s.v. γίνομαι 7 has “ ἐγένετο γνώμης he decided Ac 20:3 .”


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


text: Grk “of the Thessalonians.” map For location see JP1-C1 ; JP2-C1 ; JP3-C1 ; JP4-C1 .


text: 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.


text: 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.


text: Grk “These, having gone on ahead, were waiting.” The participle προελθόντες ( proelqonte" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


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


text: BDAG 160 s.v. ἄχρι 1.a. α has “ ἄ . ἡμερῶν πέντε within five days Ac 20:6 .”


text: Grk “to them”; the referent (the others mentioned in v. 4 ) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Or “assembled.”


text: The verb διαλέγομαι ( dialegomai ) is frequently used of Paul addressing Jews in the synagogue. As G. Schrenk ( TDNT 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.


text: Or “prolonged.”


text: More commonly λαμπάς ( lampa" ) means “torch,” but here according to BDAG 585 s.v. λαμπάς 2, “ lamp …w. a wick and space for oil.”


text: This window was probably a simple opening in the wall (see also BDAG 462 s.v. θυρίς ).


text: Grk “sinking into a deep sleep.” BDAG 529 s.v. καταφέρω 3 has “ ὕπνῳ βαθεῖ sink into a deep sleep … Ac 20:9 a.” The participle καταφερόμενος ( kataferomeno" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: The participle διαλεγομένου ( dialegomenou ) has been taken temporally.


text: BDAG 529 s.v. 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.”


text: Grk “going down.” The participle καταβάς ( katabas ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: BDAG 377 s.v. ἐπιπίπτω 1.b has “ ἐπέπεσεν αὐτῷ he threw himself upon him Ac 20:10 .”


text: Grk “on him”; the referent (the young man) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: BDAG 959 s.v. συμπεριλαμβάνω has “to throw one’s arms around, embrace w. acc. 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.


text: Grk “for his life is in him” (an idiom).


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


text: Grk “going back upstairs.” The participle ἀναβάς ( anabas ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: Grk “talking with them.” The participle ὁμιλήσας ( Jomilhsas ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: 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.’”


text: Grk “going on ahead.” The participle προελθόντες ( proelqonte" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


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 628 s.v. μέλλω 1.c. γ has “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind … Ac 17:31; 20:3, 7, 13 ab; 23:15; 26:2; 27:30 .”


text: Or “for he told us to do this.” Grk “for having arranged it this way, he.” The participle διατεταγμένος ( diatetagmeno" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. BDAG 237 s.v. 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.”


text: 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.”


text: Or “there on foot.”


text: Grk “taking him aboard, we.” The participle ἀναλαβόντες ( analabonte" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: Grk “setting sail from there.” The participle ἀποπλεύσαντες ( apopleusante" ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: Or “offshore from Chios.” sn Chios was an island in the Aegean Sea off the western coast of Asia Minor with a city of the same name.


text: 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 .”


text: For location see JP1-D2 ; JP2-D2 ; JP3-D2 ; JP4-D2 .


text: Grk “so that he might not have to spend time.” L&N 67.79 has “ ὅπως μὴ γένηται αὐτῷ χρονοτριβῆσαι ἐν τῇ ᾿Ασίᾳ ‘so as not to spend any time in the province of Asia’ Ac 20:16 .”


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: Or “was eager.”


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


text: Grk “if it could be to him” (an idiom).


text: 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.


text: 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.’”


text: 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.


text: Or “I arrived.” BDAG 367 s.v. ἐπιβαίνω 2, “ set foot in… εἰς τ . ᾿Ασίαν 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.”


text: Grk “Asia”; see the note on this word in v. 16 .


text: Or “declaring.”


text: Or “profitable.” BDAG 960 s.v. 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 (s.v. 2 , “to be advantageous, help, confer a benefit, be profitable / useful ”) is equally possible in this context.


text: Or “openly.”


text: BDAG 233 s.v. διαμαρτύρομαι 1 has “ testify of, bear witness to (orig. under oath)…of repentance to Judeans and Hellenes Ac 20:21 .”


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


text: Grk “bound.”


text: BDAG 965 s.v. συναντάω 2 has τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ συναντήσοντα ἐμοὶ μὴ εἰδώς without knowing what will happen to me there Ac 20:22 .”


text: BDAG 826 s.v. πλήν 1.d has “ πλὴν ὅτι except that … Ac 20:23 .”


text: The verb διαμαρτύρομαι ( diamarturomai ) can mean “warn” (BDAG 233 s.v. διαμαρτύρομαι 2 has “ solemnly urge, exhort, warn …w. dat. of pers. addressed”), and this meaning better fits the context here, although BDAG categorizes Acts 20:23 under the meaning “ testify of, bear witness to ” (s.v. 1 ).


text: The Greek text here reads κατὰ πόλιν ( kata polin ).


text: Grk “saying that,” but the participle λέγον ( legon ) is redundant in English and has not been translated.


text: Grk “bonds.”


text: Or “troubles,” “suffering.” See Acts 19:21; 21:4, 11 .


text: Grk “soul.”


text: Or “I do not consider my life worth a single word.” According to BDAG 599 s.v. 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 ἄξιον [ ἄξιος 1a] and our ‘worth mention’).”


text: BDAG 1106 s.v. ὡς 9 describes this use as “a final particle, expressing intention/purpose, with a view to, in order to .”


text: 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 .


text: Or “to the gospel.”


text: Grk “all of you…will not see.” Greek handles its negation somewhat differently from English, and the translation follows English grammatical conventions.


text: Grk “will see my face” (an idiom for seeing someone in person).


text: Or “testify.”


text: Grk “clean, pure,” thus “guiltless” (BDAG 489 s.v. καθαρός 3.a). sn 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.


text: 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 .


text: Or “did not avoid.” BDAG 1041 s.v. 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 .”


text: Or “proclaiming,” “declaring.”


text: Or “plan.”


text: Or “Be on your guard for” (cf. v. 29 ). Paul completed his responsibility to the Ephesians with this warning.


text: Grk “in which.”


text: Or “guardians.” BDAG 379-80 s.v. 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.


text: A C* D E Ψ 33 1739 al co), while the majority of the later minuscule mss conflate these two into “of the Lord and God” ( τοῦ κυρίου καὶ [ τοῦ ] θεοῦ , tou kuriou kai [ tou ] qeou ). 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 {aimato" 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 tn 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 ExSyn 272, 276-77, 290]) and substitutionary atonement of Christ. For these reasons, τοῦ θεοῦ best explains the rise of the other readings and should be considered authentic.


text: Or “acquired.”


text: 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,” CBQ 9 (1947): 381-408. sn 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 ).


text: Grk “after my departure.”


text: That is, people like fierce wolves. See BDAG 167-68 s.v. βαρύς 4 on the term translated “fierce.” The battle that will follow would be a savage one.


text: Grk “from among yourselves.”


text: The Greek term here is ἀνήρ ( anhr ), 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.


text: Grk “speaking crooked things”; BDAG 237 s.v. διαστρέφω 2 has “ λαλεῖν διεστραμμένα teach perversions (of the truth) Ac 20:30 .” sn 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 .


text: Or “be watchful.”


text: Or “admonishing.”


text: Or “commend.” BDAG 772 s.v. 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 .”


text: Grk “word.”


text: Grk “the message of his grace, which.” The phrase τῷ δυναμένῳ οἰκοδομῆσαι … ( tw dunamenw oikodomhsai …) refers to τῷ λόγω ( tw logw ), not τῆς χάριτος ( ths caritos ); 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.


text: Traditionally, “coveted.” BDAG 371 s.v. ἐπιθυμέω 1 has “to have a strong desire to do or secure someth., desire, long for w. gen. 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.


text: The words “of mine” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied to clarify whose hands Paul is referring to.


text: Or “must assist.”


text: Or “the sick.” See Eph 4:28 .


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 “kneeling down…he prayed.” The participle θείς ( qeis ) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.


text: Grk “weeping a great deal,” thus “loudly” (BDAG 472 s.v. ἱκανός and BDAG 546 s.v. κλαυθμός ).


text: Grk “fell on Paul’s neck” (an idiom, see BDAG 1014 s.v. τράχηλος ).


text: Or “pained.”


text: Grk “by the word that he had said.”


text: Grk “to see his face” (an idiom for seeing someone in person).


text: BDAG 873 s.v. προπέμπω 1 has “ they accompanied him to the ship Ac 20:38 .”