This chapter records an event, commonly known as the "Ascension," when Jesus returned to heaven after he became alive again. He will not come back until he returns at his "second coming." (See: heaven and resurrection)
The UDB has set the words "Dear Theophilus" apart from the other words. This is because English speakers often start letters this way. You might want to start this book the way people start letters in your culture.
Some translations set quotations from the Old Testament farther to the right on the page than the rest of the text. The ULB does this with the two quotes from Psalms in 1:20.
The word "baptize" has two meanings in this chapter. It refers to the water baptism of John and to the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5). (See: baptize)
Some scholars believe that when Jesus "spoke about the kingdom of God," he explained to the disciples why the kingdom of God did not come before he died. Others believe that the kingdom of God did begin while Jesus was alive and that here Jesus was explaining that it was beginning in a new form.
The following are the lists of the twelve disciples:
In Matthew:
Simon (Peter), Andrew, James son of Zebedee, John son of Zebedee, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot.
In Mark:
Simon (Peter), Andrew, James the son of Zebedee and John the son of Zebedee (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder), Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.
In Luke:
Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon (who was called the Zealot), Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot.
Thaddaeus is probably the same person as Jude, the son of James.
This is a phrase in Hebrew or Aramaic. Luke used Greek letters so his readers would know how it sounded, and then he told what it means. You should probably spell it the way it sounds in your language and then explain the meaning.
The "former account" is the Gospel of Luke.
Luke wrote this book to a man named Theophilus. Some translations follow their own culture's way of addressing a letter and write "Dear Theophilus" at the beginning of the sentence. Theophilus means "friend of God"
This refers to Jesus's ascension into heaven. Alternate translation: "until the day on which God took him up to heaven" or "until the day that he ascended into heaven"
The Holy Spirit had led Jesus to instruct his apostles on certain things.
This refers to Jesus's suffering and death on the cross.
Jesus appeared to his apostles and to many other disciples.
Here the word "he" refers to Jesus. Except where otherwise noted, the word "you" in the book of Acts is plural.
This event happened during the 40 days that Jesus appeared to his followers after he had risen from the dead.
"When Jesus was meeting together with his apostles"
This is a reference to the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: "the Holy Spirit, whom the Father promised to send, about whom Jesus said"
Jesus contrasts how John baptized people in water with how God would baptize believers in the Holy Spirit.
"John indeed baptized people with water"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God will baptize you"
Here the word "they" refers to the apostles.
"will you now make Israel a great kingdom again"
Possible meanings are 1) the words "times" and "seasons" refer to different kinds of time. Alternate translation: "the general period of time or the specific date" or 2) the two words are basically synonymous. Alternate translation: "the exact time"
The apostles will receive power that will enable them to be witnesses for Jesus. Alternate translation: "God will empower you ... to be my witnesses"
Possible meanings are 1) "all over the world" or 2) "to the places on earth that are farthest away"
"as they watched." The apostles "were looking" at Jesus because Jesus rose into the sky. Alternate translation: "as they were looking up at the sky"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he rose up into the sky" or "God raised him up into the sky"
"a cloud blocked their view so that they could no longer see him"
"staring at the sky" or "gazing at the sky"
"from Galilee"
Jesus ascended into the sky, through the clouds, and the clouds hid him Acts 1:9. He will return from the sky, through (or on) the clouds, and people will be able to see him.
"The apostles returned"
This refers to the distance which, according to Rabbinical tradition, a person was allowed to walk on a Sabbath day. Alternate translation: "about one kilometer away"
"When they reached their destination." Verse 12 says they were returning to Jerusalem.
"the room on the upper level of the house"
They all spent much time ... praying
The phrase "with one purpose" translates a word that speaks of people who agree with each other and who work together to accomplish a common purpose.
This event happened during the time that Peter and the other believers were staying together in the upper room.
These words mark the beginning of a new part of the story. They refer to the period of time after Jesus ascended. On many days after Jesus ascended, the disciples met in the upper chamber. Alternate translation: "During that time"
"one hundred and twenty names"
The word "names" is a metonym for the people whose names they were. Alternate translation: "people"
Here the word "brothers" refers to fellow believers and includes both men and women.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the things that we read about in scripture had to take place"
The word "mouth" refers to the words that David wrote. Alternate translation: "through the words of David"
Although Peter is addressing the entire group of people, here the word "us" refers only to the apostles.
In verse 17 Peter continues his speech to the believers that he began in Acts 1:16.
The author begins to tell the reader background information about how Judas died and what people called the field where he died. This is not part of Peter's speech.
The words "this man" refers to Judas Iscariot.
"the money that he earned from the evil thing that he did." The words "his wickedness" refer to Judas Iscariot's betraying Jesus to the people who killed him.
This suggests that Judas fell from a high place, rather than just falling down. The fall was severe enough to cause his body to burst open. Other passages of scripture mention that he hanged himself.
The author finishes telling the reader background information about how Judas died and what people called the field where he died. This is not part of Peter's speech.
When the people living in Jerusalem heard of the way in which Judas died, they renamed the field.
Based on the situation with Judas that Peter just recounted, he recalls two Psalms of David that relate to the incident. The quote ends at the end of this verse.
Peter continues his speech to the believers that he began in Acts 1:16.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "For David wrote in the Book of Psalms"
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words.
Possible meanings are 1) that the word "field" refers to the field where Judas died or 2) that the word "field" refers to Judas's dwelling place and is a metaphor for his family line.
"become empty"
Here the word "us" refers to the apostles and does not include the audience to whom Peter is speaking.
Peter finishes his speech to the believers that he began in Acts 1:16.
Based on the scriptures that he quoted and on what Judas had done, Peter tells the group what they must do.
Going in and out among a group of people is a metaphor for openly being part of that group. Alternate translation: "the Lord Jesus lived among us"
The qualification for the new apostle that began with the words "It is necessary ... that one of the men who accompanied us" in verse 21 ends here. The subject of the verb "become" is thus "one of the men." Here is a reduced form of the sentence: "It is necessary ... that one of the men who accompanied us ... beginning from the baptism of John ... must become a witness with us."
The noun "baptism" can be translated as a verb. Possible meanings: 1) "beginning from when John baptized Jesus" or 2) "beginning from when John baptized people"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "until the day when Jesus left us and rose up to heaven" or "until the day that God took him up from us"
"must begin to testify with us about his resurrection"
Here the word "They" refers to all of the believers who were present. Alternate translation: "They proposed two men who fulfilled the requirements that Peter listed"
This can be translated with an active form. Alternate translation: "Joseph, whom people also called Barsabbas and Justus"
Here the word "They" refers to all of the believers, but it was probably one of the apostles who spoke these words. Alternate translation: "The believers prayed together and one of the apostles said"
Here the word "hearts" refers to the thoughts and motives. Alternate translation: "You, Lord, know the thoughts and motives of everyone"
Here the word "apostleship" defines what kind of "ministry" this is. Alternate translation: "to take Judas's place in this apostolic ministry" or "to take Judas's place in serving as an apostle"
Here the expression "turned away" means that Judas stopped performing this ministry. Alternate translation: "which Judas stopped fulfilling"
This phrase refers to Judas's death and likely to his judgment after death. Alternate translation: "to go where he belongs"
The apostles cast lots to decide between Joseph and Matthias.
The lot indicated that Matthias was the one to replace Judas.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the believers considered him to be an apostle with the other eleven"
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry that is quoted from the Old Testament in 2:17-21, 25-28, and 34-35.
Some translations set quotations from the Old Testament farther to the right on the page than the rest of the text. The ULB does this with the quoted material in 2:31.
The events described in this chapter are commonly called "Pentecost." Many people believe that the church began to exist when the Holy Spirit came to live inside believers at Pentecost.
The word "tongues" has two meanings in this chapter. Luke describes what came down from heaven (Acts 2:3) as tongues that looked like fire. This is different from "a tongue of flame," which is a fire that looks like a tongue. Luke also uses the word "tongues" to describe the languages that the people spoke after the Holy Spirit filled them (Acts 2:4).
No one knows for sure when the "last days" (Acts 2:17) began. Your translation should not say more than the ULB does about this. (See: lastday)
The word "baptize" in this chapter refers to Christian baptism (Acts 2:38-41](../02/38.md)). Though the event described in Acts 2:1-11 is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised in [Acts 1:5, the word "baptize" here does not refer to that event. (See: baptize)
Many of the things that Joel said would happen did happen on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17-18), but some things Joel spoke of have not happened yet (Acts 2:19-20). (See: prophet)
These words refer to things that only God could do, things that showed that Jesus was who the disciples said he was.
This is a new event; it is now the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after Passover. Here the word "they" refers to the apostles and the other 120 believers that Luke mentions in Acts 1:15.
This word explains that no one expected to hear the sound or to have it fill the house.
Possible meanings are 1) "heaven" refers to the place where God lives. Alternate translation: "a sound came from heaven" or 2) "heaven" refers to the sky. Alternate translation: "a sound came from the sky"
This may have been a house or a larger building.
These might have been something that looked like tongues or like fire, not actual tongues or fire. Possible meanings are 1) tongues that looked like they were made of fire or 2) small flames of fire that looked like tongues. When fire burns in a small space, such as on a lamp, the flame can be shaped like a tongue.
This means that the "tongues like fire" spread out so that there was one on each person.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "The Holy Spirit filled all of those who were there and they"
They were speaking in languages that they did not already know.
The Holy Spirit gave them the ability to speak; they were dependent on the Spirit to speak in different languages.
Here the word "them" refers to the believers; the word "his" refers to each person in the multitude. Verse 5 gives background information about the large number of Jews who were living in Jerusalem, many of whom were present during this event.
Here "godly men" refers to people who were devout in their worship of God and tried to obey all of the Jewish laws.
"every nation in the world." The word "every" is an exaggeration that emphasizes that the people came from many different nations. Alternate translation: "many different nations"
This refers to the sound that was similar to a strong wind. Alternate translation: "When they heard this sound"
"the large crowd of people"
These two words share similar meanings. Together they emphasize the intensity of amazement. Alternate translation: "They were greatly amazed"
The people ask this question to express their amazement. The question could be changed to an exclamation. Alternate translation: "All of these Galileans could not possibly know our languages!"
Possible meanings are 1) this is a rhetorical question that expresses how amazed they were or 2) this is a real question for which the people wanted an answer.
"in our own languages that we have learned from birth"
These are names of people groups.
These are names of large areas of land.
These are names of large areas of land.
These are names of people groups.
converts to the Jewish religion
These two words share similar meanings. Together they emphasize that the people could not understand what was happening. Alternate translation: "surprised and confused"
Some people accuse the believers of having drunk too much wine. Alternate translation: "They are drunk"
This refers to wine that is in the process of fermentation.
Peter begins his speech to the Jews who were there on the Day of Pentecost.
All the apostles stood up in support of Peter's statement.
This is an idiom for "spoke loudly."
Made a formal, important speech to them. See how you translated "make declarations" in Acts 2:4.
This means that Peter is about to explain the meaning of what the people had witnessed. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "know this" or "let me explain this to you"
Peter was referring to what he was saying. Alternate translation: "listen carefully to what I am saying"
"It is only nine o'clock in the morning." Peter expected his audience to know that people do not get drunk that early in the day.
Here Peter tells them a passage about which the prophet Joel wrote in the Old Testament that relates to what is happening with the languages in which the believers spoke. This is written in the form of poetry as well as being a quotation.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "this is what God told the prophet Joel to write" or "this is that which the prophet Joel spoke"
"This is what will happen" or "This is what I will do"
Here the words "pour out" mean to give generously and abundantly. Alternate translation: "I will give my Spirit abundantly to all flesh"
This is a hyperbolic metonym that refers to all people by speaking of them as all living creatures, who have flesh. Alternate translation: "all people"
Peter continues to quote the prophet Joel.
"both my male and my female servants." These words emphasize that God will pour out his Spirit on all of his servants, both men and women.
Here the words "pour out" mean to give generously and abundantly. See how you translated this in [Acts 2:17]
"thick smoke" or "clouds of smoke"
Peter finishes quoting the prophet Joel.
This means that the sun will appear to be dark instead of light. Alternate translation: "The sun will become dark"
This means that the moon will appear to be red like blood. Alternate translation: "the moon will be turned to blood" or "the moon will appear to be red"
The words "great" and "remarkable" share similar meanings and emphasize the intensity of greatness. Alternate translation: "the very great day"
great and beautiful
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the Lord will save everyone who calls on him"
Peter continues his speech to the Jews that he began in Acts 1:16.
"listen to what I am about to say"
This means that God proved that he had appointed Jesus for his mission, and proved who he was by his many miracles.
The nouns "plan" and "foreknowledge" can be translated as verbs. This means that God planned out and knew beforehand what would happen to Jesus. Alternate translation: "because God planned out and knew beforehand everything that would happen"
Possible meanings: 1) "you handed Jesus over into the hands of his enemies" or 2) "Judas betrayed Jesus to you."
Although "lawless men" actually crucified Jesus, Peter accuses the crowd of having killed him because they demanded his death.
Here "hand" refers to the actions of the lawless men. Alternate translation: "through the actions of lawless men" or "by what lawless men did"
Possible meanings are 1) the unbelieving Jews who accused Jesus of crimes or 2) the Roman soldiers who performed the execution of Jesus.
Here to raise up is an idiom for causing someone who has died to become alive again. Alternate translation: "But God caused him to live again"
He speaks of the agonies of dying as if God were freeing Christ from ropes that were binding Jesus. Alternate translation: "ending the pains of death"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "for death to hold him"
Peter speaks of Christ remaining dead as if death were a person who held him captive. Alternate translation: "for him to remain dead"
Here Peter quotes a passage that David wrote in a Psalm which relates to Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection. Since Peter says that David said these words about Jesus, the words "I" and "my" refer to Jesus and the words "Lord" and "he" refer to God.
The context makes it plain that this is an elliptical way of saying that David was speaking as if David were the Messiah. Alternate translation: "For David spoke these words as if he were the Christ: 'I saw"
"in front of me." Alternate translation: "in my presence" or "with me"
To be at someone's "right hand" often means to be in a position to help and sustain. Alternate translation: "right beside me" or "with me to help me"
Here the word "moved" means to be troubled. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "people will not be able to cause me trouble" or "nothing will trouble me"
People consider the "heart" the center of emotions and the "tongue" voices those emotions. Alternate translation: "I was glad and rejoiced"
Possible meanings of the phrase "my flesh" are 1) it indicates that the writer is a mortal who will die. Alternate translation: "even though I am only mortal, I will live in hope" or 2) it is a synecdoche for the writer's entire person. Alternate translation: "I will live in hope"
Here the word "hope" refers to a person's confidence that what he desires will happen. Since the speaker hoped that God would rescue him, "in hope" could be translated as "in confidence in God." The phrase "live in hope" can also be translated with the phrases "confidently expect," "confidently wait," or "trust." Alternate translation: "will live with confidence in God" or "will confidently wait for God to rescue me"
Since Peter says that David said these words about Jesus, the words "my," "Holy One," and "me" refer to Jesus and the words "you" and "your" refer to God.
Peter finishes quoting David.
The Messiah, Jesus, refers to himself with the words "your Holy One." Alternate translation: "neither will you allow me, your Holy One, to see decay"
Here the word "see" means to experience something. The word "decay" refers to the decomposition of his body after death. Alternate translation: "to decay"
"the ways that lead to life"
Here the word "face" refers to the presence of God. Alternate translation: "very glad when I see you" or "very glad when I am in your presence"
joy, happiness
The words "he" and "his" refer to David.
Peter continues the speech to the Jews that surround him and the other believers in Jerusalem, which he began in Acts 1:16.
"My fellow Jews, it"
Or "it is possible." He is able to speak because it is proper for him to do so.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he died and people buried him"
"God would set one of David's fruit upon David's throne." Alternate translation: "God would appoint one of David's fruit to be king in David's place"
This is a metaphor for a child or other descendant. Alternate translation: "one of his children" or "one of his descendants"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Neither did God abandon him to Hades nor did his flesh see decay" or "God did not abandon him to Hades, and his flesh did not see decay"
Here the word "see" means to experience something. The word "decay" refers to the decomposition of his body after death. See how you translated this in [Acts 2:27]
Peter talks again about Jesus. Alternate Translation: "It is this Jesus whom God raised up" or "God raised up this Jesus"
This is an idiom. Alternate translation: "God caused him to live again"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "because God has exalted Jesus up to his right hand"
"Right hand of God" here is an idiom that means that Christ will rule as God, with God’s authority. Alternate translation: "Christ is in the position of God"
Here the words "poured out" mean that Jesus, who is God, made these events to happen. It is implicit that he did this by giving the Holy Spirit to the believers. Alternate translation: "he has caused to happen these things that"
"has given generously and abundantly." See how you translated a similar phrase in Acts 2:17. Alternate translation: "given abundantly"
Peter again quotes one of David's Psalms. David is not speaking of himself in this Psalm. "The Lord" and "my" refer to God; "my Lord" and "your" refer to Jesus the Messiah.
Peter finishes his speech to the Jews that he began in Acts 1:16.
To sit at the "right hand of God" is a symbolic action of receiving great honor and authority from God. Alternate translation: "Sit in the place of honor beside me"
This means that God will completely defeat the Messiah's enemies and make them subject to him. Alternate translation: "until I make you victorious over all of your enemies"
This refers to the entire nation of Israel. Alternate translation: "every Israelite"
Here the word "they" refers to the people in the crowd to whom Peter spoke.
The Jews respond to Peter's speech and Peter answers them.
"when the people heard what Peter had said"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Peter's words pierced their hearts, and they said"
This means that the people felt guilty and became very sad. Alternate translation: "deeply troubled"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "allow us to baptize you"
"In the name of" here is a metonym for "by the authority of" Alternate translation: "by the authority of Jesus Christ"
This means either 1) "all people who live far away" or 2) "all people who are far from God."
"he seriously told them." Here the word "testified" and "begged" share similar meanings and emphasize that Peter urged them strongly to respond to what he was saying. Alternate translation: "he strongly urged them"
or "pleaded with"
The implication is that God will punish "this perverse generation." Alternate translation: "Be saved from the punishment that these wicked people will suffer"
Possible meanings are 1) Peter was urging people to let God save them. Alternate translation: "Let God save you," or 2) Peter was simply urging them in a general way to avoid being punished. Alternate translation: "Save yourselves" or "Flee" or "Escape"
This is the end of the part of the story that happened on the Day of Pentecost.
Here the word "received" means that they accepted what Peter said to be true. Alternate translation: "they believed what Peter said"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "people baptized them"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "about three thousand souls joined the believers on that day"
Here the word "souls" refers to people. Alternate translation: "about 3,000 people"
This section explains how the believers continued to live after the Day of Pentecost.
Bread was part of their meals. These words could refer to 1) any meals they might eat together. Alternate translation: "eating meals together" or 2) meals they would eat together in order to remember Christ's death and resurrection. Alternate translation: "eating the Lord's Supper together"
Here the word "Fear" refers to deep respect and awe for God. The word "soul" refers to the entire person. Alternate translation: "Each person felt a deep respect and awe for God"
Possible meanings are 1) "the apostles performed many wonders and signs" or 2) "God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles"
"miraculous deeds and supernatural events." See how you translated this in Acts 2:22.
Possible meanings are 1) "All of them believed the same thing" or 2) "All who believed were together in the same place."
"shared their belongings with one another"
"land and things they owned"
Here the word "them" refers to the profit that they made from selling their property and possessions. Alternate translation: "distributed the proceeds to all"
They distributed the proceeds that they earned from selling their property and possessions to any believer who had a need.
You may need to supply the words that have been omitted in this ellipse. What they devoted themselves to doing is stated in verse 42. Alternate translation: "they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching with one purpose in the temple"
This phrase translates a word that speaks of people who agree with each other and who work together to accomplish a common purpose.
Bread was part of their meals. Alternate translation: "They also ate meals together in their homes"
"praising God. All the people approved of them"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "those whom the Lord saved"
This chapter explains that Jesus came to the Jews because God was fulfilling part of the covenant he had made with Abraham. Peter thought that the Jews were the ones who were truly guilty of killing Jesus, but he wanted them to understand that Jesus, by living and dying, had fulfilled God's promise to Abraham and that if they repented, God would forgive them.
The Romans were the ones who killed Jesus, but they killed him because the Jews captured him, brought him to the Romans, and told the Romans to kill him. For this reason Peter thought that they were the ones who were truly guilty of killing Jesus. But he tells them that they are also the first ones to whom God has sent Jesus's followers to invite them to repent (Acts 3:26). (See: repent)
One day Peter and John go to the temple.
They did not go into the temple building where only the priests were allowed. Alternate translation: "to the temple courtyard" or "into the temple area"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "people were carrying a man who was lame from from his mother's womb"
"ever since he was born"
This was one of the gates in the high, strong wall that surrounded the temple. People sometimes gathered near the gate.
unable to walk
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Both Peter and John looked at the man, but only Peter spoke.
Possible meanings are 1) "looking directly at him" or 2) "looking intently at him"
Here the word "looked" means to pay attention to something. Alternate translation: "The lame man paid close attention to them"
"I do not own any silver or gold"
These words refer to money.
It is understood that Peter has the ability to heal the man.
Here the word "name" refers to power and authority. Alternate translation: "With the authority of Jesus Christ"
"Peter caused him to stand"
He did not go inside the temple building where only the priests were allowed. Alternate translation: "he entered ... the temple area" or "he entered ... into the temple courtyard"
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"realized that it was the man" or "recognized him as the man"
This was the name of one of the entrances to the temple area. See how you translated a similar phrase in Acts 3:2.
Here the words "wonder" and "amazement" share similar meanings and emphasize the intensity of the people's amazement. Alternate translation: "they were extremely amazed"
The phrase "in the porch that is called Solomon's" makes it clear that they were not inside the temple where only the priests were allowed to enter. Here the words "us" and "we" refer to Peter and John but not to the crowd to whom Peter is talking.
After healing the man who could not walk, Peter talks to the people.
"Solomon's Porch." This was a covered walkway that consisted of rows of pillars that supported a roof, and which people named after king Solomon. It was in the temple courtyard.
"extremely surprised"
Here the word "this" refers to the amazement of the people.
"Fellow Israelites." Peter was addressing the crowd.
Peter asks this question to emphasize that they should not be surprised by what had happened. Alternate translation: "you should not be surprised."
Peter asks this question to emphasize that the people should not think that he and John had healed the man by their own abilities. This could be written as two statements. Alternate translation: "Do not fix your eyes on us. We did not make him walk by our own power or godliness."
This means that they looked intently at them without stopping. Alternate translation: "stare at us" or "look at us"
Peter continues his speech to the Jews that he began in Acts 3:12.
Here the phrase "before the face of" means "in the presence of." Alternate translation: "rejected in Pilate's presence"
"when Pilate had decided to release Jesus"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "for Pilate to release a murderer to you"
Here the word "we" includes just Peter and John.
This refers to Jesus. Possible meanings are 1) "the one who gives people eternal life" or 2) "the ruler of life" or 3) "the one who leads people to life"
Possible meanings are 1) this is the reason the man was made strong. Alternate translation: "Because of faith in his name" or 2) this is how the man was made strong. Alternate translation: "By faith in his name"
The word "his" refers to the Founder of life, Jesus. The abstract noun "faith" can be translated with the verb "believe." Possible meanings are 1) the lame man had faith in Jesus. Alternate translation: "Because he believed in Jesus name" or 2) Peter and John, and perhaps the lame man, had faith in Jesus. Alternate translation: "Because we believed in Jesus's name"
The phrase "his name" is a metonym either for Jesus or for Jesus's power.
"made this man ... well"
Possible meanings are 1) this is the faith that Jesus enables people to have. Alternate translation: "The faith that comes from Jesus" or 2) this is faith in Jesus.
Here Peter shifts the audience's attention from the lame man and continues to talk to them directly.
Possible meanings are 1) that the people did not know that Jesus was the Messiah or 2) that the people did not understand the significance of what they were doing.
When the prophets spoke, it was as though God himself was speaking because he told them what to say. Alternate translation: "God foretold by telling all of the prophets what to speak"
"God spoke about ahead of time" or "God told about before they happened"
Here the word "mouth" refers to the words that the prophets spoke and wrote down. Alternate translation: "the words of all the prophets"
"and turn to the Lord." Here "turn" is a metaphor for starting to obey the Lord. Alternate translation: "and start obeying the Lord"
Here "blotted out" is a metaphor for forgiving. Sins are spoken of as if they are written in a book and God erases them from the book when he forgives them. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "so that God will forgive you for sinning against him"
Possible meanings are 1) "times when God will strengthen your spirits" or 2) "times when God will revive you"
Here the words "presence of the Lord" is a metonym for the Lord himself. Alternate translation: "from the Lord"
"that he may again send the Christ." This refers to Christ's coming again.
This may be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "whom he has appointed for you"
Peter continues the speech that he began in Acts 3:12 to the Jews who stood in the temple area.
"He is the One heaven must welcome." Peter speaks of heaven as if it were a person who welcomes Jesus into his home.
This means that it is necessary for Jesus to remain in heaven because that is what God has planned.
Possible meanings are 1) "until the time when God will restore all things" or 2) "until the time when God will fulfill everything that he foretold."
When the prophets spoke long ago, it was as if God himself was speaking because he told them what to say. Alternate translation: "about which things God spoke long ago by telling his holy prophets to speak about them"
Here the word "mouth" refers to the words that the prophets spoke and wrote down. Alternate translation: "the words of his holy prophets"
Peter begins to quote something Moses told the Israelites before the Messiah came.
"will cause one of your brothers to become a true prophet, and everyone will know about him"
"your nation"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that prophet, God will completely destroy"
Peter finishes his speech to the Jews that he began in Acts 3:12.
"In fact, all the prophets." Here the word "Yes" adds emphasis to what follows.
"beginning with Samuel and continuing with the prophets who lived after he did"
"these times" or "the things that are happening now"
Here the word "sons" refers to heirs who will receive what the prophets and the covenant promised. Alternate translation: "You are the heirs of the prophets and heirs of the covenant"
"Because of your offspring"
Here the word "families" refers to people groups or nations. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I will bless all the people groups in the world"
"After God caused Jesus to become his servant and made him famous"
This refers to the Messiah, Jesus.
Here "turning ... from" is a metaphor for causing someone stop doing something. Alternate translation: "causing every one of you to stop doing wicked things" or "causing every one of you to repent from your wickedness"
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry that is quoted from the Old Testament in 4:25-26.
The first Christians wanted very much to be united. They wanted to believe the same things and share everything they owned and help those who needed help.
This phrase refers to things that only God can do. The Christians wanted God to do what only he can do so that people would believe that what they said about Jesus was true.
The cornerstone was the first piece of stone that people put down when they were building a building. This is a metaphor for the most important part of something, the part on which everything depends. To say that Jesus is the cornerstone of the church is to say that nothing in the church is more important than Jesus and that everything about the church depends on Jesus. (See: and faith)
"There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). With these words Peter was saying that no other person who has ever been on the earth or will ever be on earth can save people.
The religious leaders arrest Peter and John after Peter's having healed the man who was born lame.
"approached them" or "came to them"
"They were very angry." The Sadducees, in particular, would have been angry about what Peter and John were saying because they did not believe in resurrection.
Peter and John were saying that God would raise people from the dead in the same way as he had raised Jesus from among the dead. Translate this in a way that allows "the resurrection" to refer to both Jesus's resurrection and the general resurrection of other people.
From among all those who have died. This expression describes all dead people together in the underworld. To come back from among them speaks of becoming alive again.
"The priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees arrested Peter and John"
It was common practice not to question people at night.
This refers only to men and does not include how many women or children believed.
"grew to about five thousand"
Here the word "their" refers to the Jewish people as a whole.
The rulers question Peter and John, who answer without fear.
This phrase is used here to mark where the action starts. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.
This is a reference to the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling court, which consisted of these three groups of people.
These two men were members of the high priest's family. This is not the same John as the apostle.
"Who gave you power"
Here the word "name" refers to authority. Alternate translation: "by whose authority"
This can be stated in active form. See how you translated this in [Acts 2:4]
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "you are questioning us today"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "by what means we have made this man well"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "May all of you and all of the people of Israel know this"
"to you who are questioning us and to all the other people of Israel"
Here the word "name" refers to power and authority. Alternate translation: "by the power of Jesus Christ of Nazareth"
Here to raise up is an idiom for causing someone who has died to become alive again. Alternate translation: "whom God caused to live again"
Peter completes his speech to the Jewish religious rulers that he began in Acts 4:8.
Peter is quoting from the Psalms. This is a metaphor that means the religious leaders, like builders, rejected Jesus, but God will made him the most important in his kingdom, as a cornerstone in a building is important.
"you builders thought was worth nothing"
Here the word "we" refers to Peter as well as those to whom he is speaking.
The noun "salvation" can be translated as a verb. This can be stated positively. Alternate translation: "He is the only person who is able to save"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "no other name under heaven that God has given among men"
The phrase "name ... given among men" refers to the person of Jesus. Alternate translation: "no other person under heaven, who is given among men, by whom"
This is a way of referring to everywhere in the world. Alternate translation: "in the world"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "which can save us" or "who can save us"
Here the second instance of "they" refers to Peter and John. All other occurrences of the word "they" in this section refer to the Jewish leaders.
Here the abstract noun "boldness" refers to the way in which Peter and John responded to the Jewish leaders, and can be translated with an adverb or an adjective. Alternate translation: "how boldly Peter and John had spoken" or "how bold Peter and John were"
bravery, courage, lack of fear. A person with boldness is not afraid.
The Jewish leaders "realized" this because of the way Peter and John spoke.
"and understood"
The words "ordinary" and "uneducated" share similar meanings. They emphasize that Peter and John had received no formal training in Jewish law.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the man whom Peter and John had healed"
"nothing to say against Peter and John's healing of the man." Here the word "this" refers to what Peter and John had done.
This refers to Peter and John.
The Jewish leaders ask this question out of frustration because they could not think of what to do with Peter and John. Alternate translation: "There is nothing that we can do with these men!"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "For God has done a remarkable sign through them, and everyone who lives in Jerusalem has seen it" or "For everyone who lives in Jerusalem knows that they have done a remarkable sign"
The miracle of healing was a sign that Peter and John were obeying God, who did the healing.
This is a generalization. It may also be an exaggeration to show that the leaders think that this is a very big problem. Alternate translation: "many of the people who live in Jerusalem" or "people who live throughout Jerusalem"
Here the word "it" refers to any miracles or teaching Peter and John might continue to do. Alternate translation: "in order that news of this miracle spreads no further" or "in order that no more people hear about this miracle"
Here the word "name" refers to the person of Jesus. Alternate translation: "not to speak anymore to anyone about this person, Jesus"
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Here the phrase "in the sight of God" refers to God's opinion. Alternate translation: "Whether God thinks it is right"
Here the word "we" refers to Peter and John but not to those whom they are addressing.
The Jewish leaders again threatened to punish Peter and John.
Although the Jewish leaders threatened Peter and John, they could not find a reason to punish them without causing the people to riot.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "for what Peter and John had done"
This verse gives background information about the age of the lame man who was healed.
"The man whom Peter and John had miraculously healed"
The miracle of healing was a sign that Peter and John were obeying God, who did the healing.
The phrase "their own people" refers to the rest of the believers. Alternate translation: "went to the other believers"
Speaking together, the people quote a Psalm of David from the Old Testament. Here the word "they" refers to the rest of the believers, but not to Peter and John.
To raise the voice is an idiom for speaking. "they began speaking with one purpose to God"
This phrase translates a word that speaks of people who agree with each other and who work together to accomplish a common purpose.
This means that the Holy Spirit caused David to speak or write down what God said.
Here the word "mouth" refers to the words that David spoke or wrote down. Alternate translation: "by the words of your servant, our father David"
Here the word "father" refers to an ancestor.
This is a rhetorical question that emphasizes the futility of opposing God. Alternate translation: "The Gentile nations should not have raged, and the peoples should not have imagined useless things."
These "useless things" consist of plans to oppose God. Alternate translation: "the peoples imagine useless things against God"
people groups
The believers complete their quotation from King David in the Psalms that they began in Acts 4:25.
These two lines mean basically the same thing. The two lines emphasize the combined effort of the earth's rulers to oppose God.
These two phrases mean that they joined their armies together to fight a battle. Alternate translation: "set their armies together ... gathered their troops together"
Here the word "Lord" refers to God. In the Psalms, the word "Christ" refers to the Messiah or God's anointed one.
The believers continue praying.
"this city" refers to Jerusalem.
"Jesus, who serves you faithfully"
Here the word "hand" is used to mean God's power. Additionally, the phrase "your hand and your desire decided" shows God's power and plan. Alternate translation: "to do all that you in your power had decided and planned they would do"
Here the words "look upon" are a request for God to take notice of the way in which the Jewish leaders threatened the believers. Alternate translation: "notice how they threaten to punish us"
The word "word" here is a metonym for God's message. The abstract noun "boldness" can be translated as an adverb. Alternate translation: "speak your message boldly" or "be bold when we speak your message"
The believers complete the prayer that they began in Acts 4:24.
Here the word "hand" refers to God's power. This is a request for God to show how powerful he is. Alternate translation: "Show your power by healing people and by giving"
Here the word "name" refers to power and authority. Alternate translation: "through the power of your holy servant Jesus"
"Jesus, who serves you faithfully." See how you translated this in Acts 4:27.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the place ... shook"
This can be stated in active form. See how you translated this in Acts 2:4. Alternate translation: "the Holy Spirit had filled them all" or "God had filled them all with the Holy Spirit"
Here the word "heart" refers to the thoughts and the word "soul" refers to the emotions. Together they refer to the total person. Alternate translation: "thought the same way and wanted the same things"
"they shared their belongings with one another." See how you translated this in Acts 2:44.
Possible meanings are: 1) that God was greatly blessing the believers or 2) that the people in Jerusalem held the believers in very high esteem.
The word "all" here is a generalization. Alternate translation: "Many people who owned title to lands or houses" or "People who owned title to lands or houses"
"owned land or houses"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the money that they received from the things that they sold"
This means that they presented the money to the apostles. Alternate translation: "presented it to the apostles" or "gave it to the apostles"
The noun "need" can be translated with a verb. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they distributed the money to each believer who needed it"
Luke introduces Barnabas into the story.
The apostles used this name to show that Joseph was a person who encouraged others. "Son of" is an idiom used to describe a person's behavior or character. Alternate translation: "Encourager" or "one who encourages"
This means that they presented to money to the apostles. See how you translated this in [Acts 4:35]
No one knows for sure if Ananias and Sapphira were truly Christians when they decided to lie about the land that they sold (Acts 5:1-10), because Luke does not say. However, Peter knew that they lied to the believers, and he knew that they had listened to and obeyed Satan.
When they lied to the believers, they also lied to the Holy Spirit. This is because the Holy Spirit lives inside believers.
Continuing the story of how the new Christians shared their belongings with other believers, Luke tells about two believers, Ananias and Sapphria.
This word is used here to mark a stop in the main story to tell a new part of the story.
"his wife also knew that he kept back part of the sale money"
This means that they presented to money to the apostles. See how you translated this in [Acts 4:35]
If your language does not use rhetorical questions, you may reword these as statements.
Peter uses this question to rebuke Ananias. Alternate translation: "you should not have let Satan fill your heart to lie ... land."
Here the word "heart" is a metonym for the will and emotions. The phrase "Satan filled your heart" is a metaphor. Possible meanings of the metaphor are 1) "Satan completely controlled you" or 2) "Satan convinced you"
This implies that Ananias had told the apostles that he was giving the entire amount that he had received from selling his land.
Peter uses this question to rebuke Ananias. Alternate translation: "While it remained unsold, it was your own ... authority."
"Before you sold it"
Peter uses this question to rebuke Ananias. Alternate translation: "after it was sold, you had control over the money that you received."
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "after you sold it"
Peter used this question to rebuke Ananias. Here the word "heart" refers to the will and emotions. Alternate translation: "You should not have thought of doing this thing." or "It is Satan who has put this activity in your heart."
Here "breathed his last" means "breathed his final breath" and is a polite way of saying that he died. Ananias fell down because he died; he did not die because he fell down. Alternate translation: "died and fell to the ground"
This means that they began to act. This does not necessarily mean that they had been sitting or that Peter and Ananias had been at the front of the room or a meeting hall. If your language has a phrase that speaks of people responding to something by beginning to act, you may use it.
"Ananias' wife came in" or "Sapphira came in"
"that her husband had died"
"for this much money." This refers to the amount of money that Ananias had given to the apostles.
Here the word "you" is plural and refers to both Ananias and Sapphira.
Peter asks this question to rebuke Sapphira. Alternate translation: "You should not have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord!"
"the two of you have agreed together"
Here the word "test" means to challenge or to prove. They were trying to see if they could get away with lying to God without receiving punishment.
The word "Look" is an idiom for "Pay attention!" Peter is probably telling Sapphira to pay attention to the sound of the men's footsteps, which indicate that they are about to enter the building, not to look at their feet. Here the phrase "the feet" can be either a synecdoche for the men whose feet they are or a metonym for the sound that they make. Alternate translation: "Pay attention! The men" or "Listen! The footsteps of the men"
"the men will carry"
This is the end of the part of the story about Ananias and Sapphira.
This means that when she died, she fell on the floor in front of Peter. This expression should not be confused with falling down at a person's feet as a sign of humility.
Here "breathed his last" means "breathed her final breath" and is a polite way of saying "she died." See how you translated a similar phrase in [Acts 5:5]
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It is not clear whether here the word "They" refers to the believers or only to the apostles.
Luke continues to tell what happens in the early days of the church.
"Many signs and wonders took place among the people through the hands of the apostles." This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people"
"supernatural events and miraculous deeds." See how you translated these terms in Acts 2:22
Here the word "hands" refers to the apostles. Alternate translation: "through the apostles"
This phrase translates a word that speaks of people who agree with each other and who work together to accomplish a common purpose. The people were more than just in the same place at the same time.
This was a covered walkway that consisted of rows of pillars that supported a roof, and which people named after king Solomon. See how you translated "the porch that is called Solomon's" in Acts 3:11.
The words "them" and "they" refer to the apostles.
Possible meanings are 1) the apostles were in Solomon's Porch, but the rest of the believers were afraid to join them there, or 2) all the believers were in Solomon's Porch, and the word "none" is a hyperbole that means that most of the people who were not believers were afraid to join them.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the people held the believers in high esteem"
This could be stated in active form. See how you translated "were added" in [Acts 2:41]
Here the word "they" refers to the people who lived in Jerusalem.
It is implied that God would heal them if Peter's shadow touched them.
"those whom unclean spirits had afflicted"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God healed them all" or "the apostles healed them all"
The religious leaders began to persecute the believers.
This begins a contrasting story. You may translate this in the way that your language introduces a contrasting narrative.
Here the phrase "rose up" means that the high priest decided to take action, not that he stood up from a seated position. Alternate translation: "the high priest took action"
The abstract noun "jealousy" can be translated as an adjective. This could be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they became very jealous"
This means they had the believers arrested. See how you translated this in [Acts 4:3]
Here the word "them" refers to the apostles.
This phrase here refers to the temple courtyard, not to the temple building, where only the priests were allowed. Alternate translation: "in the temple courtyard"
The word "words" here is a metonym for the message that the apostles had already proclaimed. Possible meanings are 1) "all this message of eternal life" or 2) "the whole message of this new way of living"
Here the word "they" refers to the apostles.
They went into the temple courtyard, not into the temple building, where only the priests were allowed. Alternate translation: "into the temple courtyard"
"as it began to be light." Although the angel led them out of the jail during the night, the sun was rising by the time the apostles reached the temple courtyard.
This implies someone went to the jail. Alternate translation: "sent someone to the jail to bring the apostles"
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Possible meanings are 1) they found no one inside the apostles' cell Alternate translation: "we did not find them inside" or 2) the apostles had been the only prisoners and now there were no prisoners at all in the jail.
Here the word "you" is plural and refers to the captain of the temple and the chief priests.
"they were very puzzled" or "they were very confused"
"concerning the words they had just heard" or "concerning these things"
"and what would happen as a result" or "what would happen next"
Here the word "you" is plural and refers to the captain of the temple and the chief priests.
They did not go into the part of the temple building where only the priests were allowed. Alternate translation: "standing in the temple courtyard"
The captain and the officers bring the apostles before the Jewish religious council.
"brought the apostles back"
This can be expressed with an active form. Alternate translation: "they feared that the people might stone them"
"the captain and officers had brought the apostles, the captain and the officers set the apostles ... interrogated the apostles"
questioned to find out what was true
The speakers were referring to themselves, but not to the apostles, so these words are exclusive.
These words refer to the apostles and so are plural.
Here the word "name" refers to the person of Jesus. See how you translated this in [Acts 4:17]
Teaching many people in a city is spoken of as if they were filling the city with a teaching. Alternate translation: "you have taught many people in Jerusalem about him" or "you have taught about him throughout the Jerusalem"
Here the word "blood" is a metonym for death, and to bring someone's blood on people is a metaphor for saying that they are guilty of that person's death. Alternate translation: "desire to make us responsible for this man's death"
Here the word "We" refers to the apostles, and not to the audience.
Peter spoke on behalf of all of the apostles when he said the following words.
Here "raised up" is an idiom. Alternate translation: "The God of our fathers caused Jesus to live again"
Here Peter uses the word "tree" to refer to the cross, which was made of wood. Alternate translation: "by hanging him on a cross"
To be at the "right hand of God" is a symbolic action of receiving great honor and authority from God. Alternate translation: "God exalted him to the place of honor beside him"
The words "repentance" and "forgiveness" can be translated as verbs. Alternate translation: "give the people of Israel an opportunity to repent and have God forgive their sins"
The word "Israel" refers to the Jewish people.
"those who submit to God's authority"
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Gamaliel addresses the council members.
Luke introduces Gamaliel and provides background information about him.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "whom all the people honored"
The words "the men" refers to the apostles.
"think carefully about" or "be cautious about." Gamaliel was warning them not to do something that they would later regret.
Possible meanings are 1) "Theudas rebelled" or 2) "Theudas appeared."
"claiming to be somebody important"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "People killed him"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "all the people scattered who had been obeying him" or "all who had been obeying him went in different directions"
This means that they did not do what they had planned to do.
"After Theudas"
"during the time of the census"
This means that he persuaded some people to rebel with him against the Roman government. Alternate translation: "caused many people to follow him" or "caused many people to join him in rebellion"
Gamaliel is telling the Jewish leaders not to punish the apostles any more and not to put them back in jail.
"if men have devised this plan or are doing this work"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "someone will overthrow it"
Gamaliel finishes addressing the council members.
Here the word "it" refers to "this plan or work." Alternate translation: "if God has devised this plan or commanded these men to do this work"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "So Gamaliel persuaded them"
Here the word "they" refers to the council members and all instances of "them" refer to the apostles.
The council members would have ordered the temple guards to do these things.
Here "name" refers to the authority of Jesus. See how you translated a similar phrase in Acts 4:18. Alternate translation: "to speak anymore in the authority of Jesus"
All instances of "they" refer to the apostles.
The apostles rejoiced because God had honored them by letting the Jewish leaders dishonor them. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name"
Here "the Name" refers to Jesus. Alternate translation: "for Jesus"
The word "they" refers to the apostles.
"After that day, every day." This phrase marks what the apostles did every day through the following days.
They did not go into the temple building where only the priests went. Alternate translation: "in the temple courtyard and in different people's houses"
The believers in Jerusalem gave help—probably money but possibly food—every day to women whose husbands had died. All of these widows had been raised as Jews, but some of them had lived in Judea and spoke Hebrew. Others had lived in Gentile areas and spoke Greek. Those who gave out the money or food gave it to the Hebrew-speaking widows but not to the Greek-speaking widows. To please God, the church leaders appointed Greek-speaking men to make sure the Greek-speaking widows received their share of help. One of these Greek-speaking men was Stephen.
No one knows for sure what it was about Stephen's face that was like the face of an angel, because Luke does not tell us. It is best for the translation to say only what the ULB says about this.
This is the beginning of a new part of the story. Luke gives important background information to understand the story.
Consider how new parts of a story are introduced in your language.
"was greatly increasing"
These were both groups of Jews who had become believers. The writer assumes that the reader understands that these people were all believers because at this point all believers had grown up as Jews.
These were believers who had grown up as Jews or become converts living somewhere in the Roman Empire outside of Israel and speaking Greek. Their language and culture were somewhat different from those who had grown up in Israel.
These were believers who had grown up as Jews or become converts in Israel speaking Hebrew or Aramaic.
A widow is a woman who has not remarried since her husband died.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the Hebrew believers were overlooking the Grecian widows"
"being ignored" or "being forgotten." There were so many who needed help that some were missed.
The disciples were able to help the widows because believers were giving money to the apostles Acts 4:34-35. Possible meanings are 1) the disciples used the money to buy food, which they would give to the widows, or 2) the disciples gave the money directly to the widows.
Here the word "us" refers to the 12 apostles and not to their hearers, so it is exclusive.
This refers to the eleven apostles plus Matthias, who was selected in Acts 1:26.
"all of the disciples" or "all the believers"
This is an exaggeration in order to emphasize the importance of their task of teaching the word of God. Alternate translation: "stop preaching and teaching the word of God"
This is a phrase meaning to serve food to the people.
Here the word "you" refers to the believers and so is plural.
Possible meanings are 1) the men have three qualities—a good reputation, being full of the Spirit, and being full of wisdom or 2) the men have a reputation for two qualities—being full of the Spirit, and being full of wisdom .
"men that people know are good" or "men whom people trust"
"to be responsible to do this task"
Here the word "us" refers to the 12 apostles and not to their hearers, so it is exclusive.
"the ministry of teaching and preaching the message"
"All the disciples liked their suggestion"
These are Greek names, so it seems that all of the men elected were from the Grecian Jewish group of believers.
a Gentile who converted to the Jewish religion
This represented giving a blessing and imparting responsibility and authority for the work to the seven.
This verse gives an update on the church's growth.
The writer speaks of the growing number of people who believed the word as if the word of God itself were covering a larger area. Alternate translation: "the number of people who believed the word of God increased" or "the number of people who believed the message from God increased"
"followed the teaching of the new belief"
Possible meanings are 1) the gospel message of trust in Jesus or 2) the teaching of the church or 3) the Christian teaching.
The writer begins to give background information about Stephen and other people that is important to understanding the story.
This is the beginning of a new part of the story.
This introduces Stephen as the main character in this part of the story.
The words "grace" and "power" here refer to power from God. This could be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: "God was giving Stephen power to do"
The writer continues giving background information about Stephen and other people that is important to understanding the story.
The word "arose" is an idiom that represents beginning to act. These people did not begin to rise into the air, nor did they necessarily get up from a sitting position. Alternate translation: "some people ... Asia, began to debate against Stephen"
Possible meanings are 1) the Cyrenians, the Alexandrians and those from Cilicia and Asia were all members of the synagogue of the Freedmen; 2) the Cyrenians and the Alexandrians were members of the synagogue of the Freedmen, but those from Cilicia and Asia were not; or 3) there were three separate groups of people: those from the synagogue, those from Cyrene and Alexandria, and those from Cilicia and Asia.
"Freedmen" were probably ex-slaves from these different locations. It is unclear if the other people listed were part of the synagogue or just participated in the debate with Stephen.
"people from Cyrene and Alexandria." Cyrene and Alexandria were cities in Northern Africa. They were south of the Mediterranean Sea.
Cilicia was a city and Asia was a Roman province, both north of the Mediterranean Sea.
"arguing with Stephen"
The writer finishes giving background information about Stephen and other people that is important to understanding the story.
This phrase means they could not prove false what he said. Alternate translation: "could not argue against"
this refers to the Holy Spirit
Here the word "We" refers only to the men they persuaded to lie. The word "they" refers back to the people from the synagogue of the freemen
They were given money to give false testimony. Alternate translation: "some men to lie and say"
"bad things about"
The word "they" most likely refers back to the people from the synagogue of the Freedmen (Acts 6:9). They were responsible for the false witnesses and for inciting the council, the elders, the scribes, and the other people.
"caused the people, the elders, and the scribes to be very angry at Stephen"
"grabbed him and held him so he could not get away"
The word "they" most likely refers back to the people from the synagogue of the Freedmen (Acts 6:9).
"continually speaks"
The words "we" and "us" refer only to the speakers, not to the hearers, and so is exclusive.
The phrase "handed down" means "passed on." Alternate translation: "taught our ancestors"
This is an idiom that means they looked intently at him. Here "eyes" is a metonym for sight. Alternate translation: "looked intently at him" or "stared at him"
This phrase compares his face to that of an angel but does not say specifically what they have in common.
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry that is quoted from the Old Testament in 7:42-43 and 49-50.
It appears that 8:1 is part of the narrative of this chapter.
Stephen told the history of Israel very briefly. He paid special attention to the times that the Israelites had rejected the people God had chosen to lead them. At the end of the story, he said that the Jewish leaders he was talking to had rejected Jesus just as the evil Israelites had always rejected the leaders God had appointed for them.
The Holy Spirit completely controlled Stephen so that he said only and all of what God wanted him to say.
When an author speaks of something that is not important at that time but will be important later in the story, this is called foreshadowing. Luke mentions Saul, also known as Paul, here, even though he is not an important person in this part of the story. This is because Paul is an important person in the rest of the Book of Acts.
Stephen was talking to Jews who knew the law of Moses well, so he did not explain things that his hearers already knew. But you may need to explain some of these things so that your readers will be able to understand what Stephen was saying. For example, you may need to make explicit that when Joseph's brothers "sold him into Egypt"
Stephen spoke of Joseph ruling "over Egypt" and over all of Pharaoh's household. By this he meant that Joseph ruled over the people of Egypt and of the people and possessions in Pharaoh's household.
The Jewish leaders to whom Stephen spoke already knew much about the events he was telling them about. They knew what Moses had written in the Book of Genesis. If the Book of Genesis has not been translated into your language, it may be difficult for your readers to understand what Stephen said.
The part of the story about Stephen, which began in Acts 6:8, continues. Stephen begins his response to the high priest and the council by talking about things that happened in Israel's history. Most of this history comes from Moses's writings.
The word "our" includes both Steven, the Jewish council to whom he spoke, and the entire audience.
Stephen was being very respectful to the council in greeting them as extended family.
The word "your" refers to Abraham and so is singular.
In verse 4 the words "he," "his," and "him" refer to Abraham. In verse 5 the words "He" and "he" refer to God, but the word "him" refers to Abraham. Here the word "you" refers to the Jewish council and audience.
"He did not give any of it"
Possible meanings for this phrase are 1) enough ground to stand on or 2) enough ground to take a step. Alternate translation: "a very tiny piece of ground"
"for Abraham to own and to give to his descendants"
It may be helpful to state that this occurred later than the statement in the previous verse. Alternate translation: "Later God told Abraham"
"400 years"
"nation" refers to the people in it. Alternate translation: "I will judge the people of the nation"
"the nation that they will serve"
The Jews would have understood that this covenant required Abraham to circumcise the males of his family. Alternate translation: "made a covenant with Abraham to circumcise the males of his family"
The story transitions to Abraham's descendants.
"Jacob became the father." Stephen shortened this.
"the founders of our tribes" or "our ancestors." A patriarch is a man who rules a family.
The Jews knew their ancestors sold Joseph to be a slave in Egypt. Alternate translation: "sold him as a slave in Egypt"
This is an idiom for helping someone. Alternate translation: "helped him"
This refers to the people of Egypt. Alternate translation: "over all the people of Egypt"
This refers to all his possessions. Alternate translation: "everything he owned"
"a famine came." The ground stopped producing food and this caused a terrible suffering.
This refers Jacob and his sons, who were the ancestors of the Jewish people.
Grain was the most common food at that time.
Here this phrase refers to Joseph's older brothers, who were Jacob's sons.
"On their next trip"
Joseph revealed to his brothers his identity as their brother.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Pharaoh learned that they were Joseph's family"
"sent his brothers back to Canaan" or "sent his brothers back home"
Make sure it does not sound as though he died as soon as he arrived in Egypt. Alternate translation: "eventually Jacob died"
"Jacob and his sons, who became our ancestors"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Jacob's descendants carried Jacob's body and his son's bodies over ... and buried them"
"with money"
In some languages it may be helpful to say that the people increased in number before saying that the time of the promise arrived.
It was close to the time that God would fulfill his promise to Abraham.
"another king began to rule"
"Egypt" refers to the people of Egypt. Alternate translation: "over the people of Egypt"
"Joseph" refers to the reputation of Joseph. Alternate translation: "who did not know that Joseph had helped Egypt"
The word "our" includes Stephen and his audience.
This introduces Moses into the story.
This phrase is an idiom that means Moses was very beautiful.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "his parents nourished him" or "his parents cared for him"
Moses was "placed outside" because of Pharaoh's command. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "When his parents placed him outside" or "When they abandoned him"
She did for him every good thing a mother would do for her own son. Use your language's normal word for what a mother does to make sure her son becomes a healthy adult.
If your language has a word for an informal procedure, not a formal legal procedure, in which one family takes a child in and raises him, you may want to use that here. Pharaoh's daughter did do for Moses what any mother would do for her child, but this involved no formal legal procedure.
"as if he were her own son"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "The Egyptians educated Moses"
This is an exaggeration to emphasize that he was trained in the best schools in Egypt.
"effective in his speech and actions" or "influential in what he said and did"
Here "heart" is a metonym for "mind." The phrase "it came into his heart" is an idiom that means to decide something. Alternate translation: "it came into his mind" or "he decided"
This refers to his people, and not just to his family. Alternate translation: "see how his own people, the children of Israel, were doing"
This can be stated in active form by rearranging the order. Alternate translation: "Seeing an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite, Moses defended and avenged the Israelite by striking the Egyptian who was oppressing him"
Moses hit the Egyptian so hard that he died.
"he imagined"
Here "hand" refers to the actions of Moses. Alternate translation: "was giving them salvation through what he, Moses, was doing"
The abstract noun "salvation" can be translated using the verb "save." Alternate translation: "was saving them" or "was rescuing them"
Some translations make it clear that two men were fighting. Alternate translation: "when two men of Israel were fighting"
"make them stop fighting"
Moses was addressing the Israelites who were fighting.
Moses asked this question to encourage them to stop fighting. Alternate translation: "you should not do wrong to each other!"
Here the word "us" refers to the Israelites but does not include Moses.
The man used this question to rebuke Moses. Alternate translation: "No one appointed you ruler or judge over us." or "You have no authority over us!"
The man used this question to warn Moses that he and probably others knew Moses had killed the Egyptian.
Stephen's audience already knew that Moses had married a Midianite woman when he fled Egypt.
The implied information is that Moses understood that the Israelites knew that he had killed an Egyptian the day before (Acts 7:28).
"After 40 years passed." This was the amount of time Moses had been in Midian. Alternate translation: "Forty years after Moses fled from Egypt"
Stephen's audience knew that God spoke through the angel.
Moses was surprised that the bush was not burning up in the fire. This was previously known by Stephen's audience. Alternate translation: "because the bush was not burning up"
This may mean Moses initially drew close to the bush to investigate.
"I am the God whom your ancestors worshiped"
This may mean Moses drew back in fear when he heard the voice.
Moses shook from fear. This can be made clear. Alternate translation: "Moses trembled with fear"
God told Moses this so he would honor God.
The implied information is that where God is present, the immediate area around God is considered holy or is made holy by God.
"seen for sure." The word "certainly" adds emphasis to "seen."
The abstract noun "oppression" can be translated using the verb "oppress." Alternate translation: "the way the Egyptians are oppressing my people"
The word "my" emphasizes that these people belonged to God. Alternate translation: "the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob"
"will personally cause their release"
"get ready." God uses an order here.
Verses 35-38 contain a series of connected phrases referring to Moses. Each phrase begins with statements such as "This Moses" or "This same Moses" or "This is the man" or "It is the same Moses." If possible, use similar statements to emphasize Moses. After the Israelites left Egypt, they spent 40 years wandering around the wilderness before God led them into the land he had promised them.
This refers back to the events recorded in Acts 7:27-28.
"rescuer"
The hand is a metonym for the action performed by the person. In this case, the angel had commanded Moses to return to Egypt. Stephen speaks as if the angel had a physical hand. You may need to make explicit what action the angel did. Alternate translation: "by the action of the angel" or "by having the angel ... bush command him to return to Egypt"
Stephen's audience knew about the forty years the Israelites spent in the wilderness. Alternate translation: "during the 40 years that the Israelite people lived in the wilderness"
"cause a man to be a prophet"
"from among your own people"
"This is the man Moses who was among the Israelites"
The phrase "This is the man" throughout this passage refers to Moses.
God was the one who gave those words. Alternate translation: "to whom God spoke living words to give to us"
Possible meanings are 1) "a message that endures" or 2) "words that give life."
This metaphor emphasizes their rejection of Moses. Alternate translation: "they rejected him as their leader"
Here "hearts" is a metonym for people's thoughts. To do something in the heart means to desire do to something. Alternate translation: "they desired to turn back"
The quotation in this verse is from the writings of Moses.
"When they decided to return to Egypt"
Stephen's audience knew the calf they made was a statue. Alternate translation: "they made a statue that looked like a calf"
These phrases all refer to the same statue of the calf.
Stephen's quotation here is from the prophet Amos.
"God turned away." This action expresses that God was not pleased with the people and no longer helped them. Alternate translation: "God stopped correcting them"
"abandoned them"
Possible meanings for the original phrase are 1) the stars only or 2) the sun, moon, and stars.
This was apparently a collection of the writings of several of the Old Testament prophets into one scroll. It would also have included the writings of Amos.
God asked this question to show Israel they did not worship him with their sacrifices. Alternate translation: "You did not honor me when brought offerings and sacrifices ... Israel."
This refers to the whole nation of Israel. Alternate translation: "all you Israelites"
The quotation from the prophet Amos continues here.
Stephen continues his response to the high priest and the council which he began in Acts 7:2.
It is implied that they took these idols with them as they traveled in the wilderness. Alternate translation: "you carried with you from place to place"
the tent that housed the false god Molech
the star that is identified with the false god Rephan
They made statues or images of the gods Molech and Rephan in order to worship them.
"I will remove you to places even farther than Babylon." This would be God's act of judgment.
The tent that housed the ark (a box) with the 10 commandments carved in stone inside it
The phrase "under Joshua" means that their ancestors did these things in obedience to Joshua's direction. Alternate translation: "our fathers, in accordance with Joshua's instructions, received the tabernacle and brought it with them"
This sentence tells why the ancestors were able to take possession of the land. Alternate translation: "God forced the nations to leave the land before the face of our fathers"
Here "the face of our fathers" refers to the presence of their ancestors. Possible meanings are 1) "As our ancestors watched, God ... drove them out" or 2) "When our ancestors came, God ... drove them out"
This refers to the people who lived in the land before Israel. Alternate translation: "the people who previously lived here"
"forced them to leave the land"
Here "house" is probably a metonym for the ark of the covenant. David wanted to build a place for the ark, which represented God's presence, so people could go there to worship God. Alternate translation: "he might build a place where people could worship the God of Jacob"
Many versions read, "the God of Jacob."
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The hand is a synecdoche for the whole person. Alternate translation: "made by people"
In verses 49 and 50, Stephen quotes from the prophet Isaiah. In the quotation, God is speaking about himself.
The prophet is comparing the greatness of God's presence to how impossible it is for man to build a place for God to rest on earth since the whole earth is nothing but a place for God to rest his feet.
God asks this question to show how useless man's efforts are to take care of God. Alternate translation: "You can not build a house adequate enough for me!"
God asks this question to show man that he cannot provide God any rest. Alternate translation: "There is no place of rest good enough for me!"
In verses 49 and 50, Stephen quotes from the prophet Isaiah. In the quotation, God is speaking about himself.
God asks this question to show that man did not create anything. Alternate translation: "My hand made all these things!"
With a sharp rebuke, Stephen finishes his response to the high priest and the council, which he began in Acts 7:2.
Stephen shifts from identifying with the Jewish leaders to rebuking them.
The Jews regarded uncircumcised people as disobedient to God. Stephen uses "hearts and ears" to represent to the Jewish leaders who acted the way Gentiles act when they do not obey or listen to God. Alternate translation: "you refuse to obey and hear"
Stephen asked this question to show them that they learned nothing from the errors of their forefathers. Alternate translation: "Your forefathers persecuted every prophet!"
This refers to the Christ, the Messiah.
"you have also betrayed and murdered him"
"murderers of the Righteous One" or "murderers of the Christ"
"the laws that God caused angels to give to our ancestors"
The council reacts to Stephen's words.
This is the turning point; the sermon ends and the council members react.
This means that they were extremely angry.
This action expressed their strong anger at Stephen or hatred of Stephen. Alternate translation: "they became so angry that they ground their teeth together" or "moved their teeth back and forth as they looked at Stephen"
"stared up into heaven." It appears that only Stephen saw this vision and not anyone else in the crowd.
People normally experienced the glory of God as a bright light. Alternate translation: "saw a bright light from God"
To stand at the "right hand of God" is a symbolic action of receiving great honor and authority from God. Alternate translation: "and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor and authority beside God"
Stephen refers to Jesus by the title "Son of Man."
"put their hands on their ears." They did this to show that they did not want to hear any more of what Stephen said.
This phrase translates a word that speaks of people who agree with each other and who work together to accomplish a common purpose.
"They seized Stephen and forcefully took him out of the city"
These are cloaks or robes they would wear outside to stay warm, similar in function to a jacket or coat.
"in front of." They were placed there so Saul could watch them.
Saul was probably around 30 years old at the time.
"take my spirit." It may be helpful to add "please" to show that this was a request. Alternate translation: "please receive my spirit"
This ends the story of Stephen.
This is an act of submission to God.
This can be stated in a positive way. Alternate translation: "forgive them for this sin"
Here to fall asleep is a euphemism for dying. Alternate translation: "died"
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry that is quoted from the Old Testament in 8:32-33.
The first sentence of verse 1 ends the description of the events in chapter 7. Luke begins a new part of his history with the words "So there began."
In this chapter for the first time Luke speaks of people receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15-19). The Holy Spirit had already enabled the believers to speak in tongues, to heal the sick, and to live as a community, and he had filled Stephen. But when the Jews started putting believers in prison, those believers who could leave Jerusalem did leave, and as they went, they told people about Jesus. When the people who heard about Jesus received the Holy Spirit, the church leaders knew that those people had truly become believers.
This chapter more than any other in the Book of Acts speaks of the believers proclaiming the word, proclaiming the good news, and proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ. The word "proclaim" translates a Greek word that means to tell good news about something.
It may be helpful to your audience to move these parts of the story about Stephen together by using a verse bridge as the UDB does.
The story shifts from Stephen to Saul in these verses.
This part of verse 1 is background information about the persecution that began after Stephen's death. This explains why Saul was persecuting the believers in verse 3.
This refers to the day that Stephen died (Acts 7:59-60).
The word "all" is a generalization to express that a large number of the believers left Jerusalem because of the persecution.
This statement implies that the apostles remained in Jerusalem even though they also experienced this great persecution.
"God-fearing men" or "Men who feared God"
"greatly mourned his death"
"houses one by one"
"took away both men and women by force." Saul forcefully took Jewish believers out of their homes and put them into prison.
This refers to men and women who believed in Jesus.
The cause for the scattering, the persecution, was stated previously. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "who had fled the great persecution"
This is a metonym for "the message." You may need to make explicit that the message was about Jesus. Alternate translation: "the message about Jesus"
This begins the story of Philip, whom the people had chosen as a deacon.
The phrase "went down" is used here because Samaria is lower in elevation than Jerusalem.
Possible meanings are 1) Luke expected the readers to know which city he was writing about. Alternate translation: "the main city in Samaria" or 2) Luke did not expect his readers to know which city he was writing about. Alternate translation: "a city in Samaria"
The title "Christ" refers to Jesus, the Messiah. Alternate translation: "told them about Jesus Christ" or "told them about Jesus the Messiah"
"Many people in the city of Samaria." The location was specified in Acts 8:5.
The reason people paid attention was because of all the healing Philip did.
This phrase translates a word that speaks of people who agree with each other and who work together to accomplish a common purpose.
"who had them" or "who were controlled by them"
The phrase "that city" refers to the people who were rejoicing. Alternate translation: "So the people of the city were rejoicing"
Simon is introduced to the story of Philip. This verse gives the beginning of the background information about Simon and who he was among the Samaritans.
This is a way of introducing a new person into the story. Your language may use different wording to introduce a new person into the story.
"the city in Samaria" (Acts 8:5)
Simon is introduced to the story of Philip. This verse continues to give the beginning of the background information about Simon and who he was among the Samaritans.
The word "all" is a generalization. Alternate translation: "Many of the Samaritans" or "The Samaritans in the city"
These two phrases refer to everyone from one extreme to the other. Alternate translation: "no matter how important they were"
People were saying that Simon was the divine power known as "The Great Power."
Possible meanings are 1) the powerful representative of God or 2) God or 3) the most powerful man or 4) an angel. Since the term is unclear, it may be best to simply translate it as "the Great power of God."
Simon is introduced to the story of Philip. This verse ends the background information about Simon and who he was among the Samaritans.
Verses 12 and 13 give more information about Simon and some of the Samaritans coming to believe in Jesus.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Philip baptized them" or "Philip baptized the new believers"
Verses 12 and 13 give more information about Simon and some of the Samaritans coming to believe in Jesus.
The word "himself" is here used to emphasize that Simon believed. Alternate translation: "Simon was also one of those who believed"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Philip baptized Simon"
Luke continues the news of what was happening in Samaria.
This marks the beginning of a new part of the story of the Samaritans.
This refers to the many people who had become believers throughout the district of Samaria.
"had believed" or "had accepted"
"when Peter and John had come down"
This phrase is used here because Samaria is lower in elevation than Jerusalem.
"Peter and John prayed for the Samaritan believers"
"that the Samaritan believers might receive the Holy Spirit"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Philip had only baptized the Samaritan believers"
Here "name" represents authority, and being baptized into his name represents being baptized in order to be under his authority. Alternate translation: "they had only been baptized to become disciples of the Lord Jesus"
The word "them" refers to the Samaritan people who believed Stephen's message of the gospel.
This symbolic action shows that Peter and John wanted God to give the Holy Spirit to the believers.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the apostles gave the Holy Spirit by laying their hands on people"
"that I can give the Holy Spirit to anyone on whom I place my hands"
Here the words him, your, you, and yours all refer to Simon.
"May you and your money be destroyed"
Here this refers to the ability of a person to give the Holy Spirit by laying his hands on someone.
The words "part" and "allotted portion" mean the same thing and are used for emphasis. Alternate translation: "You may not participate in this work"
Here "heart" is a metonym for a person's thoughts or motives. Alternate translation: "you are not right in your heart" or "the motives of your mind are not right"
"these evil thoughts"
"he may be willing to forgive"
Here "heart" is a metonym for a person's thoughts. Alternate translation: "for what you intended to do" or "for what you were thinking of doing"
Here "in the poison of bitterness" is a metaphor for being very envious. It speaks of envy as if it tastes bitter and poisons the person who is envious. Alternate translation: "very envious"
The phrase "bonds of unrighteousness" is spoken as if unrighteousness could make Simon a prisoner. It is metaphor that means Simon is not able to stop himself from sinning. Alternate translation: "because you continue sinning you are like a prisoner" or "sin has made you its prisoner"
Here the word "you" refers to Peter and John.
This refers to Peter's rebuke about Simon's silver perishing along with him.
This can be stated another way. Alternate translation: "the things you have said may not happen to me"
This is concludes the part of the story about Simon and the Samaritans.
Peter and John told what they personally knew about Jesus to the Samaritans.
Here "word" is a metonym for "message." Peter and John explained the message about Jesus to the Samaritans.
Here "villages" refers to the people in them. Alternate translation: "to the people in many Samaritan villages"
This begins the part of the story about Philip and the man from Ethiopia.
This marks a transition in the story.
These verbs work together to emphasize that he should get ready to start a long journey that will take some time. Alternate translation: "Get ready to travel"
The phrase "goes down" is used here because Jerusalem is higher in elevation than Gaza.
Most scholars believe Luke added this comment to describe the area through which Philip would travel.
This verse gives background information about the man from Ethiopia.
The word "behold" alerts us to a new person in the story. Your language may have a way of doing this.
The emphasis of "eunuch" here is about the Ethiopian's being a high government official, not so much his physical state of being castrated.
This was a title for the queens of Ethiopia. It is similar to the way the word Pharaoh was used for the kings of Egypt.
This implies that he was a Gentile who believed in God and had come to worship at the Jewish temple. Alternate translation: "He had come to worship God at the temple in Jerusalem"
Possibly "wagon" or "carriage" is more fitting in this context. Chariots are normally mentioned as a vehicle for war, not as a vehicle for long-distance travel. Also, people stood to ride in chariots.
This is the Old Testament book Isaiah. Alternate translation: "reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah"
Philip understood that this meant he was to stay close to the person riding in the chariot. Alternate translation: "accompany the man in this chariot"
This is the Old Testament book Isaiah. Alternate translation: "reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah"
The Ethiopian was intelligent and could read, but he lacked spiritual discernment. Alternate translation: "Do you understand the meaning of what you are reading?"
This question was asked to state emphatically that he could not understand without help. Alternate translation: "I cannot understand unless someone guides me."
It is implied here that Philip agreed to travel down the road with him to explain the scriptures.
Possible meanings are that 1) he offered a sincere invitation or 2) he made a sincere request.
This a passage from the book of Isaiah. Here the word "he" refers to the Messiah.
A shearer is a person who cuts the wool off the sheep so that it may be used.
This verse continues quoting a passage from the book of Isaiah. Here the words "his" and "him" refer to the Messiah.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "He was humiliated and they did not judge him fairly" or "He allowed himself to be humbled before his accusers and he suffered injustice"
This question was used to emphasize that he will not have descendants. Alternate translation: "No one will be able to speak about his descendants, for there will not be any."
This referred to his death. It can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "men killed him" or "men took his life from the earth"
"Please tell me"
This refers to Isaiah's writings in the Old Testament. Alternate translation: "the writings of Isaiah"
"they continued to travel along the road"
The eunuch uses this question as a way of asking Philip for permission to be baptized. Alternate translation: "Please allow me to be baptized."
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"told the driver of the chariot to stop"
This is the end of the part of the story about Philip and the man from Ethiopia. The story of Philip ends at Caesarea.
The words "took Philip away" imply that the Spirit took forceful, physical action, perhaps a miracle that moved Philip in an instant. The angel probably did not just suggest or even command that Philip leave the eunuch and go elsewhere.
"the eunuch did not see Philip again"
There was no indication of Philip's traveling between where he baptized the Ethiopian and Azotus. He just suddenly disappeared along the road to Gaza and reappeared at the town of Azotus.
This refers to the area around the town of Azotus.
"to all the cities in that region"
No one knows for sure who first started calling believers "followers of the Way." This is probably what the believers called themselves, because the Bible often speaks of a person living his life as if that person were walking on a path or "way." If this is true, the believers were "following the way of the Lord" by living in a way that pleased God.
The "letters" Paul asked for were probably legal papers that permitted him to put Christians in prison. The synagogue leaders in Damascus would have obeyed the letter because it was written by the high priest. If the Romans had seen the letter, they also would have allowed Saul to persecute the Christians, because they permitted the Jews to do as they desired to people who broke their religious laws.
It is clear that Saul saw a light and that it was because of this light that he "fell upon the ground." Some people think that Saul knew that it was the Lord speaking to him without seeing a human form, because the Bible often speaks of God as being light and living in light. Other people think that later in his life he was able to say, "I have seen the Lord Jesus" because it was a human form that he saw here.
Verses 1-2 give background information telling us what Saul has been doing since the stoning of Stephen.
The story shifts back to Saul and his salvation.
The noun "murder" can be translated as a verb. Alternate translation: "still speaking threats, even to murder the disciples"
Verses 1-2 give background information telling us what Saul has been doing since the stoning of Stephen. Here the word "him" refers to the high priest and "he" refers to Saul.
This refers to the people in the synagogues. Alternate translation: "for the people in the synagogues" or "for the leaders in the synagogues"
"when he found people" or "if he found people"
"who followed the teachings of Jesus Christ"
This term appears to have been a title for Christianity at that time.
"he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem." Paul's purpose can be made clear by adding "so that the Jewish leaders could judge and punish them"
After the high priest gave Saul the letters, Saul left for Damascus.
Saul left Jerusalem and now travels to Damascus.
This is an expression that marks a change in the story to show something different is about to happen.
"a light from heaven shone all around him"
Possible meanings are 1) out of heaven, where God lives or 2) out of the sky. The first meaning is preferable. Use that meaning if your language has a separate word for it.
Possible meanings are that 1) "Saul threw himself to the ground and heard" or 2) "the light caused Saul to fall to the ground, and he heard" or 3) "Saul fell to the ground the way one who faints falls, and he heard"
This rhetorical question communicates a rebuke to Saul. Alternate translation: "You are persecuting me!" or "Stop persecuting me!"
Every occurrence of the word "you" here is singular.
Saul was not acknowledging that Jesus is the Lord. He uses that title because he understood that he spoke to someone of supernatural power.
"get up and go into the city Damascus"
This can be stated in the active form. Alternate translation: "someone will tell you"
This can be stated as a new sentence. Alternate translation: "stood speechless. They heard the voice, but they did not see anyone"
"but they saw no one" or "but they did not see anyone." Apparently only Saul experienced the light.
This implies that he had closed his eyes because the light was too bright.
"he could not see anything." Saul was blind.
"was blind" or "could not see anything"
It is not stated whether he chose not to eat or drink as a form of worship, or if he had no appetite because he was too distressed from his situation. It is preferable not to specify the reason.
The story of Saul continues, and Luke introduces another man named Ananias. This is not the same Ananias who died earlier in Acts [Acts 5:3]
This introduces Ananias as a new character.
"Ananias said"
"go to Straight Street"
This Judas was not the disciple who had betrayed Jesus. This Judas was owner of a house in Damascus where Saul was staying.
"a man from the city of Tarsus named Saul" or "Saul of Tarsus"
This was a symbol of giving a spiritual blessing to Saul.
"he might regain his ability to see"
Here "holy people" refers to Christians. Alternate translation: "the people in Jerusalem who believe in you"
It is implied that the extent of the power and authority granted Saul was limited to the Jewish people at this point in time.
Putting someone in bonds is a metonym for arresting that person. Alternate translation: "arrest"
Here "your name" refers to Jesus.
"chosen instrument" refers to something that is set apart for service. Alternate translation: "I have chosen him to serve me"
This is an expression for identifying or speaking out for Jesus. Alternate translation: "in order that he might speak about me"
This is an expression meaning "for telling people about me."
The word "you" here is singular and refers to Saul.
Ananias goes to the house where Saul is staying. After Saul is healed, the story shifts from Ananias back to Saul.
It may be helpful to state that Ananias went to the house before he entered into it. Alternate translation: "So Ananias went, and after he found the house where Saul was, he entered it"
Ananias put his hands on Saul. This was a symbol of giving a blessing to Saul.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "so that you might see again and that the Holy Spirit might fill you"
"something that appeared like fish scales fell"
"he was able to see again"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he got up and Ananias baptized him"
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Here the first "he" refers to Saul. The second "he" refers to Jesus, the Son of God.
This is an important title for Jesus.
Here "him" and "He" refer to Saul.
The word "All" is a generalization. Alternate translation: "Those who heard him" or "Many who heard him"
This is a rhetorical and negative question that emphasizes that Saul was indeed the man who had persecuted the believers. Alternate translation: "This is the man who destroyed those in Jerusalem who called on this name Jesus!"
Here "name" refers to Jesus. Alternate translation: "the name of Jesus"
They were distressed in the sense that they could not find a way to refute Saul's arguments that Jesus was the Christ.
The word "him" in this section refers to Saul.
This refers to the leaders of the Jews. Alternate translation: "the Jewish leaders"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "But someone told their plan to Saul" or "But Saul learned about their plan"
This city had a wall surrounding it. People could normally only enter and exit the city through the gates.
people who believed Saul's message about Jesus and were following his teaching
"used ropes to lower him in a large basket through an opening in the wall"
Here the words "he" and "him" refer to Saul.
Here "they were all" is a generalization, but it is possible that it refers to every person. Alternate translation: "but they were afraid of him"
Here "him" refers to Saul and "he" refers to Barnabas.
This is a way of saying he preached or taught the gospel message of Jesus Christ without fear. Alternate translation: "had openly preached the message about Jesus"
Here the word "He" refers to Saul, and the word "them" probably refers to the apostles and other disciples in Jerusalem. This is an idiom meaning that Paul was able to associate freely with the believers in Jerusalem.
Possible meanings are 1) this simply refers to the Lord Jesus and tells who Paul spoke about. Alternate translation: "about the Lord Jesus" or 2) "name" is a metonym for authority. Alternate translation: "under the authority of the Lord Jesus" or "with the authority that the Lord Jesus gave him"
Saul tried to reason with the Jews who spoke Greek.
Here the words "the brothers" refer to the believers in Jerusalem.
The phrase "brought him down" is used here because Caesarea is lower in elevation than Jerusalem.
Caesarea was a seaport. They brothers probably sent Saul to Tarsus by ship.
Verse 31 is a statement that gives an update on the church's growth.
This is the first use of the singular "church" to refer to more than one local congregation. Here it refers to all the believers in all the groups throughout Israel.
"lived peacefully." This means the persecution that started with the murder of Stephen was finished.
The agent was either God or the Holy Spirit. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God helped them grow" or "the Holy Spirit built them up"
"Walking" here is a metaphor for "living." Alternate translation: "living in obedience to the Lord" or "continuing to honor the Lord"
"with the Holy Spirit strengthening and encouraging them"
Here the story shifts from Saul to a new part of the story about Peter.
This phrase is used to mark a new part of the story.
This is an generalization for Peter's visiting the believers in many places in the region of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria.
The phrase "came down" is used here because Lydda is lower in elevation than the other places where he was traveling.
Lydda is a city located about 18 kilometers southeast of Joppa. This city is called Lod in the Old Testament and in modern Israel.
Peter was not intentionally searching for a paralyzed person, but happened upon him. Alternate translation: "There Peter met a man"
This introduces Aeneas as a new character in the story.
This is background information about Aeneas.
This means he was unable to walk. He probably was unable to move any part of his body below his waist.
"roll up your mat"
This is a generalization referring to many of the people there. Alternate translation: "those who lived in Lydda and in Sharon" or "many people who lived in Lydda and Sharon"
The city of Lydda was located in the Plain of Sharon.
It may be helpful to state that they saw that he was healed. Alternate translation: "saw the man whom Peter had healed"
Here "turned to the Lord" is a metaphor for starting to obey the Lord. Alternate translation: "and they repented of their sins and started obeying the Lord"
Verses 36 and 37 give background information about the woman named Tabitha.
Luke continues the story with a new event about Peter.
This introduces a new part in the story.
Tabitha is her name in the Aramaic language, and Dorcas is her name in the Greek language. Both names mean "gazelle." Alternate translation: "Tabitha, which in the Greek language was Dorcas. This woman"
"doing many good things and performed merciful deeds"
Verses 36 and 37 give background information about the woman named Tabitha.
This refers to the time when Peter was in Joppa. This can be stated. Alternate translation: "It came about while Peter was nearby"
This was washing to prepare for her burial.
This was a temporary display of the body during the funeral process.
"the disciples sent two men to Peter"
"to the upstairs room where Dorcas' body was lying"
It is possible that all the widows of the town were there since it was not a large town.
women whose husbands had died and therefore needed help
"while she was still alive with the disciples"
"told them all to leave the room." Peter had everyone leave so he could be alone to pray for Tabitha.
Peter took hold of her hand and helped her to sit up in the bed and then stand up on the floor.
The widows were possibly also believers but are mentioned specifically because Tabitha was so important to them.
The story of Tabitha ends in verse 42. Verse 43 tells us what happens to Peter after the story ends.
This refers to the miracle of Peter's raising Tabitha from the dead. It can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "People throughout all Joppa heard about this matter"
"believed in the gospel of the Lord Jesus"
The story of Tabitha ends in verse 42. Verse 43 tells us what happens to Peter after the story ends.
"It came about that." This introduces the beginning of the next event in the story.
"a man named Simon who made leather from animal skins"
The Jews believed that they could become unclean in God's sight if they visited or ate food with a Gentile. This was because the Pharisees had made a law against it because they wanted to keep people from eating foods that the law of Moses said were unclean. The law of Moses did say that some foods were unclean, but it did not say that God's people could not visit or eat with Gentiles. (See: clean and lawofmoses)
The Holy Spirit "fell on" those who were listening to Peter. This showed the Jewish believers that Gentiles could receive the word of God and receive the Holy Spirit just as the Jewish believers had. After that, the Gentiles were baptized.
The writer begins to give background information about Cornelius.
This is the beginning of the part of the story about Cornelius.
This was a way of introducing a new person to this part of the historical account.
"from Caesarea whose name was Cornelius. He was an officer in charge of 60 soldiers from the Italian Company of Soldiers, in the Roman army"
The writer finishes giving background information about Cornelius.
a man who wanted to do what God expected of him
worshiped God with deep respect and awe
The word "constantly" is a generalization. Alternate translation: "prayed to God often" or "he prayed to God regularly"
"three o'clock in the afternoon." This was the normal afternoon prayer time for Jews.
"Cornelius clearly saw"
It is implied that his gifts and prayers had been accepted by God. Alternate translation: "God is pleased by your prayers and alms. They have gone up ... to him"
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a person who makes leather from animal skins
"When Cornelius' vision of the angel had ended."
a soldier who wanted to do what God expected of him. See how you translated "devout" in Acts 10:2.
Cornelius explained his vision to his two servants and to one of his soldiers.
"sent two of his two servants and the one soldier to Joppa."
Here the word "they" refers to Cornelius' two servants and the soldier under Cornelius' command (Acts 10:7).
The story shifts away from Cornelius to tell us what God is doing with to Peter.
"around noon"
The roofs of the houses were flat, and people often did many different activities on them.
"before the people finished cooking the food"
This metaphor means that Peter went into the trance without expecting it or desiring it. Alternate translation: "he went into a trance"
Peter saw things in his mind, not with his physical eyes.
This was the beginning of Peter's vision. It can be a new sentence.
The container holding the animals had the appearance of a large square piece of cloth.
"with its four corners suspended" or "with its four corners higher than the rest of it"
snakes and insects, as opposed to "four-footed animals"
The person speaking is not specified. The "voice" was probably God, although it could possibly have been an angel from God.
"I will not do that"
It is implied that some of the "four-footed animals and things that crawled on the earth, and birds of the sky"
This refers to the animals in the sheet.
If God is the speaker, he is referring to himself in the third person. Alternate translation: "What I, God, have made clean"
Possible meanings are 1) Peter heard the words "What God has made clean, you must not call defiled" three times or 2) a total of three times the sheet came down from heaven and Peter heard and responded to the voice. It would be best to translate without adding information here.
This means that Peter was having difficulty understanding what the vision meant.
The word "behold" here alerts us to pay attention to the surprising information that follows, in this case, the two men standing at the gate.
"stood before the gate to the house." It is implied that this house had a wall with a gate one would use to enter the property.
This happened before they arrived at the house. This could be stated earlier in the verse, as the UDB does.
Cornelius' men remained outside the gate while asking about Peter.
"wondering about the meaning of the vision"
"the Holy Spirit"
"Pay attention, because what I am about to say is both true and important: three"
Some ancient texts have a different number of men.
"go down from the roof of the house"
It would be natural for Peter not to want to go with them, because they were strangers and they were Gentiles.
"I am the man you are looking for"
The word "They" here refer to the two servants and the soldier from Cornelius (Acts 10:7).
This can be divided into several sentences and stated in active form as the UDB does.
worships God with deep respect and awe
This number of people is exaggerated with the word "all" to emphasize how widely this was known among the Jews.
The word "them" here refer to the two servants and the soldier from Cornelius (Acts 10:7).
The journey to Caesarea was too long for them to begin that afternoon.
"be his guests"
This refers to believers who lived in Joppa.
This was the next day after they left Joppa. The journey to Caesarea took longer than one day.
"Cornelius expected them"
"when Peter entered the house"
"he knelt down and put his face close to Peter's feet." He did this to honor Peter.
He purposely did this to show that he was worshiping.
Peter was rebuking Cornelius mildly for worshiping Peter. Alternate translation: "Do not worship me! I am only a man, as you are"
The word "him" here refers to Cornelius, and "he" refers to Peter.
Peter addresses the people who are gathered in Cornelius' house.
"many Gentile people gathered together." It is implied that these people Cornelius had invited were Gentiles.
Here the words "You" and "yourselves" include Cornelius as well as the Gentiles who were present and so are plural.
"it is forbidden for a Jewish man." This refers to the Jewish religious law.
people who are not Jews
Here both instances of "you" include Cornelius as well as the Gentiles who were present and so are plural.
In verses 31 and 32 Cornelius quotes what the angel had said to him when he appeared to him at the ninth hour. The words "you" and "your" are all singular. The word "we" here does not include Peter.
Cornelius responds to Peter's question.
Cornelius is referring to the day before the third night before he is speaking to Peter. Biblical culture counts the current day, so the day before three nights ago is "four days ago." Current Western culture does not count the current day, so many Western translations read, "three days ago."
Some ancient authorities say "fasting and praying" instead of simply "praying."
The normal afternoon time that the Jews pray to God.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God has heard your prayer"
"brought you to God's attention." This does not imply that God had forgotten.
"tell Simon who is also called Peter to come to you"
"right away"
This expression is a polite way of thanking Peter for coming. Alternate translation: "I certainly thank you for coming"
This refers to Cornelius and his family but not to Peter, so this is exclusive.
"present with God"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that the Lord has told you to say"
Peter begins speaking to everyone in the house of Cornelius.
"began to speak"
This means that what he is about to say is especially important to know.
"God does not favor certain people"
"he accepts anyone who fears him and does what is right"
to God
worships with deep respect and awe
All instances of "he" here refers to God.
Peter continues to talk to Cornelius and his guests.
Here "all" means "all people."
The word "all" is a generalization. Alternate translation: "throughout Judea" or "in many places in Judea"
"after John preached to the people to repent and then baptized them"
This long sentence, which begins in verse 36, can be shortened into several sentences as in the UDB.
The Holy Spirit and God's power are spoken of as if they are something that can be poured out onto a person.
The word "all" is a generalization. Alternate translation: "those who were oppressed by the devil" or "many people who were oppressed by the devil"
The idiom "was with him" means "was helping him."
The word "We" refer to Peter and the apostles and believers who were with Jesus when he was on earth, not to his hearers. The word "him" here refers to Jesus.
This refers mainly to Judea at that time.
This is another expression that refers to crucifixion. Alternate translation: "nailing him to a wooden cross"
Both instances of "him" refer to Jesus.
Here to raise up is an idiom for causing someone who has died to become alive again. Alternate translation: "God caused him to live again"
"the third day after he died"
"permitted many people to see him after he was raised from the dead"
The word "us" refers to Peter and the apostles and believers who were with Jesus when he was on earth, not to his hearers. The words "him" and "he" here refers to Jesus.
From among all those who have died. This expression describes all dead people together in the underworld.
Here the word "us" includes Peter and believers. It excludes his audience.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that God chose this Jesus"
This refers to people who are still living and people who have died. Alternate translation: "the people who are alive and the people who are dead"
Peter finishes his speech to everyone in the house of Cornelius, which he began in Acts 10:34.
"All the prophets testify about Jesus"
This could be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God will forgive the sins of everyone who believes in Jesus because of what Jesus has done"
Here "his name" refers to the actions of Jesus. His name means God who saves. Alternate translation: "through what Jesus has done for them"
Here the word "fell" indicates that the event happened suddenly. Alternate translation: "the Holy Spirit suddenly came"
Here "all" refers to all the Gentiles at the house who were listening to Peter.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God also poured out the Holy Spirit"
That is, the Holy Spirit himself was the gift.
The Holy Spirit is spoken of as if he were something that could be poured out upon people. It implies a generous amount. Alternate translation: "generously given"
"the free gift"
Here "also" refers to the fact that the Holy Spirit had already been given to the Jewish believers.
These were known spoken languages that caused the Jews to acknowledge that the Gentiles were indeed praising God.
Here "tongues" is a metonym for languages. Alternate translation: "speaking in other languages"
Peter uses this question to convince the Jewish Christians that the Gentile believers should be baptized. Alternate translation: "No one should keep water from these people! We should baptize them because they have received ... we!"
The words "he" and "him" refer to Peter.
This is the end of the part of the story about Cornelius.
It is implied that the Jewish Christians were the ones who would baptize them. Alternate translation: "Peter commanded the Gentile believers to allow the Jewish Christians to baptize them" or "Peter commanded the Jewish Christians to baptize them"
Here "in the name of Jesus Christ" expresses that the reason for their baptism was that they believed in Jesus. Alternate translation: "be baptized as believers in Jesus Christ"
Almost all of the first believers were Jewish. Luke writes in this chapter that many Gentiles started to believe in Jesus. They believed that the message about Jesus was true and so began to "receive the word of God." Some of the believers in Jerusalem did not believe that Gentiles could truly follow Jesus, so Peter went to them and told them what had happened to him and how he had seen the Gentiles receive the Word of God and receive the Holy Spirit.
This is the beginning of a new event in the story.
This marks a new part of the story.
The phrase "brothers" here refers to the believers in Judea.
"who were in the province of Judea"
This expression refers to the fact that the Gentiles believed the gospel message about Jesus. Alternate translation: "believed the message of God about Jesus"
Peter arrives in Jerusalem and begins talking to the Jews there.
Jerusalem was higher than almost any other place in Israel, so it was normal for Israelites to speak of coming up to Jerusalem and going down from it.
This is a reference to some of the Jews who believed that every believer must be circumcised. Alternate translation: "some Jewish believers in Jerusalem who wanted all followers of Christ to be circumcised"
The phrase "uncircumcised men" refers to Gentiles.
It was against Jewish tradition for Jews to eat with Gentiles.
Peter responds to the Jews by telling them about his vision and about what had happened at Cornelius' house.
Peter did not criticize the Jewish believers but reacted in a friendly, explanatory manner.
"exactly what happened"
Peter saw something that was only in his mind. It was not physical. His mind was not working in its usual way. See how you translated similar words in Acts 10:10.
The container holding the animals had the appearance of a large square piece of cloth. See how you translated this in Acts 10:11.
"with its four corners suspended" or "with its four corners higher than the rest of it." See how you translated this in Acts 10:11.
From Peter's response, it can be implied that the law of Moses commanded the Jews not to eat some of them. See how you translated a similar phrase in [Acts 10:12]
This probably refer to the animals people do not or cannot tame or control.
snakes and insects, as opposed to "four-footed animals." See how you translated this in Acts 10:12.
The person speaking is not specified. The "voice" was probably God, although it could possibly have been an angel from God. See how you translated "a voice" in [Acts 10:13]
"I will not do that." See how you translated this in Acts 10:14.
Apparently the animals in the sheet were animals which the Jewish law in the Old Testament forbade the Jews to eat. This can be said in a positive way. Alternate translation: "I have eaten only meat from holy and clean animals"
In the Old Testament Jewish law, a person became ritually "unclean" in various ways, such as eating certain forbidden animals.
This refers to the animals in the sheet.
Possible meanings are 1) Peter heard the words "What God has made clean, you must not call defiled" three times or 2) a total of three times the sheet came down from heaven and Peter heard and responded to the voice. It would be best to translate without adding information here. See how you translated "This happened three times" in Acts 10:16.
Here "we" refers to Peter and the believers in Joppa. It does not include his current audience in Jerusalem.
This word alerts us to the new people in the story. Your language may have a way of doing this.
"immediately" or "at that exact moment"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "someone had sent them"
"that I should not be concerned that they were Gentiles"
"These six brothers went with me to Caesarea"
"These six Jewish believers"
This refers to the house of Cornelius.
"Simon who is also called Peter." See how you translated the same phrase in Acts 10:32.
This refers to all the people in the household. Alternate translation: "everyone who lives in your house"
Here the word "us" refers to Peter, the other apostles, and all of the Jewish believers who had received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
This implies that Peter had not finished speaking but had intended to say more.
Peter leaves out some things to keep the story short. Alternate translation: "the Holy Spirit came on the Gentile believers, just as he came on the Jewish believers at Pentecost"
Peter is referring to the day of Pentecost.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God will baptize you with the Holy Spirit"
The word "them" refers to Cornelius and his Gentile guests and household. The word "us" refers to the speaker and his hearers and so is inclusive.
Peter finishes his speech (which he began in Acts 11:4) to the Jews about his vision and about what had happened at the house of Cornelius.
Peter uses this question to emphasize that he was only obeying God. Alternate translation: "Since God gave to them ... I decided that I could not oppose God!"
Peter refers to the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The word "they" refers to the Jewish believers to whom Peter spoke.
"they did not argue with Peter"
"God has given repentance that leads to life to the Gentiles also." Here "life" refers to eternal life. The abstract nouns "repentance" and "life" can be translated as the verbs "repent" and "live." Alternate translation: "God has also given the Gentiles the ability to repent and then live eternally" or "God has allowed the Gentiles also to repent and live eternally"
Luke tells about what happened to the believers who fled after the stoning of Stephen.
This introduces the new part of the story.
The Jews began persecuting Jesus's followers because Stephen had said and done things that the Jews did not like. Because of this persecution, many of Jesus's followers left Jerusalem and went to many different places.
"went in many different directions"
This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: "whom the Jews had been persecuting because of Stephen, and so had left Jerusalem, spread"
the persecution that happened because of what Stephen had said and done
The believers thought God's message was for the Jewish people, and not for the Gentiles.
These Greek-speaking people were Gentiles, not Jews. Alternate translation: "also spoke to Gentiles who spoke Greek"
God's hand signifies his powerful help. Alternate translation: "God was powerfully enabling those believers to preach effectively"
Here "turned to the Lord" is a metaphor for starting to obey the Lord. Alternate translation: "they repented of their sins and began to obey the Lord"
The word "he" refers to Barnabas. The word "they" refers to the believers of the church at Jerusalem.
Here "ears" refers to the believers' hearing about the event. Alternate translation: "the believers in the church"
The word "he" refers to Barnabas. The word "them" refers to the believers he met on his way to Antioch.
"saw how God acted kindly toward the believers"
"he kept on encouraging them"
"to remain faithful to the Lord" or "to continue to trust in the Lord"
Here the "heart" refers to a person's will and desire. Alternate translation: "with all their will" or "with complete commitment"
The word "he" refers to Barnabas.
The Holy Spirit controlled Barnabas as he obeyed the Holy Spirit.
Here "added" means they came to believe the same thing as the others. Alternate translation: "many more people also believed in the Lord"
"out to the city of Tarsus"
The word "he" refers to Barnabas and "him" to Saul.
It probably took some time and effort for Barnabas to locate Saul.
This begins a new event in the story.
"Barnabas and Saul gathered together with the church"
This implies that it was other people who called the believers Christians. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "People in Antioch were the fist to call the disciples Christians"
Here Luke tells background information about a prophecy in Antioch.
This word is used here to mark a break in the main story-line.
Jerusalem was higher in elevation than Antioch, so it was normal for Israelites to speak of going up to Jerusalem or going down from it.
"whose name was Agabus"
"the Holy Spirit enabled him to prophesy"
"a great shortage of food would happen"
This was a generalization referring to the part of the world that they were interested in. Alternate translation: "all over the inhabited world" or "throughout the Roman Empire"
Luke's audience would know that Claudius was the emperor of Rome at that time. Alternate translation: "when Claudius was the Roman emperor"
This word means marks an event that happened because of something else that happened first. In this case, they sent money because of Agabus' prophesy or the famine.
The richer people sent more; the poorer people sent less.
"the believers in Judea"
The words "They" and "they" refer to the believers in the church in Antioch (Acts 11:27).
The hand is a synecdoche for the action of the whole person. Alternate translation: "by having Barnabas and Saul take it to them"
Chapter 12 tells what happened to King Herod while Barnabas was bringing Saul back from Tarsus and they were delivering money from Antioch Jerusalem (11:25-30). He killed many of the leaders of the church, and he put Peter in prison. After God helped Peter escape the prison, Herod killed the prison guards, and then God killed Herod. In the last verse of the chapter, Luke tells how Barnabas and Saul return to Antioch.
The "word of God" is spoken of as if it were a living thing that could grow and become many.
This is background information about Herod's killing James.
This begins the new persecution, first of James's death and then of Peter's imprisonment and then release.
This begins a new part of the story.
This refers to the time of the famine.
This means Herod had the believers arrested. See how you translated this in [Acts 4:3]
Only James and Peter are specified, which implies that these were leaders of the church in Jerusalem.
"in order to cause the believers to suffer"
This tells the manner in which James was killed.
Possible meanings are 1) Herod himself killed James or 2) Herod ordered someone to kill James. Alternate translation: "Herod gave the order and they killed James"
Here the word "he" refers to Herod (Acts 12:1).
"When Herod realized that putting James to death pleased the Jewish leaders"
"made the Jewish leaders happy"
"Herod did this" or "This happened"
This refers to the Jewish religious feast time during the Passover season. Alternate translation: "the festival when the Jewish people ate bread without yeast"
"four groups of soldiers." Each squad had four soldiers that guarded Peter, one group at a time. The groups divided the 24 hour day into four shifts. Each time two soldiers would have been at his side and the other two soldiers by the entrance.
"Herod planned to judge Peter in the presence of the people" or "Herod planned to judge Peter before the Jewish people"
This implies that the soldiers continually guarded Peter in prison. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "So the soldiers guarded Peter in the prison"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the group of believers in Jerusalem earnestly prayed to God for him"
continuously and with dedication
That Herod planned to execute him can be clarified. Alternate translation: "The happened on the day before Herod was going to bring Peter out from prison to put him on trial and then to execute him"
"tied with two chains" or "fastened with two chains." Each chain would have been attached to one of the two guards who stayed beside Peter.
"were guarding the prison doors"
The words "him" and "his" refer to Peter.
This word alerts us to pay attention to the surprising information that follows.
"next to him" or "beside him"
"in the prison room"
"The angel tapped Peter" or "The angel poked Peter." Peter was evidently sleeping deeply enough that this was required to wake him.
The angel caused the chains to fall from Peter without touching them.
Peter had probably loosened his belt and taken off his sandals so he could go to sleep. The angel was telling Peter to get ready to leave the cell.
"Peter did what the angel told him to do" or "Peter obeyed"
Here the word "He" refers to Peter. The words "they" and "They" refer to Peter and the angel.
"He did not understand"
This could be changed to active form. Alternate translation: "the actions of the angel were real" or "what the angel did truly happened"
It is implied that the soldiers were not able to see Peter and the angel as they walked by. Alternate translation: "The first and second guards did not see them as they passed by, and then"
"had walked by"
The word "guard" is understood from the previous phrase. Alternate translation: "and the second guard"
"Peter and the angel arrived at the iron gate"
"that opened to the city" or "that went from the prison to the city"
Here "by itself" means neither Peter nor the angel opened it. Alternate translation: "the gate swung open for them" or "the gate opened itself for them"
"walked along a street"
"left Peter suddenly" or "suddenly disappeared"
This is an idiom. Alternate translation: "When Peter became fully awake and alert" or "When Peter became aware that what had happened was real"
Here "the hand of Herod" refers to "Herod's hold" or "Herod's plans." Alternate translation: "brought me from the harm Herod had planned for me"
"rescued me"
Here "the people of the Jews" probably referred mainly to the Jewish leaders. Alternate translation: "all that the Jewish leaders thought would happen to me"
He became aware that God had rescued him.
John was also called Mark. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "John, whom people also called Mark"
"Peter knocked." Tapping on the door was a normal Jewish custom to let others know you wish to visit them. You may need to change this to fit your culture.
"at the outer door" or "at the door of the entrance from the street to the courtyard"
"came to the gate to ask who was knocking"
Here all instances of "she" refer to the servant girl Rhoda (Acts 12:13).
"because she was so joyful" or "being overly excited"
"did not open the gate" or "forgot to open the gate"
You may prefer to say "went running into the room in the house"
"she told them" or "she said"
Here the words "she" and "her" both refer to the servant girl Rhoda (Acts 10:13), and the words "they" and "They" refer to the people who were inside praying (Acts 10:12).
The people not only did not believe her, but rebuked her by saying she was crazy. Alternate translation: "You are crazy"
"she insisted that what she said was true"
"They answered"
"What you have seen is Peter's angel." Some Jews believed in guardian angels and may have thought that Peter's angel had come to them.
Here both instances of "they" refer to the people in the house. The word "him" refers to Peter.
The word "continued" means that Peter kept knocking the entire time those inside were talking.
Here both instances of "them" refer to the people who were inside praying (Acts 12:12).
"Tell these things"
"the other believers"
This word is used to mark a break in the story-line. Time has passed; it is now the next day.
"in the morning"
This phrase is used to emphasize what really happened. This could be said in a positive way. Alternate translation: "there was a great disturbance among the soldiers over what had happened to Peter"
The abstract noun "disturbance" can be expressed with the words "disturbed" or "upset." Alternate translation: "the soldiers were very disturbed about what had happened to Peter"
The word "him" here refers to Peter, and both instances of "he" refers to Herod.
"After Herod searched for Peter and could not find him"
Possible meanings are that 1) "Herod" here is a metonym for his soldiers, that is, when Herod heard Peter was missing, he sent other soldiers to search the prison, or 2) when Herod heard Peter was missing, he went himself to search the prison.
It was the normal punishment for the Roman government to kill the guards if their prisoner escaped.
The phrase "went down" is used here because Caesarea is lower in elevation than Judea.
Luke continues with another event in Herod's life.
This word is used here to mark the next event in the story.
This phrase translates a word that speaks of a person being so angry that he is ready to kill other people.
Here the word "They" is a generalization. It is unlikely that all the people of Tyre and Sidon went to Herod. Alternate translation: "Men representing the people of Tyre and Sidon went with one purpose to talk with Herod"
This phrase translates a word that speaks of people who agree with each other and who work together to accomplish a common purpose.
"after these men persuaded Blastus"
a man's name
This phrase refers to a person who assists the king in his personal life, not necessarily his work as ruler.
"these men requested peace"
They probably purchased this food. Alternate translation: "the people of Tyre and Sidon bought all their food from the people that Herod ruled"
It is implied that Herod restricted this supply of food because he was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon.
This was probably the day on which Herod agreed to meet with the representatives. Alternate translation: "On the day when Herod agreed to meet them"
expensive clothing that would demonstrate he was the king
This was where Herod formally addressed people who came to see him.
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This is the end of the part of the story about Herod.
"Right away an angel" or "While the people were praising Herod, an angel"
"afflicted Herod" or "caused Herod to become very ill"
Herod let those people worship him instead of telling them to worship God.
Here "worms" refers to worms inside the body, probably intestinal worms. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "worms ate Herod's insides and he died"
The word of God is spoken of as if it were a living plant able to grow and reproduce. Alternate translation: "the message of God spread to more places and more people believed in him"
"the message God sent about Jesus"
This verse continues the history from [11:30]
This refers back to when they brought money from the believers at Antioch in [Acts 11:29-30]
They went back to Antioch from Jerusalem. Alternate translation: "Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch"
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry that is quoted from the Old Testament in 13:33-35 and 13:41.
This chapter is where the second half of the Book of Acts begins. Luke writes more about Paul than about Peter. Luke also writes about the believers preaching to the Gentiles rather than to the Jews.
The Bible often speaks of unrighteous people, people who do not do what pleases God, as if they were walking around in darkness. It speaks of light as if it were what enables those sinful people to become righteous, to understand what they are doing wrong and begin to obey God. The Jews considered all Gentiles as walking in darkness, but Paul and Barnabas spoke of telling the Gentiles about Jesus as if they were going to bring them physical light. (See: and righteous)
Verse 1 gives background information about the people in the church at Antioch.
Luke begins to tell about the mission trips on which the church at Antioch send Barnabas and Saul.
"At that time in the church at Antioch"
These are men's names.
Manaen was probably Herod's playmate or close friend while they were growing up.
The words "they" refers to the other three leaders (Acts 13:1), not including Barnabas and Saul, and it could include other believers.
"Appoint Barnabas and Saul to serve me"
The verb here means that God chose them to do this work.
The words "they" and "their" refer to the other three leaders (Acts 13:1), not including Barnabas and Saul, and they could include other believers.
"laid their hands on these men whom God had set apart for his service." This act showed that the leaders agreed that the Holy Spirit had called Barnabas and Saul to do this work.
"sent those men off" or "sent those men off to do the work the Holy Spirit told them to do"
Here the word "they" refers to Barnabas and Saul.
This word marks an event that happened because of a previous event. In this case, the previous event is Barnabas and Saul being set apart by the Holy Spirit.
The phrase "went down" is used here because Seleucia is lower in elevation than Antioch.
a city by the sea
Here the words "They" and "their" refer to Barnabas and Saul.
The city of Salamis was on Cyprus Island.
"Word of God" here is a synecdoche for "message of God." Alternate translation: "proclaimed the message of God"
Possible meanings are that 1) there were multiple Jewish synagogues in the city of Salamis where Barnabas and Saul preached or 2) Barnabas and Saul started at the synagogue at Salamis and continued to preach in all the synagogues they found while they traveled around the Island of Cyprus.
"John went with them and was helping them"
John Mark
"helper"
Here both instances of "they" refers to Paul, Silas, and John Mark.
They crossed from one side of the island to the other and shared the gospel message in each town they passed through.
a major city on Cyprus island where the proconsul lived
Here "found" means they came upon him without looking for him. Alternate translation: "they met" or "they came upon"
"a particular person who practiced witchcraft" or "a person who practiced supernatural magic arts"
"Bar-Jesus" means "Son of Jesus." There is no relation between this man and Jesus Christ. "Jesus" was a common name at that time.
Here the word "he" refers to Sergius Paulus, the proconsul.
"was often with" or "was often in the company of"
This was a governor in charge of a Roman province. Alternate translation: "governor"
This is background information about Sergius Paulus.
The phrase "this man" refers to Sergius Paulus.
"he wanted to hear the word of God"
Here the word "them" refers to Paul, Silas, and John Mark, and "he" refers to Elymas.
This was Bar Jesus, who was also called "the magician"
"that was what he was called in Greek"
"resisted them by trying to turn" or "attempted to stop them by trying to turn"
Here "to turn ... away from" is a metaphor for convincing someone to not do something. Alternate translation: "attempted to persuade the governor not to believe the gospel message"
The word "him" refers to the magician Elymas, who is also called Bar Jesus (Acts 13:6-8).
While on the island of Paphos, Paul begins to talk to Elymas.
"Saul" was his Jewish name, and "Paul" was his Roman name. Since he was speaking to a Roman official, he used his Roman name. Alternate translation: "Saul, who now called himself Paul"
"looked at him intensely"
Paul is saying the man is acting like the devil. Alternate translation: "You are like the devil" or "You act like the devil"
"you are always intent in causing others to believe what is not true using falsehood and are always doing what is wrong"
The word in this context means laziness and lack of diligence in following God's law.
Paul is grouping Elymas with the devil. Just as the devil is an enemy of God and is against righteousness, so also was Elymas.
Paul uses this question to rebuke Elymas for opposing God. Alternate translation: "You are always saying that the truth about the Lord God is false!"
Here "straight paths" refer to the ways that are true. Alternate translation: "the true ways of the Lord"
The words "you," "he," and "him" refer to Elymas the magician.
Paul finishes speaking to Elymas.
Here "hand' represents the power of God and "upon you" implies punishment. Alternate translation: "The Lord will punish you"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God will make you blind"
Elymas will be so completely blind that he not even be able to see the sun. Alternate translation: "You will not even see the sun"
"for a period of time" or "until the time appointed by God"
"the eyes of Elymas became blurry and then dark" or "Elymas started seeing unclearly and then he could not see anything"
"Elymas wandered around" or "Elymas started feeling around and"
Both instances of "he" refer to the proconsul.
A proconsul was a governor in charge of a Roman province. Alternate translation: "the governor"
"he believed in Jesus"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the teaching about the Lord amazed him"
Verse 13 gives background information about this part of the story. "Paul and his friends" were Barnabas and John Mark
This is a new part of the story about Paul in Antioch in Pisidia.
This marks the beginning of a new part of the story.
"traveled by sailboat from Paphos"
"arrived in Perga, which is in Pamphylia"
"But John Mark left Paul and Barnabas"
Verse 14 continues to give background information about this part of the story. The word "they" refers to Paul and his friends Barnabas and John Mark
"the city of Antioch in the district of Pisidia." This is different from the city of Antioch that Paul and Barnabas left at the beginning of the chapter.
The word "them" refers to Paul and his friends Barnabas and John Mark.
The "law and the prophets" refer to parts of the Jewish scriptures which were read. Alternate translation: "After someone read from the books of the law and the writings of the prophets"
"told someone to say to them" or "asked someone to say to them"
The term "brothers" is here used by the people in the synagogue to refer to Paul and Barnabas as fellow Jews.
"if you want to say anything to encourage us"
or "exhortation"
"please speak it" or "please tell it to us"
The words "he" and "his" refer to Paul. The word "you" is plural.
Paul begins his speech to those in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch. He begins by talking about things that happened in Israel's history.
This could refer to moving his hands as a signal that he was ready to speak. Alternate translation: "moved his hands to show that he was about to speak"
This refers to Gentiles who had converted to Judaism. "you who are not Israelites but who worship God"
"God, listen to me" or "God, listen to what I am about to say"
The word "our" includes the speaker and the hears and so is plural. The words "they" and "them" refer to "the people." The word "he" refers to God.
"The God the people of Israel worship"
"our ancestors"
"caused the people to become very numerous"
This refers to God's mighty power. Alternate translation: "with great power"
"out from the land of Egypt"
"God tolerated the people of Israel." This means "he tolerated them." Some versions have have a different word that means "he took care of them." Alternate translation: "God endured their disobedience" or "God took care of them"
Here both instances of "he" refer to God. The word "our" refers to Paul and his audience.
Here the word "nations" refers to different people groups and not to lands with geographical boundaries.
The word "them" refers to the people of Israel.
"took more than 450 years to accomplish"
"until the time of the prophet Samuel"
king for forty years
"their king for forty years" or "king, and he reigned over them for forty years"
The quotation here is from Old Testament.
This expression means God caused Saul to stop being king. Alternate translation: "rejected Saul from being king"
"God chose David to be their king"
"the king of Israel" or "the king over the Israelites"
"God gave this testimony about David:"
"I have observed that David ... is"
This expression means "a man who wants what I want."
"From David's descendants." This is placed at the beginning of the sentence to emphasize that the savior had to be one of David's descendants (Acts 13:22).
This refers to the people of Israel. Alternate translation: "gave to the people of Israel"
"just as God promised he would do"
You can translate the word "repentance" as the verb "repent." Alternate translation: "that all the people of Israel who wanted to repent of their sin needed to have him baptize them"
John asked this question to compel the people to think about who he was. Alternate translation: "Think about who I am."
John was referring to the Messiah, whom they were expecting to come. Alternate translation: "I am not the Messiah"
This emphasizes the importance of what he will say next.
This also refers to the Messiah. Alternate translation: "The Messiah will soon come"
"I am not worthy even to untie his sandals." The Messiah is so much greater than John that he did not even feel worthy do the lowest job for him.
Here the word "us" includes Paul and his entire audience in the synagogue.
Possible meanings are 1) this is a list with three items, and Paul is addressing three groups of people together, or 2) the phrases "children of the offspring of Abraham" and "those among you who fear God" refer to the two groups of people whom Paul addresses as "brothers."
These words refer specifically to Gentiles who worshiped in the synagogue and obeyed much of the law of Moses but had not been circumcised.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God has sent the message about this salvation"
The word "salvation" can be translated with the verb "save." Alternate translation: "that God will save people"
The word "they" and "their" refers to the Jews who lived in Jerusalem.
"did not realize that this man Jesus was the one whom God had sent to save them"
Here the word "voices" is a metonym for the message that the voices spoke. Alternate translation: "the writings of the prophets" or "the messages of the prophets"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "which someone reads"
Here the word "they" refers to the Jewish people and their religious leaders in Jerusalem. The word him" here refers to Jesus.
It is implied that they found no legal reason for Jesus to be put to death. Alternate translation: "they found no legal reason for Jesus to be killed" or "they found no legal reason to kill Jesus"
"When they did to Jesus all the things that the prophets said would happen to him"
It may be helpful to explicitly say Jesus died before this happened. Alternate translation: "they killed Jesus and then took him down from the cross after he died"
"from the cross." This was another way people at that time referred to the cross.
"But" indicates a strong contrast between what the people did and what God did.
"raised him from among those who were dead." To be with "the dead" means to be dead. To raise up is an idiom for causing someone who has died to become alive again. Alternate translation: "caused him to live again"
From among all those who have died. This expression describes all dead people together in the underworld. To raise someone from among them speaks of making that person alive again.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "The disciples who traveled with Jesus ... Jeruaslem saw him for many days"
We know from other writings that this period was 40 days. Translate "many days" with a term that would be appropriate for that length of time.
"are now testifying to the people about Jesus" or "are now telling the people about Jesus"
This word marks an event that happened because of previous event. In this case, the previous event is God's raising Jesus from the dead.
"our ancestors." Paul is still speaking to the Jews and Gentile converts in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia. These were the physical ancestors of the Jews, and the spiritual ancestors of the converts.
You may need to rearrange the parts of this sentence, which begins in verse 32. "God has fulfilled for us, their children, the promise that he made to our fathers, by raising up Jesus"
"for us, who are the children of our ancestors." Paul is still speaking to the Jews and Gentile converts in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia. These ancestors were the physical ancestors of the Jews and the spiritual ancestors of the converts.
Here to raise up is an idiom for causing someone who has died to become alive again. Alternate translation: "by making Jesus alive again"
"This is what was written in the second Psalm"
"Psalm 2"
These are important titles that describe the relationship between Jesus and God.
The quotation is from the prophet Isaiah.
"God has spoken in this way that he raised him up from the dead never to return to decay" "God used these words to say that he raised him up from the dead, and so he would never die again"
All those who have died. This expression describes all dead people together in the underworld. To come back from among them speaks of becoming alive again.
"and he will never die again"
God has said using these words
"certain blessings"
Paul's audience would have understood that this Psalm refers to the Messiah. Alternate translation: "In another Psalm of David, he also says about the Messiah"
"David also says." David is the author of Psalm 16, from which this quotation is taken.
The phrase "see decay" is a metonym for "decay." Alternate translation: "You will not allow the body of your Holy One to rot"
David is speaking to God here.
"during his lifetime"
"did what God wanted him to do" or "did what pleased God"
This was a polite way to refer to death. Alternate translation: "he died"
"was buried with his ancestors who had died"
The phrase "his body experienced decay" is a less direct way of saying "his body decayed" or "his body rotted."
"Jesus, whom God raised up, experienced"
Here to raise up is an idiom for causing someone who has died to become alive again. Alternate translation: "God caused to live again"
The phrase "experienced no decay" is a way to say "his body did not decay." Alternate translation: "did not rot"
"know this" or "this is important for you to know"
Paul uses this term because they are his fellow Jews and followers of Judaism. They are not Christian believers at this point. Alternate translation: "my fellow Israelites and other friends"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that we proclaim to you that your sins can be forgiven through Jesus"
The abstract noun "forgiveness" can be translated with the verb "to forgive." Alternate translation: "that God can forgive your sins"
"But God makes righteous everyone who believes in this man"
Here "this man" refers to Jesus Christ.
It is implied that the thing they should be careful about is Paul's message. Alternate translation: "give close attention to the things I have said"
"so that what the prophets spoke about"
In his message to the people in the synagogue, Paul quotes the prophet Habakkuk. Here the word "I" refers to God.
Paul finishes his speech in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, which he began in Acts 13:16.
"you who feel contempt" or "you who ridicule"
"be amazed" or "be shocked"
"then die"
"am doing something" or "am doing a great deed"
"during your lifetime"
"days. I am doing something that"
"even if someone tells you about it"
"When Paul and Barnabas were leaving"
"begged them to"
Here "words" refers to the message that Paul had spoken. Alternate translation: "this same message"
Possible meanings are 1) this restates "As Paul and Barnabas left" in verse 42 or 2) Paul and Barnabas left the meeting before it ended and this occurs later.
These were non-Jewish people who converted to Judaism.
"and Paul and Barnabas were speaking to those people and persuading them"
It is implied that they believed Paul's message that Jesus was the Messiah. Alternate translation: "to continue to trust that God kindly forgives people's sins because of what Jesus did"
The "city" represents the people in the city. This phrase is used to show the great response to the Lord's word. Alternate translation: "almost all the people of the city were"
It is implied that Paul and Barnabas were the ones who spoke the word of the Lord. Alternate translation: "to hear Paul and Barnabas speak about the Lord Jesus"
Here the word "him" refers to Paul.
Here "Jews" represents Jewish leaders. Alternate translation: "the Jewish leaders"
Here envy is spoken of as if it were something that could fill up a person. Alternate translation: "became very envious"
"contradicted" or "opposed"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the things that Paul said"
Both instances of the word "you" and the word "yourselves" refer to the Jews to whom Paul is speaking and so are plural. The word "we" refers to Paul and Barnabas but not the crowd that was present.
This implies that God had commanded this be done. Alternate translation: "God commanded"
This can be stated in active form. "Word of God" here is a synecdoche for "message from God." Alternate translation: "that we speak the message from God to you first" or "that we speak the word of God to you first"
Their rejection of the word of God is spoken of as if it were something they pushed away. Alternate translation: "Since you reject the word of God"
"have shown that you are not worthy of eternal life" or "act as though you are not worthy of eternal life"
"we will go to the Gentiles." Paul and Barnabas were implying that they would preach to the Gentiles. Alternate translation: "we will leave you and start preaching to the Gentiles"
The word "us" refers to Paul and Barnabas but not the crowd that was present, so it is exclusive.
Both instances of "you" here are singular, but when Paul said, "... the Lord commanded us," Paul was applying those singular words to both himself and Barnabas. The words in the quotation were originally spoken by God through Isaiah the prophet to God's servant. By quoting Isaiah's prophecy, Paul was saying that he and Barnabas were doing what God commanded his servant to do. Paul was not saying that God had spoken directly to him.
Here the truth about Jesus that Paul was preaching is spoken of as if it were a light that allowed people to see.
The abstract word "salvation" can be translated with the verb "to save." The phrase "uttermost parts" refers to everywhere. Alternate translation: "tell people everywhere in the world that I want to save them"
Here "word" refers to the message about Jesus that they had believed. Alternate translation: "glorified God for the message about the Lord Jesus" or "glorified the Lord for his word"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "As many as God appointed to eternal life" or "All the people whom God had chosen to receive eternal life"
Here "word" refers to the message about Jesus. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Those who believed spread the word of the Lord through the whole region" or "Those who believed went everywhere in the region and told others about the message of Jesus"
This probably refers to the leaders of the Jews. Alternate translation: "the Jewish leaders"
This means that they spoke to the women and men and caused them to be angry and act violently. Alternate translation: "stirred up ... women ... and ... men"
The word "devout" means that these women feared God. The phrase "of high standing" means that people respected these women.
"the most important men"
The word "they" here probably refers to the devout women and the leading men. They listened to the Jews and then convinced the rest of the people in the city to persecute the apostles and throw them out.
"made Paul and Barnabas leave their land"
Here this word refers to the area that the people of the city considered their own, not to land within an official government border.
Here the word "they" refers to Paul and Barnabas.
Paul and Barnabas end their time in Antioch of Pisidia and go to Iconium.
This was a symbolic act to indicate to the unbelieving people that God had rejected them and would punish them.
This probably refers to the new believers in the Antioch of Pisidia that Paul and Silas just left.
The message of Jesus is the message that God will show grace to those who believe in Jesus. (See: grace and believe)
The Gentiles in the Roman Empire worshiped many different false gods who do not really exist. Paul and Barnabas told them to believe in the "living God." (See: falsegod)
Jesus told his followers before he died that everyone who followed him would suffer persecution. Paul is saying the same thing using different words.
The story of Paul and Barnabas in Iconium continues.
Possible meanings here are 1) "It happened in Iconium that" or 2) "In Iconium, as usual,"
"spoke so powerfully." It may be helpful to state that they spoke the message about Jesus. Alternate translation: "spoke the message about Jesus so powerfully"
This refers to the portion of the Jews who did not believe the message about Jesus.
Causing the Gentiles to become angry is spoken of as if calm waters were disturbed.
Here the word "minds" refers to the people. Alternate translation: "the Gentiles"
Here "brothers" refers to Paul and Barnabas and the new believers.
Here the words "he," "his," and "He" refer to the Lord.
"Nevertheless they stayed there." Paul and Barnabas stayed in Iconium to help the many people who had believed in Acts 14:1. "So" could be omitted if it adds confusion to the text.
"demonstrated that the message about his grace was true"
"about the message of the Lord's grace"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "by enabling Paul and Barnabas to perform signs and wonders"
Here "hands" refers to the will and effort of these two men as guided by the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: "by the ministry of Paul and Barnabas"
"the people of the city disagreed with each other"
"supported the Jews" or "agreed with the Jews." The first group mentioned did not agree with the message about grace.
The second group mentioned agreed with the message about grace. It may be helpful to restate the verb. Alternate translation: "sided with the apostles"
Luke refers to Paul and Barnabas. Here "apostle" might be used in the general sense of "ones sent out."
Here the words "made an attempt" implies that they were not able to mistreat Paul and Barnabas before Paul and Barnabas left the city.
"to beat Paul and Barnabas and to kill them by throwing stones at them"
A district in Asia Minor
A city in Asia Minor south of Iconium and north of Derbe
A city in Asia Minor south of Iconium and Lystra
Here the word "they" refers to Paul and Barnabas.
"where Paul and Barnabas continued to proclaim the good news"
Paul and Barnabas are now in Lystra.
This introduces a new person in the story.
"unable to move his legs" or "unable to walk on his feet"
"having been born as a cripple"
person who cannot walk
The words "him" and "he" refer to the crippled man.
"Paul looked straight at him"
The abstract noun "faith" can be translated with the verb "believe." Alternate translation: "believed that Jesus could heal him" or "believed that Jesus could make him well"
"Paul said to the crippled man"
"leaped in the air." This implies that his legs were completely healed.
This refers to Paul's healing the crippled man.
To raise the voice is to speak loudly. Alternate translation: "they spoke loudly"
"in their own Lycaonian language." The people of Lystra spoke Lycaonian and also Greek.
These people believed that the gods needed to change their appearance in order to look like men. A large number of people believed Paul and Barnabas were their pagan gods who had come down from heaven. Alternate translation: "The gods have come down from heaven to us in the form of men"
The people of Iconium probably considered Zeus to be the king over all the other pagan gods.
The people of Iconium probably considered Hermes to be the pagan god who brought messages to people from Zeus and the other gods.
It may be helpful to include additional information about the priest. Alternate translation: "There was a temple just outside the city where the people worshiped Zeus. When the priest who served in the temple heard what Paul and Barnabas had done, he brought"
The oxen were to be sacrificed. The wreaths were either to crown Paul and Barnabas, or put on the oxen for sacrifice.
The gates of the cities were often used as a meeting place for the people of the city.
"wanted to offer sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas as the gods Zeus and Hermes"
Luke is here probably using "apostle" in the general sense of "one sent out."
This was a symbolic action to show that they were deeply distressed and upset that the crowd wanted to sacrifice to them.
Barnabas and Paul are rebuking the people for trying to sacrifice to them. Alternate translation: "Men, you must not do these things!"
"worshiping us"
By this statement, Barnabas and Paul are saying that they are not gods. Alternate translation: "We are just human beings like you. We are not gods"
"like you in every way"
"telling you good news: you can turn" or "giving you good advice to turn." That is, the good news is that they can and should turn.
Here "turn from ... to" is a metaphor meaning to stop doing one thing and start doing something else. Alternate translation: "stop worshiping these false gods that cannot help you, and instead begin to worship the living God"
"the God who truly exists" or "the God who lives"
"In previous times" or "Until now"
Walking in a way, or walking on a path, is a metaphor for living one's life. Alternate translation: "to live their lives the way they wanted to" or "to do whatever they wanted to do"
Paul and Barnabas continue speaking to the crowd outside the city of Lystra (Acts 14:8).
This could also be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "God has certainly left a witness" or "God has indeed testified"
"as shown by the fact that"
Here "your hearts" refers to the people. Alternate translation: "giving you enough to eat and things about which to be happy"
Paul and Barnabas stopped the multitude from sacrificing to them, but it was difficult to do so.
"had difficulty preventing"
Here the words "he" and "him" refer to Paul.
It my be helpful to explicitly state what they persuaded the crowd to do. Alternate translation: "persuaded the people not to believe Paul and Barnabas, and to turn against them"
This may not be the same group as the "multitude" in the previous verse. Some time had passed, and this might be a different group that gathered together.
"because they thought that he was already dead"
These were new believers in the city of Lystra.
"Paul re-entered Lystra with the believers"
"Paul and Barnabas went to the city of Derbe"
Here both instances of "they" refer to Paul and Barnabas.
"Derbe" (Acts 14:20)
Here the words "they" refer to Paul and Barnabas, and the word "We" includes Paul, Barnabas, and the disciples. The word "them" refers to the disciples.
Here "souls" refers to the disciples. This emphasizes their inner thoughts and beliefs. Alternate translation: "Paul and Barnabas urged the believers to continue to believe the message about Jesus" or "Paul and Barnabas urged the believers to continue to grow strong in their relationship with Jesus
"encouraging the believers to keep trusting in Jesus"
Some version translate this as an indirect quote, "saying that we must enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations." The word "we" here includes Luke and the readers.
Paul includes his hearers, so the word "we" is inclusive.
"Paul and Barnabas had appointed for the believers"
Possible meanings are 1) "Paul and Barnabas entrusted the elders they had appointed ... the elders had believed" or 2) "Paul and Barnabas entrusted the elders they had appointed and the other disciples ... the elders and other disciples had believed"
The word "they" refers to Paul and Barnabas.
Both instances of "they" refer to Paul and Barnabas.
"Word" here is a metonym for "message of God." Alternate translation: "had spoken the message of God"
The phrase "went down" is used here because Attalia is lower in elevation than Perga.
This can be stated in the active form. Alternate translation: "where believers and leaders in Antioch had committed Paul and Barnabas to the grace of God" or "where the people of Antioch prayed that God would care for and protect Paul and Barnabas"
Here the words "they," "them," and "They" refer to Paul and Barnabas. The word "he" refers to God.
"called the local believers to meet together"
God's enabling the Gentiles to believe is spoken of as if he had opened a door that had prevented them from entering into faith. Alternate translation: "God had made it possible for the Gentiles to believe"
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Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry that is quoted from the Old Testament in 15:16-17.
The meeting that Luke describes in this chapter is commonly called the "Jerusalem Council." This was a time when many church leaders got together to decide if believers needed to obey the whole law of Moses.
In this chapter Luke begins to use the word "brothers" to refer to fellow Christians instead of fellow Jews.
Some believers wanted the Gentiles to be circumcised because God had told Abraham and Moses that everyone who wanted to belong to him had to be circumcised and that this was "an everlasting covenant." But Paul and Barnabas had seen God give uncircumcised Gentiles the gift of the Holy Spirit, so they did not want the Gentiles to be circumcised. Both groups went to Jerusalem to have the church leaders decide what they should do.
It is possible that the church leaders decided on these laws so that Jews and Gentiles could not only live together but eat the same foods together.
Paul and Barnabas are still in Antioch when there is a dispute about the Gentiles and circumcision.
"Some men." You can make explicit that these men were Jews who believed in Christ.
The phrase "came down" is used here because Judea is higher in elevation than Antioch.
Here "brothers" stands for believers in Christ. It is implied that they were in Antioch. Alternate translation: "taught the believers at Antioch" or "were teaching the believers at Antioch"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Unless someone circumcises you according to the custom of Moses, God cannot save you" or "God will not save you from your sins unless you receive circumcision according to the law of Moses"
The abstract nouns "sharp dispute" and "debate" can be stated as verbs and where the men came from can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "... had confronted and debated with the men from Judea"
Jerusalem was higher than almost any other place in Israel, so it was normal for Israelites to speak of going up to Jerusalem.
"this issue"
Both instances of "They" here refer to Paul, Barnabas, and certain others (Acts 15:2).
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Therefore the community of believers sent them from Antioch to Jerusalem"
The words "passed through" and "announced" indicate they spent some time in different places sharing in detail what God was doing.
The abstract noun "conversion" means the Gentiles were rejecting their false gods and believing in God. Alternate translation: "announced to the community of believers in those places that Gentiles were believing in God"
Their message causing the brothers to be joyful is spoken of as if "joy" were an object that they brought to the brothers. Alternate translation: "What they said caused their fellow believers to rejoice"
Here "brothers" refers to fellow believers.
All instances of "they" and "them" here refer to Paul, Barnabas, and certain others (Acts 15:2).
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the apostles, the elders, and the rest of the community of believers welcomed them"
"through them"
Here the word "them" refers to non-Jewish believers who were not circumcised and did not keep the Old Testament laws of God.
Paul and Barnabas are now in Jerusalem to meet with the apostles and elders there.
Here Luke contrasts those who believe that salvation is only in Jesus to others who believe salvation is by Jesus but also believe that circumcision is required for salvation.
"to obey the law of Moses"
The church leaders decided to discuss whether or not Gentiles needed to be circumcised and obey the law of Moses in order for God to save them from their sins.
The word "them" refers to apostles and elders
Peter begins to speak to the apostles and elders who met to discuss whether Gentiles had to receive circumcision and keep the law (Acts 15:5-6).
Peter is addressing all of the believers who are present.
Here "mouth" refers to Peter. Alternate translation: "from me" or "by me"
"the Gentiles would hear"
Here "word" stands for a message. Alternate translation: "the message about Jesus"
The word "them" refers to the Gentiles, and both instances of "you" are plural.
Here "heart" refers to the "minds" or "inner beings." Alternate translation: "who knows the people's minds" or "who knows what people think"
"has testified to the Gentiles"
"causing the Holy Spirit to come upon them"
The word "he" refers to God, the word "us" refers to the speaker and the hearers, and the word "them" refers to the Gentiles.
God did not treat Jewish believers differently from Gentile believers.
God's forgiving the Gentile believers' sins is spoken of as though he cleaned their hearts. Here "heart" stands for the person's inner being. Alternate translation: "forgiving their sins because they believe in Jesus"
Peter includes his audience by his use of "our" and "we."
This does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.
Peter uses a question with a word picture to tell the Jewish believers they should not require the non-Jewish believers to perform circumcision to be saved. Alternate translation: "Do not test God by putting a burden on the non-Jewish believers which we Jews were not able to bear!"
This refers to their Jewish ancestors.
Peter finishes speaking to the apostles and elders.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "But we believe the Lord Jesus will save us by his grace, just as he saved the non-Jewish believers"
Here the word "them" refers to Paul and Barnabas.
"Everyone" or "The whole group" (Acts 15:6)
"God had done" or "God had caused"
Here the word "they" refers to Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:12).
James begins to speak to the apostles and elders (Acts 15:6).
"Fellow believers, listen." James was probably speaking only to men.
"so that he might choose from among them a people"
"for God's name." Here "name" refers to God. Alternate translation: "for himself"
James quotes the prophet Amos from the Old Testament.
Here "words" stands for a message. Alternate translation: "What the prophets said agrees" or "The prophets agree"
"confirm this truth"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "as they wrote" or "as the prophet Amos wrote long ago"
Here "I" refers to God, who spoke through the words of his prophet.
This speaks of God's again choosing one of David's descendants to rule over his people as though he were setting up a tent again after it fell down.
Here the word "tabernacle," a dwelling place, stands for David's family. The same word is used for the tent that Yahweh told Moses to construct.
This speaks about people wanting to obey God and learn more about him as if they were literally looking for him.
Here "men" includes males and females. Alternate translation: "remnant of people"
God is speaking about himself in the third person. Alternate translation: "may seek me, the Lord"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "including all the Gentiles who belong to me"
Here "my name" stands for God.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that people have known"
Here "we" includes James, the apostles, and the elders.
You can make explicit in what way James does not want to trouble the Gentiles. Alternate translation: "we should not require the Gentiles to become circumcised and obey the laws of Moses"
A person who starts obeying God is spoken of as if the person is physically turning towards God.
Sexual immorality, strangling animals, and consuming blood were often part of ceremonies to worship idols and false gods.
This possibly refers to eating the meat of an animal that someone has sacrificed to an idol or to anything to do with idol worship.
God did not allow Jews to eat meat that still had the blood in it. Also, even earlier in Moses's writings in Genesis, God had forbidden the drinking of blood. Therefore, they could not eat an animal that someone strangled because the blood was not properly drained from the body of the animal.
James finishes speaking to the apostles and elders. (See: Acts 15:2 and Acts 15:13)
James is implying that Gentiles know how important these rules are because Jews preach them in every city where there is a synagogue. It also implies the Gentiles can go to the teachers from the synagogues to learn more about these rules.
Here "Moses" represents the law of Moses, and so does "he." This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "The law of Moses has been proclaimed ... the law is read" or "Jews have taught the law of Moses ... they read the law"
The word "every" here is a generalization. Alternate translation: "in many cities"
Here the word "them" refers to Judas and Silas.
This is the name of a man. "Barsabbas" is a second name that people called him.
The word "brothers" here refers to the people there who believed in Jesus. Alternate translation: "leaders of the believers" or "leaders of the church"
One or more of the apostles and elders wrote the letter and gave it to Judas and Silas so Judas and Silas could give it to the Gentile brothers.
This is the introduction of the letter. Your language may have a way of introducing the author of the letter and to whom it is written. Alternate translation: "This letter is from your brothers, the apostles and elders. We are writing to you Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings to you" or "To our Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings from the apostles and elders, your brothers"
Here the word "brothers" refers to fellow believers. By using these words, the apostles and elders assure the Gentile believers that they accept them as fellow believers.
This is the name of a province on the coast in Asia Minor north of the Island of Cyprus.
Here all instances of "we" and "us" refer to the writers but not the readers
"that some men"
"even though we gave no orders for them to go"
Here "souls" refers to the people. Alternate translation: "taught things that have troubled you"
Here the words "us" and "our" refer to the writers but not the readers
"who are now agree completely"
This phrase translates a word that speaks of people who agree with each other and who work together to accomplish a common purpose.
The men they sent were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas (Acts 15:22).
These words refer to Barnabas and Paul, not to Judas and Silas.
Here "name" refers to the whole person. Alternate translation: "because they believe in our Lord Jesus Christ" or "because they serve our Lord Jesus Christ"
Here the word "we" refers to the writers of the letter [Acts 15:22]
This phrase emphasizes that Judas and Silas will say the same things that the apostles and elders had written. Alternate translation: "who themselves will tell you the same things about which we have written"
Here the word "us" refers to the writers of the letter [Acts 15:22]
This speaks about laws that people need to obey as if they were objects that people carry on their shoulders.
This concludes the letter from the Jerusalem church to the Gentile believers in Antioch.
This means they are not allowed to eat the meat of an animal that someone sacrifices to an idol.
This refers to drinking blood or eating meat from which the blood has not been drained.
A strangled animal was killed but its blood was not drained.
This announces the end of the letter. Alternate translation: "Goodbye"
Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas leave for Antioch.
The word "they" refers to Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas. Alternate translation: "So when the four men were dismissed, they came down to Antioch"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "when the apostles and elders dismissed the four men" or "when the believers in Jerusalem sent them"
The phrase "came down" is used here because Antioch is lower in elevation than Jerusalem.
"the believers in Antioch rejoiced"
The abstract noun "encouragement" can be expressed with the verb "encourage." Alternate translation: "because what the apostles and elders wrote encouraged them"
Prophets were teachers authorized by God to speak for him. Alternate translation: "because they were prophets" or "who were also prophets"
"the fellow believers"
Judas and Silas' helping them to depend even more on Jesus is spoken of as if they were making them physically stronger.
Judas and Silas return to Jerusalem while Paul and Barnabas remain in Antioch.
This speaks about time as if it were a commodity that a person could spend. The word "they" refers to Judas and Silas. Alternate translation: "After they stayed there for a while"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the brothers sent Judas and Silas back in peace"
This refers to the believers in Antioch.
"to the believers in Jerusalem who sent Judas and Silas" (Acts 15:22)
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Here "word" stands for a message. Alternate translation: "the message about the Lord"
"I suggest we now return"
"care for the brothers" or "offer to help the believers"
Here "word" stands for the message. Alternate translation: "the message about the Lord"
"learn how they are doing." They want to learn about the current condition of the brothers and how they are holding on to God's truth.
"to take John, who was also called Mark"
The words "not good" are used to say the opposite of good. Alternate translation: "Paul thought that taking Mark would be bad"
This was a province in Asia Minor. See how you translated this in Acts 2:10.
"did not continue to work with them then" or "did not continue to serve with them"
Here the word "they" refers to Barnabas and Paul.
The abstract noun "disagreement" can be stated as the verb "disagree." Alternate translation: "They strongly disagreed with each other"
To entrust to someone means to place the care and responsibility for someone or something to another person. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "after the believers in Antioch entrusted Paul to the grace of the Lord" or "after the believers in Antioch prayed for the Lord to take care of Paul and show kindness to him"
The previous sentence implies that Silas was with Paul. Alternate translation: "they went" or "Paul and Silas went" or "Paul took Silas and went"
These are provinces or areas in Asia Minor, near the island of Cyprus.
Encouraging the believers in the churches is spoken of as though Paul and Silas were making the believers physically stronger. The word "churches" refers to the groups of believers in Syria and Cilicia. Alternate translation: "encouraging the believers in the churches" or "helping the community of believers to depend even more in Jesus"
Paul circumcised Timothy because they were telling the message of Jesus to Jews and Gentiles. Paul wanted the Jews to know that he respected the law of Moses even though the church leaders in Jerusalem had decided that Christians did not need to be circumcised.
Most people want very much to know the future, but the law of Moses said that speaking with the spirits of dead people to learn about the future is a sin. This woman seems to have been able to tell the future very well. She was a slave, and her masters made much money from her work. Paul wanted her to stop sinning, so he told the spirit to leave her. Luke does not say that she began to follow Jesus or tell us anything more about her.
This continues the missionary journeys of Paul with Silas. Timothy is introduced into the story and joins Paul and Silas. Verses 1 and 2 give background information about Timothy.
Here "came" can be translated as "went."
This is the name of a city in Asia Minor. See how you translated it in Acts 14:6.
The word "behold" alerts us to a new person in the narrative. Your language may have a way of doing this.
The words "in Christ" are understood. Alternate translation: "who was a believer in Christ" or "who believed in Christ"
This can be stated in active from. Alternate translation: "The brothers spoke well of him" or "Timothy had a good reputation among the brothers" or "The brothers said good things about him"
Here "brothers" refers to believers. Alternate translation: "by the believers"
"wanted Timothy ... took Timothy ... circumcised Timothy ... Timothy's father"
"with Paul ... Paul took"
It is possible that Paul himself circumcised Timothy, but it is more likely that he had someone else circumcise Timothy.
"because of the Jews living in the areas where Paul and Timothy would be traveling"
Since Greek men did not have their sons circumcised, the Jews would have known Timothy was not circumcised, and they would have rejected Paul and Timothy before hearing their message about Christ.
The word "they" here refers to Paul, Silas (Acts 15:40), and Timothy (Acts 16:3).
"the decrees for the church members to obey" or "teh decrees for the believers to obey"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that the apostles and elders in Jerusalem had decided on"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the believers became stronger in their faith, and there were more and more people becoming believers every day"
This speaks of helping someone to believe more confidently as if it were making them physically stronger.
This is a region in Asia. See how you translated this name in Acts 2:10.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the Holy Spirit had forbidden them" or "the Holy Spirit did not permit them"
Here "word" stands for "message." Alternate translation: "the message about Christ"
Here "came" can be translated as "went" or "arrived."
These are two more regions in Asia.
"the Holy Spirit"
The phrase "came down" is used here because Troas is lower in elevation than Mysia.
Here "came" can be translated as "went."
"Paul saw a vision from God" or "Paul had a vision from God"
Or "inviting him."
The phrase "Come over" is used because Macedonia is across the sea from Troas.
Here the words "we" and "us" refer to Paul and his companions, including Luke, the author of Acts.
"we looked for a way to go to Macedonia" or "we prepared to go to Macedonia"
These are coastal cities near Phillipi in Macedonia.
Here "came to" can be translated as "went to" or "arrived at."
This is a city outside of Italy where many people who came from Rome lived. The people there had the same rights and freedoms as people who lived in cities in Italy. They could govern themselves and they did not have to pay taxes.
Paul and his companions are now in Philippi on their missionary trip. The story of Lydia begins here. This short story happens during Paul's travels.
Here "A certain woman" introduces a new person in the story. Alternate translation: "There was a woman named Lydia"
Here "cloth" is understood. Alternate translation: "a merchant who sold purple cloth"
This is the name of a city.
A worshiper of God is a Gentile who gives praise to God and follows him, but does not obey all of the Jewish laws.
For the Lord to cause someone to pay attention and believe a message is spoken of as if he were opening a person's heart. Alternate translation: "The Lord caused her to listen well and to believe"
Here "heart" stands for a person's mind. Also, the author speaks about the "heart" or "mind" as if it were a box that a person could open so it is ready for someone to fill it.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "what Paul said"
The story of Lydia ends here.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "When they baptized Lydia and members of her household"
Here "house" represents the people who live in her house. Alternate translation: "the members of her household" or "her family and household servants"
Background information is given here to explain that this young fortune teller brought much financial gain to her masters by guessing people's futures.
This begins the first event in another short story during Paul's travels; it is about a young fortune teller.
This phrase marks the beginning of a new part of the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.
The phrase "a certain" introduces a new person to the story. Alternate translation: "there was a slave girl ... who encountered"
An evil spirit spoke to her often about the immediate future of people.
How a person can be saved is spoken of here as if it were a way or path that a person walks on. Alternate translation: "how God can save you"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "But she greatly annoyed Paul, so he turned around"
Here "name" stands for speaking with the authority or as the representative of Jesus Christ.
"the spirit came out immediately"
"the owners of the slave girl"
Here the word "hope" is the reason for which a person can expect that what he desires will happen. Now that the spirit was gone, the girl's masters could not expect to earn money from the spirit's telling people things. Alternate translation: "their opportunity to make money was now gone" or "they could no longer expect to make money"
It can be stated clearly why they no longer expected to make money. Alternate translation: "she could no longer earn money for them by telling fortunes"
"into the public square." This is a public place of business, where buying and selling of goods, cattle, or services takes place.
"into the presence of the authorities" or "so that the authorities could judge them"
"When they had brought them to the judges"
rulers, judges
Here the word "our" refers to the people of the city and includes the magistrates who ruled it.
"to believe or to obey" or "to accept or to do"
Here the words "their" and "them" refer to Paul and Silas.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "commanded the soldiers to beat them with rods"
"the magistrates had ... upon Paul and Silas, the magistrates threw Paul and Silas ... keep Paul and Silas"
"had hit them many times with rods"
"told the jailer to make sure they did not get out"
a person responsible for all the people held in the jail or prison
"he heard this command"
"securely locked their feet in the stocks"
a piece of wood with holes for preventing a person's feet from moving
The word "them" refers to Paul and Silas.
This continues Paul and Silas' time in Philippi in prison and tells what happens to their jailer.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "earthquake which shook the foundations of the prison"
When the foundations shook, this caused the entire prison to shake.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "all the doors opened"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "everyone's chains came loose"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "The jailer woke up"
"was ready to kill himself." The jailer preferred to commit suicide rather than suffer the consequences of letting the prisoners escape.
Here the word "we" refers to Paul, Silas, and all of the other prisoners but excludes the jailer.
The reason why the jailer needed light can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "called for someone to bring light so he could see who was still in the prison"
The word "lights" stands for something that makes light. Alternate translation: "for torches" or "for lamps"
"quickly entered the jail"
The jailer humbled himself by bowing down at the feet of Paul and Silas.
"led them outside the jail"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "what must I do for God to save me from my sins"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God will save you" or "God will save you from your sins"
Here "house" stands for the people who live in the house. Alternate translation: "all the members of your household" or "your family"
The word "They" refers to Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25), and the word "him" refers to the jailer.
Here "word" stands for a message. Alternate translation: "They told him the message about the Lord Jesus"
The words "them" and "their" refer to Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25), and the words "he" and "his" refer to the jailer.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Paul and Silas immediately baptized the jailer and all the members of his household"
All instances of "he" and "his" refer to the jailer.
This is the last event in the story of Paul and Silas in Philippi (Acts 16:12).
This word is used here to mark a stop in the main story. Here Luke tells the last event in the story that started in Acts 16:16.
Here "word" stands for "message" or "command." Alternate translation: "sent a message to the guards" or "sent a command to the guards"
Here "sent" means the magistrates told someone to go tell the guards their message.
"Release those men" or "Allow those men to leave"
"come outside of the jail"
The word "they" refers to the magistrates. All instances of "we" and "us" refer only to Paul and Silas and so are exclusive.
Probably Paul is speaking to the jailer, but he intends for the jailer to tell the magistrates what he says. Alternate translation: "said to the jailer"
Here "They" refers to the magistrates who commanded their soldiers to beat them. Alternate translation: "The magistrates ordered their soldiers to beat us in public"
"men who are Roman citizens, and they had their soldiers put us in jail though they had not proven in court that we were guilty"
Paul uses a question to emphasize that he will not allow the magistrates to send them out the city in secret after they had mistreated Paul and Silas. Alternate translation: "I will certainly not let them send us out of the city in secret!"
Here "themselves" is used for emphasis.
To be a Roman meant to be a legal citizen of the Empire. Citizenship provided freedom from torture and the right to a fair trial. The city leaders were afraid that more important Roman authorities might learn how the city leaders had mistreated Paul and Silas.
"the magistrates heard ... the magistrates were afraid"
All instances of "them" refer to Paul and Silas.
Here the word "they" refers to Paul and Silas. The word "them" refers to the believers in Philippi.
This is the end of Paul and Silas' time in Philippi.
Here "came" can be translated as "went."
"the home of Lydia"
Here "brothers" refers to believers, whether male or female. Alternate translation: "saw the believers"
The Jews expected the Christ or Messiah to be a powerful king because the Old Testament says so many times. But it also says many times that the Messiah would suffer, and that was what Paul was telling the Jews. (See: christ)
Paul said that the Athenians were "religious," but they did not worship the true God. They worshiped many different false gods. In the past they had conquered other peoples and begun to worship the gods of the people they had conquered. (See: falsegod)
In this chapter Luke describes for the first time how Paul told the message of Christ to people who knew nothing of the Old Testament.
Both instances of "they" refers to Paul and Silas (Acts 16:40).
This continues the story of Paul, Silas, and Timothy's missionary trip. They arrive in Thessalonica, apparently without Luke, since he says "they" and not "we."
This word is used here to mark a stop in the main story. Here Luke, the author, starts to tell a new part of the story.
"traveled through"
These are coastal cities in Macedonia.
Here "came to" can be translated as "went to" or "arrived at." Alternate translation: "they went to the city" or "they arrived at the city"
"went to the Jews ... reasoned with the Jews"
"as his habit was" or "as his common practice was." Paul usually went to the synagogue on the Sabbath when Jews would be present.
"on each Sabbath day for three weeks"
"gave them reasons to believe from the scriptures" or "debated with them about the scriptures" or "discussed the scriptures with them." Paul explained what the scriptures mean in order to prove to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah.
Here the word "He" refers to Paul (Acts 17:2).
Possible meanings are 1) to explain the scriptures in a way that people can understand is spoken of as if Paul were opening something so people can see what is inside of it) or 2) Paul was literally opening a book or scroll and reading from it.
"it was part of God's plan"
"to come back to life"
From among all those who have died. The expression "the dead" describes all dead people together in the underworld. To come back from among them speaks of becoming alive again.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the Jews believed" or "the Jews understood"
"became associated with Paul"
This refers to Greeks who worshiped God but had not converted to Judaism through circumcision.
This is an understatement to emphasize that many leading women joined them. Alternate translation: "many leading women"
Here the word "they" refers to the unbelieving Jews and wicked men from the marketplace.
The feeling of jealousy is spoken of as if jealousy were actually moving the person. Alternate translation: "feeling very jealous" or "feeling very angry"
It can be stated explicitly that these Jews were jealous because some of the Jews and Greeks believed Paul's message.
Here "took" does not mean the Jews took these people by force. It means the Jews persuaded these wicked men to help them.
"some evil men." The word "men" here refers specifically to males.
"from the public square." This is a public place of business, where buying and selling of goods, cattle, or services take place.
Here "the city" stands for the people in the city. Alternate translation: "caused the people of the city to be in an uproar" or "caused the people of the city to riot"
"Violently attacking the house." This probably means the people were throwing rocks at the house and trying to break down the door of the house.
This is the name of a man.
The word "seeking" here means that the people wanted to bring Paul out and were trying to bring him out.
Possible meanings or "people" are 1) a governmental or legal group of citizens gathered to make a decision or 2) a mob.
Here "brothers" refers to believers. Alternate translation: "some other believers"
"into the presence of the officials"
The Jewish leaders were speaking, and the phrase "These men" refers to Paul and Silas.
This phrase is another way of saying Paul and Silas were causing trouble everywhere they went. The Jewish leaders were exaggerating the influence Paul and Silas were having with their teaching. Alternate translation: "caused trouble everywhere in the world" or "caused trouble everywhere they have gone"
This phrase signals that Jason was in agreement with the apostles' troubling message.
"They caused the people in the city to be afraid"
The words "the rest" refers to other believers that the Jews brought before the officials.
"the officials took security ... they let Jason and the other believers go"
Jason and the others gave the money to the officials to show that they would not cause any more trouble. This was not a fine or a punishment, so they might have expected the officials to give the money back later.
Paul and Silas travel on to the town of Berea.
The word "brothers" here refers to men and women believers. Alternate translation: "the believers"
The word "now" is used here to mark a stop in the main story. Here Luke tells background information about the people in Berea and how they were willing to listen to Paul and examine what he said.
These "well-born" people were willing to think more objectively about new ideas than other people. Alternate translation: "more open minded" or "more willing to listen"
Here "word" refers to a teaching. Alternate translation: "listened to the teaching"
These Bereans were prepared to examine earnestly Paul's teachings about the scripture.
"carefully reading and evaluating the scriptures every day"
"the things Paul said were true"
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Athens was south of Berea. Both were on the coast of Macedonia. Athens was one of the most important cities in Greece.
This speaks about their agitating people as though it were a person stirring a liquid and causing the things at the bottom of the liquid to rise to the surface. Alternate translation: "went there and agitated" or "went there and disturbed"
"worried the crowds" or "caused dread and fear among the people"
The word "brothers" here refers to men and women believers. Alternate translation: "believers"
"to go to the coast." From here Paul would probably sail to another city.
"who were accompanying Paul" or "who were going along with Paul"
"he told them to instruct Silas and Timothy." This can also be stated as a direct quotation as in the UDB.
This is another part of the story of Paul and Silas' travels. Paul is now in Athens where he is waiting for Silas and Timothy to join him.
This word is used here to mark a stop in the main story. Here Luke starts to tell a new part of the story.
Here "spirit" stands for Paul himself. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he became upset because he saw that there were idols everywhere in the city" or "seeing the idols everywhere in the city upset him"
"he debated" or "he discussed." This means that his listeners also spoke and asked him questions. He was not the only speaker.
This refers to Gentiles who gave praise to God and followed him but did not obey all of the Jewish laws.
"in the public square." This is a public place of business, where buying and selling of goods, cattle, or services take place.
Here the words "him," "He, "and "he" refer to Paul.
Philosophers are people who think about the world and try to understand how people should live. The Epicureans and the Stoics were two groups of philosophers. They believed that a god or gods existed, but they did not trust in or obey any god. Alternate translation: "thinkers called Epicureans and Stoics"
"happened upon him"
"Some of the philosophers said"
The word "babbler" was used to refer to birds picking up seeds as food. It refers negatively to a person who only knows a little bit of information. The philosophers said Paul had bits of information which were not worth listening to. Alternate translation: "What is this uneducated person"
"Other philosophers said"
"He seems to be a proclaimer" or "He seems to be on a mission to add people to his philosophy"
This is not in the sense of "odd," but in the sense of "foreign," that is, gods that Greeks and Romans do not worship or know about.
This does not mean they arrested Paul. The philosophers invited Paul to speak formally to their leaders.
The "Areopagus" was the place where the leaders met. Alternate translation: "to the leaders that met on the Areopagus"
Here the leaders on the Areopagus are speaking. This can stated as a new sentence. Alternate translation: "the Areopagus. The leaders said to Paul"
This is a prominent rock outcropping or hill in Athens upon which the supreme court of Athens may have met.
Paul's teachings about Jesus and the resurrection are spoken of as an object that a person can bring to another person. Here "ears" refers to what they hear. Alternate translation: "For you are teaching some things that we have never heard before"
The word "all" is a generalization referring to many. Alternate translation: "Now many of the Athenians and the strangers living there"
"Athenians" are people from Athens, a city near the coast below Macedonia
"the foreigners"
Here "time" is spoken of as if it were an object that a person could spend. Alternate translation: "used their time doing nothing but either telling or listening" or "were always doing nothing but telling or listening"
The phrase "spent their time in nothing" is an exaggeration. Alternate translation: "did not do much but tell or listen" or "spent much of their time telling or listening"
"discussing new philosophical ideas" or "talking about what was new to them"
Paul begins his speech to the philosophers on the Areopagus.
Paul is referring to the Athenians' public display of honoring the gods through prayers, building altars, and offering sacrifices.
"as I walked among the objects of your worship and observed them" or "as I walked around in the city, I observed the objects of your worship"
Possible meanings are 1) "to a certain unknown god" or 2) "to a god not known." This was a specific writing or inscription on that altar.
In the most general sense, the "world" refers to the heavens and the earth and everything in them.
"because he is the Lord." Here "he" is referring to the unknown god mentioned in Acts 17:23 that Paul is explaining is the Lord God.
The words "heaven" and "earth" are used together to mean all beings and things in heaven and earth.
Here "hands" stands for people. Alternate translation: "built by the hands of people" or "that people built"
Here "served" has the sense of a doctor treating a patient to make the patient well again. Alternate translation: "Neither do men's hands take care of him"
Here "hands" stands for the whole person. Alternate translation: "by humans"
"because he himself." The word "himself" is added for emphasis.
Here the word "he" refer to God, the creator, and both instances of "their" refer to every nation of people living on the surface of the earth.
This means Adam, the first person God created. This can be stated to include Eve. It was through Adam and Eve that God made all other people. Alternate translation: "one couple"
This can be stated as a new sentence. Alternate translation: "and he determined when and where they would live"
All instances of "they" and "their" refer to the people who live on earth, all instances of "him" and "he" refer to God, and the word "us" includes the speaker, the hearers, and the people who live on earth.
Here "search for God" represents desiring to know him, and "feel their way toward him and find him" represents praying and having a relationship with him. Alternate translation: "so that they should want to know God and perhaps pray to him and become one of his people"
This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "Yet he is very near to every one of us"
Here the words "him" and "his" refer to God
"Because of him"
Both instances of "we" include the speaker, the hearers, and other people.
Because God created everyone, all people are spoken of as if they were God's literal children.
Here "deity" refers to God's nature or attributes. Alternate translation: "God is like"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "which a man then uses his skill to make it into something that he has designed" or "images that people make by using their art and imagination"
Here the word "he" refers to God.
"Because what I have just said is true"
"God decided not to punish people during the time of ignorance"
This refers to the time before God fully revealed himself through Jesus Christ and before people truly knew how to obey God.
This means all people, whether male or female. Alternate translation: "all people"
Paul finishes his speech to the philosophers in the Areopagus, which he began in Acts 17:22.
"when the man he has chosen will judge the world in righteousness"
Here "world" refers to the people. Alternate translation: "he will judge all people"
"justly" or "fairly"
"God has demonstrated his choice of this man"
From among all those who have died. The expression "the dead" describes all dead people together in the underworld. To come back from among them speaks of becoming alive again.
Here the word "We" refers to the men of Athens but not to Paul, so this is exclusive. Though some of them probably did want to hear Paul again, they may only have been being polite.
This is the end of the part of the story about Paul in Athens.
This word is used here to mark a stop in the main story. Here Luke changes from Paul's teachings to the reaction of the people of Athens.
These are the people who were present at the Areopagus and were listening to Paul.
"some ridiculed Paul" or "some laughed at Paul." These did not believe it was possible for someone to die and then return to life.
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Dionysius is a man's name. Areopagite implies that Dionysius was one of the judges at the council of Areopagus.
This is the name of a woman.
Some Jews who lived far away from Jerusalem and Judea had heard of John the Baptist and followed his teachings. They had not yet heard about Jesus. One of these Jews was Apollos. He followed John the Baptist, but he did not know that the Messiah had come. John had baptized people to show that they were sorry for their sins, but this baptism was different from Christian baptism. (See: faithful and christ and repent)
This is another part of the story of Paul's travels as he goes to Corinth.
"After these events took place in Athens"
Athens was one of the most important cities in Greece. See how you translated this in Acts 17:15.
The writer begins to give background information about Aquila and Priscilla.
Possible meanings are that 1) Paul happened to find by chance or 2) Paul intentionally found.
Here the phrase "a certain" indicates this is introducing new person in the story.
Pontus was a province on the southern coast of the Black Sea.
This is probably sometime in the past year.
This is the name of land. Rome is the capital city of Italy.
Claudius was the current Roman emperor. See how you translated this in Acts 11:28.
The writer finishes giving background information about Aquila and Priscilla.
"he did the same kind of work that they did"
"So Paul debated" or "So Paul discussed." He gave reasons. This means that rather than just preaching, Paul talked and interacted with the people.
Possible meanings are 1) "and he caused both Jews and Greeks to believe" or 2) "and he kept trying to persuade the Jews and the Greeks."
Silas and Timothy rejoin Paul.
This is a symbolic action to indicate that Paul will no longer try to teach the Jews there about Jesus. He is leaving them to God's judgment.
Here "blood" stands for the guilt of their actions. Here "heads" refers to the whole person. Paul tells the Jews they are solely responsible for the judgment they will face for their stubbornness if they refuse to repent. Alternate translation: "You alone bear the responsibility for your punishment for sin"
The word "clean" here is a metaphor for Paul being innocent of wrong against either the people or God. Alternate translation: "I am innocent" or "God will not punish me when he punishes you"
"Paul left ... Titius' Justus's house"
This is the name of a man.
A worshiper of God is a Gentile who gives praise to God and follows him but does not necessarily obey all of the Jewish laws.
This is the name of a man.
a layperson who sponsored and administered the synagogue, not necessarily the teacher
Here "his household" refers to the people who lived together in his house. Alternate translation: "the people who lived with him in his house"
Crispus's household
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "received baptism"
The Lord is giving one command in two different ways to emphasize that Paul should certainly continue preaching. Alternate translation: "You must not be afraid; instead, you should continue to speak and not become silent"
The Lord gives the same command in two different ways to strongly command Paul to speak. Alternate translation: "you must certainly continue to speak"
It can be stated explicitly what the Lord wants Paul to speak. Alternate translation: "do not stop speaking about the gospel"
"there are many people in this city who have put their faith in me" or "many people in this city will put their faith in me"
This is a concluding statement for this part of the story. "Word of God" here is a synecdoche for the entire scriptures. Alternate translation: "Paul lived there ... teaching the scriptures among them"
Achaia was the Roman province in which Corinth was located. Corinth was the largest city in southern Greece and the capital of the province.
The unbelieving Jews bring Paul to the judgment seat before Gallio.
This is the name of a man.
This stands for the Jewish leaders that did not believe in Jesus.
This phrase means that the Jews began to act, not that they rose into the air or rose to stand from a sitting position. If your language has a different idiom for beginning to act, you may use it here.
This phrase translates a word that speaks of people who agree with each other and who work together to accomplish a common purpose.
The Jews took Paul by force to bring Paul before the court. Here "judgment seat" refers to the place where Gallio sat when he made legal decisions in court. Alternate translation: "took him so that the governor could judge him at the judgment seat"
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Gallio was the Roman governor of the Province.
Here "law" can refer to either the law of Moses or the Jewish customs of Paul's time. Gallio is simply telling the Jews that they are to do what they think right and that he is not interested in being the judge.
"I refuse to make a judgment about these matters"
"Gallio dismissed the Jews from the judgment seat." Here "judgment seat" refers to the place where Gallio sits to make legal decisions in court. Alternate translation: "Gallio made them leave his presence in the court" or "Gallio made them leave the court"
It is not clear what events this verse describes. The Jews had been accusing Paul, but it appears that they ended up beating Sosthenes and not Paul.
Possible meanings are 1) the Gentiles beat Sosthenes in the court in front of the judgment seat because he was the Jewish leader or 2) Sosthenes was a believer in Christ, so even though he was "the ruler of the synagogue," the Jews beat him in front of the court.
This may be an exaggeration to emphasize the strong feelings the people had. Alternate translation: "many people seized" or "many of them grabbed"
Sosthenes was "the ruler of the synagogue" at Corinth.
"repeatedly hit him" or "repeatedly punched him."
Here both instances of "he" refer to Paul.
The word "brothers" refers to men and women believers. Alternate translation: "left the fellow believers"
Paul got on a ship that sailed for Syria. Priscilla and Aquila went with him.
This was a town near Corinth in Greece. It was on the coast, and Paul probably got on the ship there.
This is a symbolic action that indicates that he had done something he had vowed to do. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he had someone cut off the hair on his head"
This continues Paul's missionary journey as Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila leave Corinth. This seems to indicate that Silas and Timothy remain, since it says "he" here and not "they." The word "they" refers to Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila.
"gave the Jews reasons to believe" or "debated with the Jews about the scriptures" or "discussed the scriptures with the Jews." Paul explained what the scriptures mean in order to prove to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. See how you translated "reasoned with" in [Acts 17:2]
Here the word "they" refers to the Jews in Ephesus.
Here the word "them" refers to the Jews in Ephesus. The word "you" is plural.
"saying good-bye to them"
Phrygia is a province in Asia which is now modern day Turkey. See how you translated this in Acts 2:10.
Paul continues his missionary journey.
"arrived at Caesarea." The word "landed" is used to show that he arrived by ship.
He traveled to the city of Jerusalem. The phrase "went up" is used here because Jerusalem is higher in elevation than Caesarea.
Here "church" refers to the believers in Jerusalem. Alternate translation: "greeted the members of the church of Jerusalem"
The phrase "went down" is used here because Antioch is lower in elevation than Jerusalem.
"Paul went away" or "Paul left"
This speaks about "time" as if it were a commodity that a person could spend. Alternate translation: After staying there for a while"
Apollos is introduced to the story. Verses 24 and 25 give background information about him.
Luke tells what happens in Ephesus with Priscilla and Aquila.
This word is used here to mark a stop in the main story.
The phrase "a certain" indicates that Luke is introducing a new person in the story.
"a man who was born in the city of Alexandria." This was a city in Egypt on the north coast of Africa.
"a good speaker"
"he knew the scriptures thoroughly." He understood the Old Testament writings well.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Other believers had taught Apollos how the Lord Jesus wanted people to live"
Here "spirit" refers to the entire person of Apollos. Alternate translation: "Being very enthusiastic"
"the baptism that John performed." John's baptism was with water, but Jesus's baptism is with the Holy Spirit.
How God wants people to live is spoken of as if it were a road that a person travels.
"correctly" or "more fully"
Here the he words "he" and "him" refer to Apollos (Acts 18:24).
"to go to the region of Achaia." The phrase "pass over" is used here because Apollos had to cross the Aegean Sea to get to Achaia from Ephesus.
Achaia was a Roman Province in the southern section of Greece. See how you translated this in Acts 18:12.
The word "brothers" here refers to men and women believers. You can make explicit that these are believers in Ephesus. Alternate translation: "fellow believers in Ephesus"
"wrote a letter to the Christians in Achaia"
"those who had believed in salvation by grace" or "those who by God's grace believed in Jesus"
"In public debate Apollos powerfully showed that the Jews were wrong"
"as he showed them by the scriptures that Jesus is the Christ"
John baptized people to show that they were sorry for their sins. Jesus's followers baptized people who wanted to follow Jesus.
The temple of Diana was an important place in the city of Ephesus. Many people came to Ephesus to see this temple, and they bought statues of the goddess Diana while they were there. The people who sold statues of Diana were afraid that if people did not believe Diana was a real goddess, they would stop giving the sellers money for statues.
The "upper country" was an area of Asia which today is part of modern-day Turkey to the north of Ephesus. Paul must have traveled by land around the top of the Aegean Sea in order to come to Ephesus (also in Turkey today), which is directly east of Corinth by sea.
Paul travels to Ephesus.
This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.
"traveled through"
This means to have the Holy Spirit come upon them.
"we have not even heard about the Holy Spirit"
The word "They" refers to the disciples (Acts 19:1). The word "you" is plural.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "What kind of baptism did you receive?"
You can translate this as a complete sentence. Alternate translation: "We were baptized into John's baptism" or "We received the kind of baptism about which John taught"
You can translate the abstract noun "repentance" as the verb "repent." Alternate translation: "the baptism that people requested when they wanted to repent"
Here "the one" refers to Jesus.
This means to come after John the Baptist in time and not following after him physically.
Paul continues staying in Ephesus.
Here "people" refers to the disciples in Ephesus who were talking with Paul (Acts 19:1),
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they received baptism"
Here "name" refers to Jesus's power and authority. Alternate translation: "as believers in the Lord Jesus"
All instances of "them" and "they" refer to "the people" (Acts 19:5)
"placed his hands on them." He probably placed his hands on their shoulders or heads. Alternate translation: "placed his hands on their heads as he prayed"
Unlike in Acts 2:3-4, there are no details of who understood their messages.
All instances of "them" and "they" refer to "the people" (Acts 19:5)
This tells how many men were baptized.
"12 men"
"Paul regularly attended the synagogue meetings for three months and spoke there boldly"
Probable meanings are 1) the words "reasoning" and "persuading" are a hendiadys that means "arguing persuasively" or 2) the words describe two separate activities, "giving them reasons to believe" and "convincing them"
Here "kingdom" stands for God's rule as king. Alternate translation: "about God's rule as king" or "about how God would show himself as king"
People who were stubbornly refusing to believe are spoken of as though they were becoming hard and unable to move. Alternate translation: "some Jews were stubborn and did not believe" or "some Jews stubbornly refused to accept and obey the message"
What Christ wants people to believe is spoken of as though it were a road that a person travels. The phrase, "the Way," seems to have been a title for Christianity at the time. Alternate translation: "to speak evil about Christianity to the crowd" or "to speak to the crowd evil things about those who follow Christ and who obey his teaching about God" (See: and Acts 9:2)
"to speak bad things about"
"in the large room where Tyrannus had taught people"
This is the name of a man.
Here "all" is a generalization that means very many people throughout Asia heard the gospel.
Here "word" stands for a message. Alternate translation: "the message about the Lord"
Here "hands" stands for Paul's whole person. Alternate translation: "God was causing Paul to do extraordinary miracles" or "God was doing extraordinary miracles through Paul"
Here the words "them" and "their" refer to those who were sick.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "when they took to sick people even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul"
Possible meanings are 1) these were cloth items that Paul had touched or 2) these were cloth items that Paul had worn or used.
cloths worn around the head
clothing worn on the front of the body to protect the clothes of people
This refers to sick people. Alternate translation: "sick people" or "those who were sick"
"those who were sick became healthy"
This is the beginning of another event that happened while Paul was in Ephesus. It is about Jewish exorcists.
people who send evil spirits away from people or places
Here "name" refers to Jesus's power and authority.
"Jesus" was a common name at the time, so these exorcists wanted people to know of whom they spoke.
This stands for the power and authority of Jesus. Alternate translation: "by the authority of Jesus" or "by the power of Jesus"
This is the name of a man.
"I know Jesus and Paul" or "I know Jesus, and I know Paul"
The spirit asked this question to emphasize that the exorcists had no authority over evil spirits. Alternate translation: "but I do not know you!" or "but you have no authority over me!"
This means that the evil spirit caused the man whom it was controlling to leap on the exorcists.
This refers to people who send evil spirits from people or places. See how you translated this in Acts 19:13.
The exorcists fled with their clothes ripped off them.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they honored the name of the Lord Jesus" or "they considered the name of the Lord Jesus to be great"
This stands for the power and authority of Jesus.
This ends the story about the Jewish exorcists.
"collected their books." The word "books" refers to scrolls on which magical incantations and formulas were written.
"in front of everyone"
"the value of the books" or "the value of the scrolls"
"50,000"
A "piece of silver" was the approximate daily wage for a common laborer.
"So because of these powerful deeds, more and more people heard the message about the Lord Jesus"
Paul talks about going Jerusalem but does not leave Ephesus yet.
This word is used here to mark a stop in the main story. Here Luke starts to tell a new part of the story.
"Paul completed the work that God had for him to do in Ephesus"
Possible meanings are 1) Paul decided with the help of the Holy Spirit or 2) Paul decided within his own spirit, which means he made up his mind.
Achaia was the Roman province in which Corinth was located. It was the largest city in southern Greece and the capital of the province. See how you translated this in Acts 18:12.
"I must also travel to Rome"
This is the name of a man.
It is made explicit in the next few verses that Paul remains in Ephesus.
This is repeated for emphasis.
Luke tells about a riot that broke out while Paul was in Ephesus.
This is a summary opening statement.
"the people became very upset" See how you translated this in Acts 12:18
This was a term used to refer to Christianity. See how you translated this title in Acts 9:1.
The writer introduces Demetrius to the story and gives background information about him. Ephesus had a large temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis, sometimes translated as "Diana." She was a false goddess of fertility.
The use of the words "a certain" introduces a new person in the story.
a craftsman who works with silver metal to make statues and jewelry
This is the name of a man. Demetrius was a silversmith in Ephesus who was against Paul and the local church.
"enabled those who made the idols to make much money"
These were probably carved or molten images of the temple of Artemis or of the part of the temple in which the statue of Artemis stood.
An occupation is a profession or job. Alternate translation: "others who did that kind of work"
Demetrius continues to speak to the craftsmen.
"You have come to know and understand that"
Paul's stopping people from worshiping idols is spoken of as though Paul were turning the people in a different direction. Alternate translation: "persuaded many people and caused them to stop worshiping the local gods"
Here the word "hands" can refer to the whole person. Alternate translation: "He is saying that the idols that people make are not real gods"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that what Paul is saying will discredit our trade" or "that people will think that our trade is false"
This refers to their business of making and selling idols.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "people will think that the temple of the great goddess Artemis is worthless" or "people will think there is no benefit in going to the temple to worship the great goddess Artemis"
"Her greatness" is a metonym for her reputation of being great. Being "brought to nothing" is a metaphor for becoming nothing or no longer existing. Alternate translation: "People would no longer recognize how great she is" or "She will lose her reputation of being great"
This was an exaggeration to show how popular the goddess Artemis was. Here the words "Asia" and "the world" refer to the people in the province of Asia and the known world. Alternate translation: "whom many people in Asia and in other parts of the world worship"
Here "they" refers to the craftsmen who made the idols (Acts 19:24-25).
This speaks of the craftsmen as though they were containers. Here "anger" is spoken of as if it were the contents that fill a container. Alternate translation: "they became very angry"
"shouted aloud" or "shouted loudly"
Here "city" refers to the people. The city is spoken of as if it were a container. And, "confusion" is spoken of as if it were the contents that filled the container. Alternate translation: "Then people all over the city became upset and started shouting"
This phrase translates a word that speaks of people who agree with each other and who work together to accomplish a common purpose.
The Ephesus theater was used for public meetings and for entertainment such as plays and music. It was an outdoor semi-circular area with bench seats that could hold thousands of people.
The men who had been with Paul.
These are names of men. Gaius and Aristarchus came from Macedonia but were working with Paul in Ephesus at this time.
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Ephesus was in the Roman Empire's province of Asia.
The Ephesus theater was used for public meetings and for entertainment such as plays and music. It was an outdoor semi-circular area with bench seats that could hold thousands of people. See how you translated "theater" in Acts 19:29.
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This is the name of a man.
You can make explicit that Alexander was showing the crowd that he wanted them to be quiet. Alternate translation: "gestured to the crowd to be quiet"
It is not clear whom or what Alexander wanted to defend. If your language requires this information, it might be best to use a general phrase like "to explain what was going on."
The shouting together of the people at the same time is spoken of as though they were speaking with one voice. Alternate translation: "in unison" or "together"
The clerk of Ephesus speaks to quiet the crowd.
This refers to the town "writer" or "secretary."
The clerk asked this question to assure the crowd they were right and to comfort them. Alternate translation: "every man knows that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper ... heaven."
The town clerk uses "not" to emphasize that all of the people knew this.
The Ephesian people maintained and guarded the temple of Artemis.
Within the temple of Artemis was an image of the goddess. It had been fashioned from a meteorite which fell from the sky. People thought that this rock had come directly from Zeus, the ruler of the Greek gods (idols).
The word "you" is plural.
"Since you know these things"
"do not do anything before you have had time to think about it"
without careful thought
The word "you" is plural.
The words "these men" refer to Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions (Acts 19:29).
"Because what I have just said is true." The town clerk had said in Acts 19:37 that Gaius and Aristarchus were not robbers or blasphemers.
The word "accusation" can be stated as the verb "accuse." Alternate translation: "want to accuse someone"
the Roman governor's representatives who made legal decisions in court
This does not mean Demetrius and those with him will accuse each other. It means this is a place where people in general can speak their accusation. Alternate translation: "There people can accuse one another"
The town clerk finishes speaking to the crowd.
"But if you want to ask about anything more" or "But if you have something to discuss about other matters"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "let us settle it in the regular assembly"
This refers to a regular public gathering of citizens over which the county clerk presided.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "in danger of the Roman authorities accusing us of starting this riot today"
In this chapter Luke describes Paul's last visits to believers in the provinces of Macedonia and Asia before he went to Jerusalem.
Paul spoke of living for Jesus as if he were running in a race. By this he meant that he needed to keep working hard even when things were difficult and he wanted to quit. (See: and discipline)
Paul thought that the Holy Spirit wanted him to go to Jerusalem even if Paul did not want to go there. The same Holy Spirit told other people that when Paul arrived in Jerusalem, people would try to harm him.
Paul leaves Ephesus and continues his travels.
"After the riot" or "Following the riot"
"he said goodbye"
"had greatly encouraged the believers" or "had said many things to encourage the believers"
"After he had stayed there three months." This speaks about time as if it were something a person could spend.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the Jews formed a plot against him" or "the Jews formed a secret plan to harm him"
This means only some of the Jews. Alternate translation: "by some of the Jews"
"as he was ready to sail for Syria"
"Traveling with him." Here the word "him" refers to Paul (Acts 20:1).
These are names of men.
These are names of places.
These are names of men. See how you translated these names in Acts 19:29.
"these men had traveled ahead of us"
Here "us" refers to the writer and Paul and those traveling with them, but not to the reader.
This is the name of a place.
All instances of "we" refer to the writer and Paul and those traveling with them, but not to the reader.
This refers to the Jewish religious feast time during the Passover season. See how you translated this in Acts 12:3.
Here the word "we" refers to the writer, Paul, and those traveling with them, but not to the reader. (See: and Acts 20:4-6)
Luke tells about Paul's preaching in Troas and about what happened to Eutychus.
"when the sun came up again." If the writer was using the Jewish system of determining days, Paul was planning to travel after sunrise on "the first day of the week." If the writer was using the Greek system, Paul was planning to travel on the second day of the week.
Bread was part of their meals. Possible meanings are 1) this refers simply to eating a meal together. Alternate translation: "to eat a meal" or 2) this refers to the meal they would eat together in order to remember Christ's death and resurrection. Alternate translation: "to eat the Lord's Supper"
"he continued to speak"
This may have been on the third floor of the house.
This was an opening in the wall with a ledge that was wide enough on which a person could sit.
This is the name of a man.
This speaks about sleep as if it were a deep hole into which a person could fall. Alternate translation: "who slept soundly" or "who became more and more tired until finally he was sleeping soundly"
When they went down to check his condition, they saw he was dead. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "third story; and when they went to pick him up, they found that he was dead"
This means two floors above the ground floor. If your culture does not count the ground floor, you may state this as the "second story."
Here "him" and "he" refers to the young man, Eutychus.
Here "he" refers to Paul.
Here the word "he" refers to Paul.
This is the end of the part of the story about Paul's preaching at Troas and about Eutychus.
Bread was a common food during meals. Here "broke bread" probably means that they shared a meal with more kinds of food than just bread.
"he went away"
This refers to Eutychus (Acts 20:9). Possible meanings are 1) he was a young man over 14 years old or 2) he was a boy between 9 and 14 years old or 3) the word "boy" implies that he was a servant or a slave.
Here the word "we" refers to the writer and those traveling with him, but not to the reader.
The writer Luke, Paul, and his other companions continue their travels; however, Paul goes separately for part of the trip.
The word "ourselves" adds emphasis and separates Luke and his traveling companions from Paul, who did not travel by boat.
Assos is a town located directly below present day Behram in Turkey on the coast of the Aegean sea.
Here "he himself" refers to Paul. "Himself" is used to emphasize that this is what Paul wanted.
"to travel on land"
Here "he" and "him" refer to Paul.
Here the words "we" and "us" refer to the writer and those traveling with him, but not to the reader.
Mitylene is a town located in present day Mitilini in Turkey on the coast of the Aegean sea.
Here the word "we" refers to Paul, the writer, and those traveling with them, but not to the reader.
"near the island" or "across from the island"
Chios is an island off the coast of modern day Turkey in the Aegean Sea.
"we arrived at the island of Samos"
Samos is an island south of Chios in the Aegean Sea off the coast of modern day Turkey.
Miletus was a port city in western Asia Minor near the mouth of the Meander River.
Paul sailed south past the port city of Ephesus, further south in order to land at Miletus.
This speaks about "time" as if it were a commodity that a person could spend or use up. Alternate translation: "so that he would not have to remain for a time" or "so that he would not have a delay"
Here the word "he" refers to Paul.
Paul calls the elders of the church of Ephesus and begins to speak to them.
Miletus was a port city in western Asia Minor near the mouth of the Meander River. See how you translated this in [Acts 20:15]
Here "yourselves" is used for emphasis.
Here "foot" stands for the entire person. Alternate translation: "I entered Asia"
This speaks about time as if it were something that a person could spend. Alternate translation: "how I always conducted myself when I was with you"
This speaks about something humble as if it were low to the ground. The word "mind" stands for a person's inner attitude. Alternate translation: "humility" or "humbleness"
Here "tears" stands for feeling sad and crying. Alternate translation: "with crying as I served the Lord"
"Trials" is an abstract noun. The meaning can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: "while God was testing me"
This does not mean every Jew. This lets us know who plotted. Alternate translation: "of some of the Jews"
"You know how I was never silent, but I always declared to you"
"I also taught when I was in your homes"
The abstract nouns "repentance" and "faith" can be stated as verbs. Alternate translation: "that they need to repent before God and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ"
The word "our" refers to Paul and the elders to whom he is speaking.
Here the word "I" refers to Paul.
They can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "because the Spirit compels me to go there"
"and I do not know what will happen to me there"
Here "chains" refers to Paul's being arrested and put in prison. Alternate translation: "people will put me in prison and cause me to suffer"
This speaks about Paul's "race" and "ministry" as if they are objects that Jesus gives and Paul receives. Here "race" and "ministry" mean basically the same thing. Paul repeats this for emphasis. Alternate translation: "so that I may complete the work that the Lord Jesus has commanded me to do"
Paul speaks about completing the work that Jesus has commanded him to do as if he were running a race.
"to tell people the good news about God's grace." This is the ministry that Paul received from Jesus.
Paul continues to talk to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17).
"Now, pay careful attention, because I know"
"I know that all of you"
Here "kingdom" stands for God's rule as king. Alternate translation: "to whom I preached the message about God's reign as king" or "to whom I preached about how God will show himself as king"
The word "face" here represents Paul's physical body. Alternate translation: "will not see me anymore on this earth"
Here "blood" stands for a person's death, which, in this case, is not physical death but spiritual death when God declares a person guilty of sin. Paul had told them God's truth. Alternate translation: "I am not responsible for anyone whom God judges guilty of sin because they did not trust in Jesus"
Here this means any person whether male or female. Alternate translation: "any person"
"For I did not keep silent and not tell you." This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "For I certainly declared to you"
"Because what I have just said is true," referring to all that Paul has said so far in his speech about his leaving them.
Believers are likened to a "flock" of sheep here. Church leaders are entrusted by God with the care of the community of believers just as a shepherd would care for his flock of sheep and protect them from wolves. Alternate translation: "the group of believers the Holy spirit has entrusted to you. Be sure to take care of the church of God"
The shedding of the blood of Christ here is likened to a payment to God for our sins. Alternate translation: "the people Christ saved from their sins by shedding his blood on the cross"
Here "blood" stands for Christ's death.
This is a picture of people who teach false doctrine and who harm the community of believers as though they were wolves that eat the sheep of the flock. Alternate translation: "many enemies will come among you and try to harm the community of believers"
A false teacher convincing believers to start believing his false teaching is spoken of as if he were leading sheep away from the flock to follow him. Alternate translation: "in order to convince people who are disciples of Christ to become his disciples instead"
"be on guard and remember" or "be on guard as you remember"
"be awake and alert" or "watch out." Christian leaders being alert about anyone that may harm the community of believers is spoken of as if they were guards in an army watching out for the enemy army.
"Continue to remember that" or "Do not forget that"
Paul taught them over the space of three years, but not necessarily every day for three years.
This does not mean that the only words he spoke were words of warning. Rather, Paul is using hyperbole to remind them that he had told them often that evil men would try to deceive them. Alternate translation: "I warned ... you as often as I could"
Here "tears" refers to Paul's crying because of the strong emotion of concern he felt while he was warning the people.
Here "word" stands for a message. Alternate translation: "I ask God to take care of you and to help you to keep believing the message I spoke to you about his grace"
A person's faith becoming stronger is spoken of as if the person were a wall and someone were building him higher and stronger. Alternate translation: "which is able to make become stronger and stronger in your faith"
This speaks about the "word of his grace" as if the word itself would give the inheritance to believers. Alternate translation: "God will give you the inheritance"
The blessings that God gives believers are spoken of as if they were money or property that a child inherits from his father.
"I did not desire someone's silver" or "I did not want for myself anyone's silver"
Clothing was considered a treasure; the more you had, the richer you were.
The word "yourselves" is used here to add emphasis.
The word "hands" here represents the entire person. Alternate translation: "I worked to earn money and pay for my own expenses"
Paul finishes speaking to the elders of the church of Ephesus; he began to speak them in Acts 20:18.
"you should work so as to have money to help people who cannot earn it for themselves"
You can state this nominal adjective as an adjective. Alternate translation: "weak persons" or "those who are weak"
"sick"
Here "words" refers to what Jesus has said.
This means a person receives the favor of God and experiences more joy when he gives to other people rather than always receiving from other people.
Paul ends his time with the elders of the church of Ephesus by praying with them.
It was a common custom to kneel down while praying. It was a sign of humility before God.
"hugged him closely" or "put their arms around him"
Kissing someone on the cheek is an expression of brotherly or friendly love in the Middle East.
The word "face" here represents Paul's physical body. Alternate translation: "they would not see him anymore on this earth"
Acts 21:1-19 describes Paul's journey to Jerusalem. After he arrived in Jerusalem, the believers there told him that the Jews wanted to harm him and what he should do so they would not harm him (verses 20-26). Even though Paul did what the believers told him to do, the Jews tried to kill him. The Romans rescued him and gave him a chance to speak to the Jews.
The last verse of the chapter ends with an incomplete sentence. Most translations leave the sentence incomplete, as the ULB does.
The Jews in Jerusalem were following the law of Moses. Even those who were following Jesus still kept the law. Both groups thought that Paul had been telling Jews in Greece not to keep the law. But it was only the Gentiles to whom Paul was saying that.
The vow that Paul and his three friends made was probably a Nazarite vow, because they shaved their heads (Acts 21:23).
The Jews accused Paul of bringing a Gentile man into a part of the temple into which God only allowed Jews to go. They thought that God wanted them to punish Paul by killing him. (See: holy)
The Romans thought that they needed to treat only Roman citizens justly. They could do as they desired with people who were not Roman citizens, but they had to obey the law with other Romans. Some people were born Roman citizens, and others gave money to the Roman government so they could become Roman citizens.
Here the word "we" refers to Luke, Paul, and those traveling with them, but not to the reader.
The writer Luke, Paul, and his companions continue their travels.
"we went straight to the city of Cos" or "we went directly to the city of Cos"
Cos is a Greek island off the coast of modern day Turkey in the South Aegean Sea region.
Rhodes is a Greek island off the coast of modern day Turkey in the South Aegean Sea region south of Cos and northeast of Crete.
Patara is a city on the southwest coast of modern day Turkey south of the Aegean Sea in the Mediterranean Sea.
Here "a ship crossing over" stands for the crew that would sail the ship. Alternate translation: "When we found a ship with a crew sailing over to Phoenicia"
Here "crossing" does not mean it was presently crossing but that it would be crossing to Phoenicia soon. Alternate translation: "a ship that would be going across the water" or "a ship that would be going"
Here the word "we" refers to Luke, Paul, and those traveling with them, but not to the reader.
The left is the "port" side of a boat. Here this means they sailed south of Cyprus. Alternate translation: "Cyprus, sailing south of it"
Here "ship" stands for the crew that was sailing the ship. Alternate translation: "the crew would unload the cargo from the ship"
"The Spirit caused them to urge Paul again and again not to go to Jerusalem." The Spirit may have revealed to them that Paul would suffer in Jerusalem. Alternate translation: "Because the Spirit had told them that Paul would suffer in Jerusalem, they urged him again and again not to go there"
Here the word "They" refers to the believers from Tyre.
"When the seven days were over" or "When it was time to leave"
It was a common custom to kneel down while praying. This was a sign of humility before God.
"said goodbye to one another"
Here the word "we" refers to Luke, Paul and those traveling with them, but not to the reader.
Ptolemais was a city south of Tyre, Lebanon. Ptolemais is modern day Acre, Israel.
"fellow believers"
This begins Paul's time in Caesarea.
The "seven" refers to the men chosen to distribute food and aid to the widows in Acts 6:5.
a person who tells people good news
"Philip" from verse 8.
This word is used here to mark a stop in the main story. Here Luke tells background information about Philip and his daughters.
"four virgin daughters who regularly received and passed along messages from God"
Here the words "we" and "us" refers to Luke, Paul, and those with them, but not to the reader.
This introduces a new person in the story.
Agabus was a man from Judea.
This tells about a prophecy made about Paul in Caesarea by the prophet Agabus.
"removed Paul's belt from Paul's waist"
This is a quotation within a quotation. The inner quotation can be stated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "The Holy Spirit says that this will be how the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up ... of the Gentiles."
This does not mean all the Jews. Alternate translation: "the Jewish leaders" or "some of the Jews"
"deliver him"
The word "hands" here represents control. Alternate translation: "into the legal custody of the Gentiles" or "to the Gentiles"
This stands for the authorities among the Gentiles. Alternate translation: "the Gentile authorities"
Here the word "we" refers to Luke and the other believers but does not include the reader.
Paul asks this question to show the believers they should stop trying to persuade him. Alternate translation: "Stop what you are doing. Your weeping is breaking my heart."
This is a metaphor for making someone sad or discouraging them. Here "heart" stands for a person's emotions. Alternate translation: "discouraging me" or "making me very sad"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "not only for them to tie me up"
Here "name" refers to the person of Jesus. Alternate translation: "for the sake of the Lord Jesus" or "because I believe in the Lord Jesus"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Paul would not allow us to to persuade him" or "we were unable to persuade Paul"
You may need to make explicit what they could not persuade Paul not to do. Alternate translation: "persuaded not to go up to Jerusalem"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "May everything happen as the Lord has planned it"
Here the word "we" refers to Luke, Paul, and those traveling with them, and not to the reader.
This ends Paul's time in Caesarea.
"Among them was a man"
Mnason was a man from the island of Cyprus.
This means Mnason was one of the first to believe in Jesus.
Here the words "we" and "us" refer to Luke, Paul, and those traveling with them, and not to the reader.
Paul and his companions arrive in Jerusalem.
Here "brothers" refers to the believers in Jerusalem, whether male or female. Alternate translation: "the fellow believers welcomed us"
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Here the words "he" and "his" refer to Paul. The word "them" refers to the elders.
"he gave a detailed account of all"
The elders in Jerusalem begin their response to Paul.
Here the word "they" refers to James and the elders. The word "him" refers to Paul.
Here "brother" means "fellow believer."
The word "they" refers to Jewish believers who wanted all believing Jews to keep the Jewish laws and customs.
this phrase here refers to the law of Moses
Apparently here there are some Jews that are distorting what Paul is teaching. He does not discourage the Jews from obeying the law of Moses. His message is that circumcision and the other customs are not necessary for Jesus to save them. You can make explicit that the leaders of the Jewish believers in Jerusalem knew that Paul was teaching God's true message.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "People have told the Jewish believers"
Here "Moses" stands for the law of Moses. Alternate translation: "to stop obeying the laws that Moses gave us"
A person who obeys the traditions and customs is spoken of as if he were walking on a path. Alternate translation: "not to obey the old customs" or "not to practice the old customs"
"the usual Jewish customs"
Here the word "we" refers to James and the elders
The word "They" refers to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem who wanted to teach Jewish believers that they could still follow the laws of Moses (Acts 21:20-21).
The word "you" refers to Paul.
Here the word "we" refers to James and the elders
"four men who made a promise to God." This was the kind of vow where a person would not drink alcohol or cut his hair until the end of a set period of time.
James and the elders continue speaking to Paul.
They had to make themselves ritually pure so they could worship in the temple.
"pay for what they will need." The expenses would go toward buying a male and female lamb, a ram, and grain and drink offerings.
This was a sign that the person had completed what they promised God they would do.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the things that people are saying about you"
Here the word "we" refers to James and the elders.
James and the elders in Jerusalem finish their request to Paul (Acts 21:18).
All of these are rules about what they can eat. They are forbidden to eat meat of animals sacrificed to an idol, meat with blood still in it, and meat from a strangled animal because it would still have blood in the meat. See how you translated similar phrases in [Acts 15:20]
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they stay away from the meat of an animal that someone sacrificed to an idol"
This can be stated in active form. You can also state explicitly the assumed information about strangled animals. Alternate translation: "from animals that a person has strangled" or "from animals that a person killed for food but did not drain its blood"
These are the 4 men who made a vow.
Before entering the temple area the Jews were required to be ceremonially or ritually clean. This cleansing had to do with Jews having contact with Gentiles.
They did not go into the temple itself where only the high priest was allowed to enter. They entered the temple courtyard. Alternate translation: "went into the temple courtyard"
This is a separate purification process from the purification process which they were required to fulfill in order to enter the temple area.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they presented the animals for an offering"
This begins the story of Paul's arrest.
These are the seven days for purification.
Paul was not in the temple itself. He was in the temple courtyard. Alternate translation: "in the temple courtyard"
People who incited a crowd to become very angry at Paul are spoken of as if they stirred up the crowd's emotions. Alternate translation: "caused a large number of people to be very angry at Paul"
Here "laid hands on" means to "seized" or to "grabbed." See how you translated "laid hands on" in [Acts 5:18]
"the people of Israel, the law of Moses, and the temple"
Only Jewish males were allowed in certain areas of the courtyard of the Jerusalem temple.
Verse 29 gives background information about the Jews from Asia.
This is background information. Luke is explaining why the Jews from Asia thought Paul brought a Greek into the temple.
This was a Greek man that they accused Paul of having brought into the inner temple area that was only for Jews. See how you translated his name in Acts 20:4.
The word "All" here is an exaggeration for emphasis. The word "city" represents the people in Jerusalem. Alternate translation: "Many people in the city became angry at Paul"
"seized Paul" or "grabbed Paul"
They shut the doors so that there would not be rioting in the temple area. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "some of the Jews immediately shut the temple doors" or "the temple guards immediately shut the doors"
Here "news" refers to the messenger who went to speak the news. Alternate translation: "someone gave news to the chief captain of the cohort"
The phrase "came up to" is used because the chief captain was in a fortress connected to the temple that was higher in elevation than the temple courtyard.
This is a Roman military leader of about 1,000 soldiers.
A company is a group of about 1,000 soldiers.
The word "Jerusalem" here represents the people of Jerusalem. The word "all" is an exaggeration to show a large crowd was upset. Alternate translation: "all the people in Jerusalem were in an uproar" or "the large crowd in Jerusalem was in an uproar" (See: and )
The first word "he" refers to the chief captain of the guard mentioned in Acts 21:31.
From the fortress, there are stairs going down into the court.
"took hold of Paul" or "arrested Paul"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "commanded his soldiers to bind him"
This means they bound Paul to two Roman soldiers, one on each side of him.
This can be stated as a direct quotation. Alternate translation: "he asked, 'Who is this man? What has he done?'"
The chief captain is speaking to the crowd, not to Paul.
The words "were shouting" are understood from the previous phrase. Alternate translation: "and others were shouting another" or "and others in the crowd were shouting something else"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he ordered his soldiers to bring Paul"
This fortress was connected to the outer temple court.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "When Paul came to the steps of the fortress, the soldiers carried him"
The crowd is using somewhat milder and less exact language to ask for Paul's death. Alternate translation: "Put him to death" or "Kill him"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "As the soldiers were ready to bring Paul"
This fortress was connected to the outer temple court. See how you translated this in Acts 21:34.
The chief captain uses this questions to express surprise that Paul is not who he thought he was. Alternate translation: "So you know Greek." or "I didn't know you knew Greek."
know how to speak and understand the Greek language
The chief captain uses this question and the question "Do you speak Greek?"
Shortly before Paul's visit, an unnamed man from Egypt had launched a revolt against Rome in Jerusalem. Later he escaped into the wilderness and the commander wonders if Paul might be the same man.
This word "rebellion" can be stated as a verb. Alternate translation: "caused people to rebel against the Roman government"
"the 4,000 terrorists"
This refers to a group of Jewish rebels who killed Romans and anyone who supported the Roman government.
Paul is correcting the chief captain's wrong idea about who Paul is.
Cilicia was a Roman province across the Mediterranean Sea from Egypt, and Tarsus was a large, well-known city.
Paul uses the double negative in the phrase "no unimportant city" to emphasize that the chief captain should have known that Tarsus was an important city. Alternate translation: "I am a citizen of an important city"
Or "I plead with you."
"please allow me" or please permit me"
The word "permission" can be stated as a verb. Alternate translation: "the captain permitted Paul to speak" or "the captain allowed Paul to speak"
The word "steps" here refers to the steps on the stairway to the fortress.
It can be stated explicitly why Paul motioned with the hand. Alternate translation: "motioned with his hand for the people to be quiet"
"When the people were completely silent"
This is the second account of Paul's conversion in the book of Acts. Because this is such an important event in the early church, there are three accounts of Paul's conversion. (See: Acts 9 and Acts 26)
Most Jews at this time spoke Aramaic and Greek. Most of the people who spoke Hebrew were educated Jewish scholars. This is why the people paid attention when Paul started speaking in Hebrew.
No one knows for sure who first started calling believers "followers of the Way." This is probably what the believers called themselves, because the Bible often speaks of a person living his life as if that person were walking on a path or "way." If this is true, the believers were "following the way of the Lord" by living in a way that pleased God.
The Romans thought that they needed to treat only Roman citizens justly. They could do as they desired with people who were not Roman citizens, but they had to obey the law with other Romans. Some people were born Roman citizens, and others gave money to the Roman government so they could become Roman citizens. The "chief captain" could have been punished for treating a Roman citizen the same way he would treat a non-citizen.
Paul speaks to the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem.
This is a polite way of addressing men who are Paul's age as well as the older men in the audience.
"I will now explain to you" or "I will now present to you"
The Hebrew language was the language of the Jews.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "but I was a student of Gamaliel here in Jerusalem"
Here "feet" stands for the place where a student would sit while learning from a teacher. Alternate translation: "by Gamaliel"
Gamaliel was one of the most prominent teachers of the Jewish law. See how you translated this name in Acts 5:34.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "He instructed me how to carefully obey every law of our forefathers" or "The instruction I received followed the exact details of the law of our forefathers"
"law of our ancestors." This refers to the law that God gave to the people of Israel through Moses.
"I am completely dedicated to obeying God" or "I am passionate about my service to God"
"in the same way all of you are today." Paul compares himself with the crowd.
Here "this Way" represents the people who belonged to the group called "the Way." The word "death" can be translated with the verb "kill." Alternate translation: "I persecuted the people who belonged to this Way and I looked for ways to kill them"
This was a term used to refer to Christianity. See how you translated "the Way" in Acts 9:2.
"tying up both men and women and taking them to prison"
"The high priests and elders gave me letters"
Here "brothers" refers to "fellow Jews."
"to bind those of the Way with chains and bring them back to Jerusalem"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "so that they would receive punishment" or "so that the Jewish authorities could punish them"
Paul describes his encounter with Jesus.
This phrase is used here to mark where the action starts. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.
Here "voice" stands for the person speaking. Alternate translation: "I heard someone say to me"
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Here "voice" stands for the person speaking. Alternate translation: "they did not understand what the one who spoke to me was saying"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "There someone will tell you" or "There you will learn"
"I was left blind because of that light's brightness"
Here "hands" stands for those leading Paul. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "those with me guided me into Damascus"
Though this is not the same Ananias who died earlier in [Acts 5:3]
Ananias was very serious about following God's law.
This can be stated in active form in a new sentence. Alternate translation: "law. All the Jews who lived there spoke well of him"
The words "He" and "him" refer to Ananias.
Here "Brother" is a polite way to address someone. Alternate translation: "My friend Saul"
The word "sight" can be translated with the verb "see." Alternate translation: "see again"
This was a customary way of saying something happened immediately. Alternate translation: "At that instant" or "Instantly" or "Immediately"
The word "he" refers to Ananias (Acts 22:12).
"what God is planning and will cause to happen"
Both "voice" and "mouth" refer to the one speaking. Alternate translation: "to hear him speak directly to you"
Here "men" means all people whether male or female. Alternate translation: "to all people"
Paul finishes telling what had happened to him in Damascus. He quotes what Ananias said to him. This is still part of his speech to the crowd in Jerusalem.
Here "now" does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.
This question was asked to exhort Paul to be baptized. Alternate translation: "do not wait!" or "do not delay!"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "let me baptize you" or "receive baptism"
As washing one's body removes dirt, calling on the name of Jesus for forgiveness cleanses one's inner being from sin. Alternate translation: "ask forgiveness for your sins"
Here "name" refers to the Lord. Alternate translation: "calling on the Lord" or "trusting in the Lord"
Paul begins to tell the crowd about his vision of Jesus.
This metaphor means that Paul went into the trance without expecting it or desiring it. See how you translated similar words in [Acts 10:10]
"I saw Jesus as he said to me"
"those who live in Jerusalem will not believe what you tell them about me"
Here the word "they" refers to the non-believing Jews in Jerusalem.
The word "themselves" is used for emphasis.
Paul went to synagogues to find Jews who believed in Jesus.
Here "blood" stands for Stephen's life. To spill blood means to kill. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they killed Stephen, who testified about you"
This ends what Paul was able to say to the crowd of Jewish people by the fortress.
Here the words "him" and "he" refer to Paul.
"until Paul said that"
The phrase "from the earth" adds emphasis to "Away with such a fellow." Alternate translation: "Kill him"
"While they were." The phrase "As they were" is used to mark two events that are happening at the same time.
These actions show that the Jews there are outraged because they feel Paul has spoken against God.
This is a Roman military leader of about 1,000 soldiers. See how you translated this in Acts 21:31.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "ordered his soldiers to bring Paul"
This fortress was connected to the outer temple court. See how you translated this in Acts 21:34.
The commander wants soldiers to torture Paul by whipping him to ensure he tells the truth. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "He ordered his soldiers to whip Paul to force him to tell the truth"
The first "he" refers to chief captain. The second "he" refers to Paul.
The word "himself" is used for emphasis.
Here the word "they" refers to the soldiers.
These were strips of leather or animal hide.
Paul uses this question to make the centurion check the validity of having his soldiers whip Paul. Alternate translation: "It is not lawful for you to whip a man who is a Roman and who was not given his legal right to a trial!"
This question is used to urge the commander to reconsider his plan to whip Paul. Alternate translation: "You should not do this!"
Here the word "him" refers to Paul.
Here "came" can be translated as "went."
"It was only after I paid a lot of money to the Roman authorities." The captain makes this statement because he knows how hard it is to become a Roman citizen, and he suspects Paul is not telling truth.
"I got citizenship." The word "citizenship" is an abstract noun. Alternate translation: "I became a citizen"
If a man was a Roman citizen, then his children become Roman citizens automatically when they were born.
"the men who planned to question" or "the men who were preparing to question"
Here the word "he" refers to the chief captain.
Possibly the "chief captain" stands for the chief captain's soldiers. Alternate translation: "So the chief captain ordered his soldiers to untie Paul's bonds"
There was a stairway going down from the fortress to the temple courts.
Some translations set quotations from the Old Testament farther to the right on the page than the rest of the text. The ULB does this with the quoted material in 23:5.
The Pharisees believed that after people died, they would become alive again and God would either reward them or punish them. The Sadducees believed that once people died, they stayed dead and would never become alive again. (See: raise and reward)
Some Jews promised God that they would not eat or drink until they killed Paul, and they asked God to punish them if they did not do what they had promised to do.
The Romans thought that they needed to treat only Roman citizens justly. They could do as they desired with people who were not Roman citizens, but they had to obey the law with other Romans. Some people were born Roman citizens, and others gave money to the Roman government so they could become Roman citizens. The "chief captain" could have been punished for treating a Roman citizen the same way he would treat a non-citizen.
This is a metaphor in scripture describing someone who appears to be good or clean or righteous when that person is evil or unclean or unrighteous.
Paul stands before the chief priests and the council members (Acts 22:30).
Here this means "Fellow Jews."
"I know that even to this day I have done what God has wanted me to do"
This is the name of a man. Although he has the same name, the Ananias here is neither the Ananias mentioned in [Acts 5:1]
This refers to a wall that was painted white to make it look clean. Paul told Ananias that just as a wall can be painted to look clean so Ananias appeared to look morally clean, but he was really full of evil intent. Alternate translation: "white-painted wall" or "wall painted white"
Paul uses a question to point out Ananias' hypocrisy. Some modern translations read this as a statement, "You are sitting to judge ... against the law." Alternate translation: "You are wrong to sit there to judge ... against the law."
This can be stated in active form. You can use the same word for "strike" as you did in the phrase "God will strike you." Alternate translation: "command people to strike me"
The men use this question to scold Paul for what he has said in [Acts 23:3]
Paul is about to quote what Moses wrote in the law. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "For Moses wrote in the law"
Here "Brothers" means "Fellow Jews"
Here "son" means he is the literal son of a Pharisee and also the descendant of Pharisees. Alternate translation: "and my father and forefathers were Pharisees"
Here the word "hope" is a person's confident expectation that what he desires really will happen. The abstract noun "hope" can be translated here with the verbs "confidently expect" or "confidently wait" or "trust." The abstract noun "resurrection" can be expressed with the verb phrase "become alive again." Alternate translation: "I confidently expect the resurrection of the dead" or "I trust that the dead will become alive again"
The phrase "the dead" can be expressed as "those who have died."
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "you are judging me"
"the people in the crowd strongly disagreed with one another"
This is background information about the Sadducees and Pharisees.
"So they began shouting loudly at one another." The word "so" marks an event that happened because of something else that happened previously. In this case, the previous event is Paul's stating his belief in the resurrection.
The Pharisees use this question to suggest that Paul may have gotten his teaching from an angel or a spirit. They may be rebuking the Sadducees for not believing that spirits and angels exist and can speak to people. Alternate translation: "Maybe a spirit or an angel has spoken with him!"
The words "a great argument" can be re-stated as "argue violently." Alternate translation: "When they began to argue violently"
This is a Roman military leader of about 1,000 soldiers. See how you translated this in Acts 21:31.
This can be stated in active form. The phrase "be torn to pieces" might be an exaggeration of how the people might harm Paul. Alternate translation: "they might tear Paul to pieces" or "they would cause Paul great physical harm"
"use physical force to take him away"
This fortress was connected to the outer temple court. See how you translated this in Acts 21:34.
This means the night after the day Paul went before the council. Alternate translation: "That night"
The words "about me" are understood. Alternate translation: "testify about me in Rome"
While Paul is in the prison at the fortress, the disbelieving religious Jews vow to kill him.
"organized a group with a shared purpose." The purpose for organizing this group was to kill Paul.
The noun "oath" is an abstract noun that refers to a promise that the men made to God to kill Paul. It can also be made explicit what would happen to the men if they did not do what they had promised to do. Alternate translation: "asked God to curse them if they did not do what they promised"
"40 men"
"who made this plan" or "who planned to kill Paul"
Here the word "They" refers to the forty Jews in Acts 23:13.
"We have sworn to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. We asked God to curse us if we do not do what we promised to do"
Here "you" is plural and refers to the chief priests and elders. Both "us" and "we" refer to the forty Jews who planned to kill Paul.
"Because what we have just said is true" or "Because we have put ourselves under this curse"
This does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.
"bring Paul from the fortress to meet with you"
"as though you want to learn more about what Paul has done"
"the son of Paul's sister" or "Paul's nephew"
"they were ready to ambush Paul" or "they were waiting to kill Paul"
This fortress was connected to the outer temple court. See how you translated this in Acts 21:34.
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"Paul the prisoner asked me to come talk with him"
Since the chief captain calls him a young man, this suggests Paul's nephew may have been 12 to 15 years old.
Since the chief captain took the young man by the hand and calls him a young man (verse 18), this suggests Paul's nephew may have been 12 to 15 years old.
This does not mean all Jews, but all of the group that was there. Alternate translation: "Some of the Jews have agreed"
"to bring Paul down from the fortress"
"they wanted to learn more about what Paul has done"
"40 men"
"ready to ambush Paul" or "ready to kill Paul"
"They have sworn to eat and drink nothing until they have killed Paul. And they asked God to curse them if they do not do what they promised to do"
"for you to agree to do what they have asked you to do"
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"he called to himself." Both "he" and "him" refer to the chief captain.
"2 of the centurions"
"70 horsemen"
"200 soldiers that are armed with spears"
This was about 9:00 p.m. at night.
Felix, who resided at Caesarea, was the roman governor of the area.
Here "he" refers to the chief captain.
Claudius Lysias was the name of the chief captain. Governor Felix was the Roman governor over the whole region.
This is a formal introduction to the letter. The chief captain begins by referring to himself. You can translate it in the first person. The words "am writing" are understood. Alternate translation: "I, Claudius Lysias, am writing to you, the most excellent Governor Felix, and I greet you"
"to Governor Felix, you who deserve the greatest honors"
Here "Jews" means "some of the Jews." This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Some of the Jews arrested this man"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they were ready to kill him"
"I with my soldiers arrived at the place where Paul and these Jews were"
Here the word "I" refers to Claudius Lysias, the chief captain. The word "they" refers to the Jews who accused Paul. The word "him" refers to Paul.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that they were accusing him of questions about"
The abstract nouns "accusation," "death," and "imprisonment" can be stated as verbs. Alternate translation: "but nobody accused him of anything that should cause Roman authorities to kill him or to send him to prison"
The chief captain ends his letter to Governor Felix.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Then someone told me" or "Then I learned"
Here "you" refers to Governor Felix.
This ends Paul's time under arrest in Jerusalem and begins his time of arrest in Caesarea with Governor Felix.
The word "so" marks an event that happened because of something else that happened previously. In this case, the previous event is the chief captain's commanding the soldiers to escort Paul.
Here "brought" can be translated as "took." Alternate translation: "They got Paul and took him at night"
Antipatris was a city built by Herod in honor of his father, Antipater. It stood at a site located today in central Israel.
Here "him" refers to Paul.
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This can be stated with direct quotations. Alternate translation: "he asked Paul, 'What province are you from?' Paul said, 'I am from Cilicia.' When the governor learned this"
"When the governor learned that Paul"
"the governor said"
"I will listen to all you have to say"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he commanded soldiers to keep him" or "commanded soldiers to restrain him"
Paul told the governor that he had not done what the Jews were accusing him of doing and that the governor should not punish him for what he did do.
Both the Jewish leaders (Acts 24:2-4](./02.md)) and Paul ([Acts 24:10) began their speeches with words that show respect to the governor.
The words "governor," "commander," and "centurion" may be difficult to translate into some languages.
Paul is on trial in Caesarea. Tertullus presents Governor Felix with the charges against Paul.
"Five days after the Roman soldiers took Paul to Caesarea"
This is the name of a man. He is not the same Ananias as in [Acts 5:1]
"a lawyer." Tertullus was an expert in Roman law who was there to accuse Paul in court.
This is the name of a man.
"went to Caesarea where Paul was"
"in the presence of the governor, who was judge in the court"
"began to argue the case before the governor that Paul had broken the law."
Here the word "you" refers to Felix, the governor.
Here "we" refers to the citizens under Felix. Alternate translation: "we, the people that you govern, have great peace"
"and your planning has greatly improved our nation"
The word "thankfulness" is an abstract noun. It can be stated as an adjective or verb. Alternate translation: "so we are very thankful and we welcome everything that you do" or "so we thank you very much and welcome everything that you do"
"Governor Felix, who deserves greatest honor." Felix was the roman governor over the whole region. See how you translated a similar phrase in Acts 23:25.
Possible meanings are 1) "so that I will not take up too much of your time" or 2) "so that I will not tire you"
"to be kind and listen to the short speech I am giving to state these men's case"
The word "we" refers to Ananias, certain elders, and Tertullus.
Here "pest" is a metaphor for a person who causes trouble. Alternate translation: "this man to be a trouble maker"
The word "all" here is probably an exaggeration used to strengthen their accusation against Paul.
The phrase "Nazarene sect" is another name for the Christians. Alternate translation: "He also leads the entire group whom people call the followers of the Nazarene"
This is a smaller group of people within a larger group group. Tertullus considers the Christians to be a small group within Judaism.
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Here the word "you" is singular and refers to Governor Felix.
Tertullus finishes presenting the charges against Paul before Governor Felix.
"to learn whether or not these charges that we bring against him are true" or "to learn whether or not he is guilty of the things we accuse him of"
This refers to the Jewish leaders who were there at Paul's trial.
Paul responds to Governor Felix about the charges brought against him.
"the governor gestured"
Here "nation" refers to the people of the Jewish nation. Alternate translation: "a judge for the people of the Jewish nation"
"explain my situation"
"12 days since"
Here the word "they" refers to the Jews who were accusing Paul.
"Stir up" here is a metaphor for agitating people into unrest, just as stirring a liquid agitates it. Alternate translation: "I did not cause a crowd to riot"
"the blames for wrongdoings" or "the charges for crimes"
"I acknowledge this to you"
The phrase "the Way" was a title used for Christianity during Paul's time.
This is a smaller group of people within a larger group. Christianity was originally considered to be a small group within Judaism. See how you translated "sect" in Acts 24:5.
Paul is referring to the law of Moses.
Here the word "hope" is a person's confident expectation that what he desires really will happen. The abstract noun "hope" can be translated here with the verbs "confidently expect" or "confidently wait" or "trust." Alternate translation: "Just as these men, I trust in God that there will be a resurrection"
the Jews who are accusing Paul in court
The abstract noun "resurrection" can be stated with the verb "resurrect." Alternate translation: "that God will resurrect all who have died, both the righteous and the unrighteous"
These nominal adjectives refer to righteous people and wicked people. Alternate translation: "righteous people and wicked people" or "those who have done what is right and those who have done what is evil"
"I always work hard" or "I do my best"
Here "conscience" refers to a person's inner morality that chooses between right and wrong. Alternate translation: "to be blameless" or "to always do what is right"
"in the presence of God"
This word marks a shift in Paul's argument. Here he explains the situation in Jerusalem when some of the Jews arrested him.
"after many years away from Jerusalem"
Here "I came" can be translated as "I went." Alternate translation: "I went to help my people by bringing them money as a gift; I also went to present sacrifices"
"in the temple after I had finished a ceremony to purify myself"
This can be stated as a new sentence. Alternate translation: "in the temple. I had not gathered a crowd nor was I trying to start a riot"
"The Jews from Asia"
"if they have anything to say"
This refers to the members of the council who were present in Jerusalem at Paul's trial.
"should say the wrong thing I did that they were able to prove"
Paul finishes responding to Governor Felix about the charges brought against him.
The abstract noun "resurrection" can be stated as "God brings back to life." Alternate translation: "It is because I believe that God will bring back to life those who have died"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "you are judging me today"
Felix is the Roman governor of the area who resides at Caesarea. See how you translated this name in [Acts 23:24]
This is a title for Christianity. See how you translated this in Acts 9:2.
"when Lysias the commander comes down" or "at the time Lysias the commander comes down"
This is the name of the chief captain. See how you translated this name in Acts 23:26.
Jerusalem was higher than Caesarea so it was normal to speak of coming down from Jerusalem.
"I will make a decision concerning these accusations against you" or "I will judge whether you are guilty"
"to have some freedom not otherwise granted to prisoners"
"After several days"
Drusilla is a woman's name.
Felix may have felt conviction of his sins.
"for the present time"
Here the word "hope" means think that what one desires might happen. Sometimes prisoners gave money to government officials so that the officials would free them from prison early, and Felix hoped that Paul would do that. Alternate translation: "he thought that Paul might give money to him"
"so Felix often sent for Paul and spoke with Paul"
This was the Roman Governor who replaced Felix.
Here "the Jews" refers to the Jewish leaders. Alternate translation: "wanted the Jewish leaders to like him"
"he left Paul in prison"
This word is used in two different ways in this chapter. When the Jewish leaders asked Festus for a favor, they were asking him to do something special for them on that day. They wanted him to do for them something that he would not usually do. When Festus "wanted to gain the favor of the Jews," he wanted them to like him and be willing to obey him in the months and years to come. (See: favor)
The Romans thought that they needed to treat only Roman citizens justly. They could do as they desired with people who were not Roman citizens, but they had to obey the law with other Romans. Some people were born Roman citizens, and others gave money to the Roman government so they could become Roman citizens. Roman officials could have been punished for treating a Roman citizen the same way they would treat a non-citizen.
Festus becomes the governor of Caesarea. See how you translated this name in Acts 24:27.
Paul continues to be a prisoner in Caesarea.
This word marks the beginning of a new event in the story.
Possible meanings are 1) Festus arrived in the area to begin his rule or 2) Festus simply arrived in the area.
The phrase "went up" is used here because Jerusalem is higher in elevation than Caesarea.
This speaks about accusations as if they were an object that a person could bring to someone else. Alternate translation: "The chief priests and the important Jews accused Paul to Festus"
Some versions translate this as "to have him summoned to Jerusalem." The word "him" refers to Paul. The Jews wanted Festus to have his soldiers take Paul to Jerusalem.
They were going to hide along the road and kill Paul as he was passing by, but Festus was not aware of this part of their plan.
This can be stated as a direct quotation. Alternate translation: "But Festus said, 'Paul is being held in custody in Caesarea, and I myself will soon return there.'"
Here the word "us" refers to Festus and the Romans traveling with him, but not to his audience.
The phrase "he said" can be moved to the beginning of the sentence. Alternate translation: "Then he said, 'Therefore, those who are able to go to Caesarea should go there with us"
"If Paul has done something wrong"
"you should accuse him of violating laws" or "you should bring charges against him"
Jerusalem is higher geographically than Caesarea. It was common to speak of coming down from Jerusalem.
Here "judgment seat" refers to Festus' ruling as judge over Paul's trial. Alternate translation: "sat upon the seat where he acted as judge" or "sat down as judge"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "his soldiers bring Paul to him"
"When Paul came and stood before Festus"
Charging a person with a crime is spoken of as if it were an object that a person could bring to court. Alternate translation: "they spoke against Paul many serious things"
Paul says he did not break any rules about who could enter the Jerusalem temple. Alternate translation: "against the entry rules of the temple"
Here "the Jews" means the Jewish leaders. Alternate translation: "wanted to please the Jewish leaders"
Jerusalem was higher geographically than Caesarea. It was common to speak of going up to Jerusalem.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "where I will judge you with regard to these charges"
The "judgment seat" refers to Caesar's authority to judge Paul. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I ask to go before Caesar, so he can judge me"
Paul does not believe that he has done wrong, but he shows that he will submit to the law and will not refuse to be punished if he really has done wrong.
"if I have done some wrong that deserves the death penalty"
"if the charges against me are not true"
Possible meanings are 1) Festus does not have the legal authority to hand Paul over to these false accusers or 2) the governor should not give in to the request of the Jews.
"I ask to go before Caesar so he can judge me"
This is not the Sanhedrin that is referred to as "council" throughout Acts. This is a political council in the Roman government. Alternate translation: "with his own government advisors"
King Agrippa and Bernice are new people in the story. Though he ruled over only a few territories, King Agrippa was the current reigning king in Palestine. Bernice was Agrippa's sister.
This word marks the beginning of a new event in the story.
"to visit Festus concerning official matters"
"After King Agrippa and Bernice"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "When Felix left office, he left a man in prison here"
Felix was the Roman governor of the area and resided in Caesarea. See how you translated this name in Acts 23:24.
This is a metaphor that means to accuse someone in court. Alternate translation: "spoke to me against this man"
The abstract nouns "sentence" and "condemnation" can be expressed as verbs. The phrase "a sentence of condemnation" implies that they were requesting that Paul be executed. Alternate translation: "they asked me to sentence him to death" or "they asked me to condemn him to death"
Here "hand over" represents sending someone to people who will punish or kill him. Alternate translation: "let someone punish anyone" or "to condemn anyone to death"
Here "faced his accusers" is an idiom that means to meet with the people who accuse him. Alternate translation: "before the person whom others have accused of a crime had met directly with those who accused him"
"Because what I have just said is true." Festus has just said that an accused man should be able to face his accusers and make his defense.
"when the Jewish leaders came to meet with me here"
Here "judgment seat" refers to Festus ruling over Paul's trial as judge. Alternate translation: "I sat upon the seat to act as judge" or "I sat down as judge"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I ordered the soldiers to bring Paul before me"
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Here "religion" means the belief system people have toward life and the supernatural.
To "stand trial" is an idiom meaning to speak to a judge so the judge can decide if a person is right or wrong. Alternate translation: "to go to trial about these charges" or "for a judge to decide if these charges against him are true or not"
Festus finishes explaining Paul's case to King Agrippa.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "But when Paul insisted that he stay under Roman guard until the time when the emperor could decide his case"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I ordered the soldiers to keep him in custody" or "I told the soldiers to guard him"
The phrase "Festus said" can be moved to the beginning of the sentence. Alternate translation: "Festus said, 'I will arrange for you to listen to Paul tomorrow.'"
Though he ruled over only a few territories, Agrippa was the current reigning king in Palestine. Bernice was his sister. See how you translated these names in Acts 25:13.
"with a great ceremony to honor them"
This was a large room where people gathered for ceremonies, trials, and other events.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the soldiers brought Paul to appear before them"
Festus again gives information about Paul's case to King Agrippa.
The word "all" is an exaggeration used to emphasize that a great number of Jews wanted Paul to die. Alternate translation: "a great number of the Jews" or "many of the Jewish leaders"
"they spoke very strongly to me"
This statement is made in the negative to emphasize the positive equivalent. Alternate translation: "he should die immediately"
"because he said that he wanted the emperor to judge him"
The emperor was the ruler of the Roman empire. He ruled over many countries and provinces.
Festus used the word "lord" to refer to the emperor. Alternate translation: "to write to the emperor"
Here the first "you" is plural and refers to all the men to whom Festus is speaking. The second "you" is singular and refers to King Agrippa. Alternate translation: "I have brought Paul to all of you, but especially to you, King Agrippa"
"so that I will have something else to write" or "so that I will know what I should write"
The negative words "unreasonable" and "to not ... state" can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "it seems reasonable to me to send a prisoner and to also state"
Possible meanings are 1) the accusations that the Jewish leaders have brought against him or 2) the charges under Roman law that apply to Paul's case.
This is the third account of Paul's conversion in the book of Acts. Because this is such an important event in the early church, there are three accounts of Paul's conversion. (See: Acts 9 and Acts 22)
Paul told the King Agrippa why he had done what he had done and that the governor should not punish him for that.
The Bible often speaks of unrighteous people, people who do not do what pleases God, as if they were walking around in darkness. It speaks of light as if it were what enables those sinful people to become righteous, to understand what they are doing wrong and begin to obey God. (See: righteous)
Festus has brought Paul before King Agrippa.
Agrippa was the current reigning king in Palestine, though he ruled over only a few territories. See how you translated this name in Acts 25:13.
"held out his hand" or "gestured with his hand"
The abstract noun "defense" can be stated as a verb. Alternate translation: "began to defend himself against those who were accusing him"
Paul gives his defense to King Agrippa.
Paul was happy because he considered his appearance before Agrippa to be an opportunity to speak about the gospel.
This phrase means to describe one's situation, so that those in court can discuss and make a decision about it. Alternate translation: "to defend myself"
The abstract noun "accusations" can be stated as the verb "accuse." Alternate translation: "against all the Jews who are accusing me"
This does not mean all the Jews. Alternate translation: "the Jewish leaders"
You can make explicit what kinds of questions this means. Alternate translation: "questions about religious matters"
This is a generalization. Possible meanings are 1) Jews in general who knew about Paul. Alternate translation: "the Jews" or 2) Pharisees who knew Paul. Alternate translation: "the Jewish leaders"
Possible meanings are 1) among his own people, not necessarily in the geographical land of Israel or 2) in the land of Israel.
"a group within Judaism that lives by very strict rules"
This word marks a shift from Paul discussing his past to talking about himself in the present.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I am here, where they are putting me on trial"
Here the word "hope" is a person's confident expectation that what he desires really will happen. The abstract noun "hope" can be translated here with the verbs "trust" or "confidently wait." Alternate translation: "because I trust in the promise made by God to our fathers
Hope in a promise is the expectation that the promise will be fulfilled. Alternate translation "because of my hope that God will do what he promised our forefathers he would do" or "because I confidently wait for God to do what he promised our forefather he would do"
This speaks about a promise being fulfilled as if it were an object that is received. Alternate translation: "the promise that our twelve tribes confidently wait for God to fulfill"
The phrase "our twelve tribes" stands for the people in those tribes. Alternate translation: "our fellow Jews in the twelve tribes"
The extremes "night" and "day" are used together to mean consistently mean Alternate translation: "continually worship God earnestly"
Paul is addressing King Agrippa by his title, not by his name. Your language may require that you add another word or part of a word, as in older English "O King," or that you add the king's name, as in "King Agrippa," or that you use another expression such as "Your Majesty."
This does not mean all the Jews. Alternate translation: "that the leaders of the Jews"
Here "you" is plural and refers to the people who were listening to Paul.
Paul uses a question to challenge the Jews there. They believe that God can raise the dead, but they do not believe that God brought Jesus back to life. This can be expressed as a statement. Alternate translation: "You should not judge it to be unbelievable that God raises the dead" Or "You should not say that it is impossible to believe that God raises the dead."
Here to raise up is an idiom for causing someone who has died to become alive again. Alternate translation: "makes dead people come alive again"
Paul uses this phrase to mark another shift in his defense. He is now beginning to describe how he formerly persecuted Jesus's people.
The word "name" here stands for the teaching about the person. Alternate translation: "to stop people from teaching about Jesus"
The phrase "were killed" can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I voted in agreement with the other Jewish leaders to condemn believers to die"
Possible meanings are 1) Paul punished some believers many times or 2) Paul punished many different believers.
While talking to King Agrippa, Paul tells about when the Lord spoke with him.
Paul uses this phrase to mark another shift in his defense. He is now telling about when he saw Jesus and became his disciple.
This word is used to mark two events that are happening at the same time. In this case, Paul went to Damascus during the time when he persecuted Christians.
Paul had letters from the Jewish leaders granting him authority to persecute the Jewish believers.
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Here "voice" stands for the person speaking. Alternate translation: "I heard someone speaking to me who said"
This is a rhetorical question. The speaker is alerting Saul to what Saul is doing to him, and implying that Saul should not do that. Alternate translation: "Saul, Saul, you are persecuting me." or "Saul, Saul, stop persecuting me."
For Paul to resist Jesus and to persecute believers is spoken of as if he were an ox kicking at the sharp stick that a person uses to prod
Paul continues giving his defense to King Agrippa, quoting his conversation with the Lord.
Paul continues giving his defense to King Agrippa, quoting his conversation with the Lord.
Paul continues giving his defense to King Agrippa, quoting his conversation with the Lord.
Paul continues giving his defense to King Agrippa, quoting his conversation with the Lord.
Paul helping people to understand the truth is spoken of as if he were helping them to open their physical eyes. Alternate translation: "to make them able to understand the truth"
Paul convincing people to stop obeying Satan and doing evil things and to start obeying God and doing good things is spoken of as if Paul were taking them out of a dark place where Satan controlled them and into a place where there was light and God controlled them. Alternate translation: "to help them stop doing what is evil, stop obeying Satan, and start trusting and obeying God"
The abstract noun "forgiveness" can be stated as the verb "forgive." Alternate translation: "God may forgive their sins and they may receive"
The abstract noun "inheritance" may be stated as the verb "inherit." Alternate translation: "they may inherit that which I give"
The blessings that Jesus gives to those who believe in him are spoken of as if they were an inheritance that children receive from their father.
Jesus choosing some people to belong to him is spoken of as if he literally set them apart from other people.
"because they believe in me." Here Paul finishes quoting the Lord.
"Because what I have just said is true." Paul had just explained what the Lord had commanded him in his vision.
This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "I obeyed"
This refers to what the person in the vision told Paul. Alternate translation: "what the person from heaven told me in the vision"
To start trusting God is spoken of as if a person turns to start walking toward God. Alternate translation: "trust in God"
The abstract noun "repentance" can be stated as the verb "repented." Alternate translation: "and start doing good deeds to show they truly have repented"
This does not mean all of the Jews. Alternate translation: "some Jews"
Here "small" and "great" refer to people who are unimportant and important, respectively, and are used together to mean "all people." Alternate translation: "to all people, whether unimportant or important, about nothing"
This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "about the exact thing that"
Paul is referring to the collective writings of the Old Testament prophets.
Paul finishes giving his defense to King Agrippa.
You can make explicit that Christ must also die. Alternate translation: "that Christ must suffer and die"
The phrase "the dead" refers to the spirits of people who have died. To rise from among them speaks of becoming alive again.
"he would proclaim the message about the light." To tell people about how God saves people is spoken of as if a person were speaking about the light. Alternate translation: "he would proclaim the message about how God saves people"
Paul and King Agrippa continue to talk together.
"you are speaking nonsense" or "you are crazy"
"you have learned so much that you are now crazy"
This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "I am sane ... and" or "I am able to think well ... and"
"Festus, who deserves highest honors"
Paul is still speaking to King Agrippa, but he is referring to him in the third person. Alternate translation: "For you ... to you ... from you"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I am sure"
This can be stated in active and positive form. Alternate translation: "that he is aware of this" or "that you are aware of this"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "has not happened in a corner"
This means doing something in secret as if a person went and did something in the corner of a room where no one can see him. Alternate translation: "in a dark place" or "in secret"
Paul asks this question to remind Agrippa that Agrippa already believes what the prophets said about Jesus. This can be expressed as a statement. Alternate translation: "You already believe what the Jewish prophets said, King Agrippa."
Agrippa asks this question to show Paul that he cannot convince Agrippa so easily without more proof. This can be expressed as a statement. Alternate translation: "Surely you do not think you can convince me so easily to believe in Jesus!"
Here "prison chains" stands for being a prisoner. Alternate translation: "but, of course, I do not want you to be a prisoner, as I am"
Bernice was the sister of King Agrippa (Acts 25:13).
This ends Paul's time before King Agrippa.
"Then King Agrippa stood up, and Governor Festus"
This was a large room for ceremonies, trials, and other events.
The abstract noun "death" can be stated as the verb "die." Here "bonds" stands for being in prison. Alternate translation: "This man does not deserve to die or to be in prison"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "This man could have gone free" or "I could have freed this man"
People who lived near the sea traveled by boat powered by the wind. During some months of the year, the wind would blow in the wrong direction or so hard that sailing was impossible.
Paul trusted God to bring him safely to land. He told the sailers and soldiers to trust that God would also keep them alive. (See: trust)
Luke uses almost the same words here to describe Paul taking bread, thanking God, breaking it, and eating it that he used to describe the last supper Jesus ate with his disciples. However, your translation should not make your reader think that Paul was leading a religious celebration here.
Adramyttium was a city possibly located on the west coast of modern-day Turkey. The word "we" includes the author of Acts, Paul, and the others traveling with Paul, but not the reader.
Paul, as a prisoner, begins his journey to Rome.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "When the king and the governor decided"
Italy is the name of the province Rome was in. See how you translated "Italy" in Acts 18:2.
"they put a centurion named Julius, of the Imperial Regiment, in charge of Paul and some other prisoners"
Possible meanings are that 1) "they" refers to the governor and the king or 2) "they" refers to other Roman officials.
Julius is a man's name.
Some versions translate the word Augustan as "Imperial" or "emperor's."
This was a group of about 1,00 soldiers. See how you translated this in Acts 21:31.
If your language requires a person to act here, you can add human actors: "We boarded a ship that people had brought from Adramyttium; they were about to sail it along."
Possible meanings are 1) a ship that had come from Adramyttium or 2) a ship that was registered or licensed in Adramyttium.
"soon going to sail" or "would depart soon"
"began our journey on the sea"
Aristarchus came from Macedonia but had been working with Paul in Ephesus. See how you translated his name in Acts 19:29.
Here the word "we" refers to the writer, Paul, and those traveling with them, but not to the reader.
"Julius treated Paul with a friendly concern." See how you translated "Julius" in Acts 27:1.
The abstract noun "care" can be stated as a verb. Alternate translation: "go to his friends so they could care for him" or "go to his friends so they could help him with whatever he needed"
"we started sailing and went"
"the lee of Cyprus" is the side of that island that blocks the strong wind, so sailing vessels are not forced off their course.
This was a province in Asia Minor. See how you translated this in Acts 2:10.
You can make explicit that they got off of the ship in Myra. Alternate translation: "came to Myra, a city of Lycia, where we got off the ship"
Lycia was a Roman province, located on the southwestern coast of modern-day Turkey.
It is implied that a crew would sail the ship to Italy. Alternate translation: "found a ship that a crew had sailed from Alexandria and was about to sail to Italy"
This is the name of a city.
You can make explicit that the reason they were sailing slowly and with difficulty was because the wind was blowing against them.
This is an ancient settlement located in modern-day Turkey.
"we could no longer go that way because of the strong wind"
"we sailed along the side of Crete where there was less wind"
This is a coastal city in Crete.
You can make explicit that even though the winds were not as strong as before, they were still strong enough to make sailing difficult.
This was a port near Lasea, located on the south coast of Crete.
This is a coastal city in Crete.
Because of the direction the wind was blowing, the journey from Caesarea to Fair Havens had taken more time than planned.
The writer includes himself, Paul, and those who were traveling with them, but not the reader.
This fast took place on the Day of Atonement, which was usually either in the last part of September or the first part of October according to Western calendars. After this time, there was a higher risk of seasonal storms.
"if we travel now, we will suffer much injury and loss"
If your language has a word for "injury" that results from wrongdoing, you may want to use it here.
Paul includes himself and his hearers, so this is inclusive.
Here "loss" means destruction when referring to things and death when referring to people.
Cargo is something that a person transports from one place to another by boat. Alternate translation: "not only the ship and the goods on the ship"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that Paul said"
You can make explicit why it was not easy to stay in the harbor. Alternate translation: "harbor did not sufficiently protect docked ships during winter storms"
a place near land that is usually safe for ships
Phoenix was a port city on the south coast of Crete.
This speaks about the season of winter as if it were a commodity that someone can spend. Alternate translation: "to stay there for the cold season"
Here "faces northwest and southwest" means the opening of the harbor was toward those directions. Alternate translation: "it opened to the northwest and southwest"
These directions are based on what one sees as one faces the setting sun. Northwest is a little to the right of the setting sun, and southwest is a little to the left of the setting sun.
Here "weighed" means "pulled out of the water." An anchor is a heavy object attached to a rope that is secured to the boat. The anchor is tossed into the water and sinks to the bottom of the sea to keep the ship from drifting about.
Paul and those traveling on the boat encounter a fierce storm.
"after a little while"
"a very strong, dangerous wind"
"called 'a strong wind from the northeast.'" The word for "the northeaster" in the original language is "Euroclydon." You can transliterate this word for your language.
"came in from the island of Crete, and it blew strongly against our ship"
"When the wind blew so strongly against the front of the ship that we could not sail against it"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "we stopped trying to sail forward, and we let the wind push us whichever way it blew"
"We sailed on the side of the island where the wind was not so strong"
This island was located on the south coast of Crete.
This was a smaller boat towed behind or secured onto a ship, used to take people and goods across water too shallow for the ship and also to escape from the ship if it sank. At this point the lifeboat was in the water being towed by the ship.
"they had lifted up the lifeboat" or "they had pulled the lifeboat aboard the ship"
The "hull" is the body of the ship. They tied ropes around it so that the ship would not come apart during the storm.
Sandbars are very shallow areas in the sea where ships can get stuck in the sand. Syrtis is located on the coast of Libya, northern Africa.
A sea anchor is something that is towed in the water behind a ship to slow the ship down and make it more stable. It may be a large cloth or a stiff board. Alternate translation: "they let the floating anchor down into the water"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "had to go in whatever direction the wind blew us"
"The wind blew us so roughly back and forth that all of us were badly battered and bruised by the storm"
The word "they" refers to the sailors. This is done to lighten the weight of the ship in an effort to prevent the ship from sinking.
Cargo is something that a person transports from one place to another by boat. See how you translated this in Acts 27:10. Alternate translation: "goods on the ship"
Here "equipment" refers to the sailors' equipment needed to sail the ship: tackle, hoists, beams of wood, block and tackle, ropes, lines, sails, and the like. This indicates how desperate the situation was.
They could not see the sun and stars because of the dark storm clouds. Sailors needed to see the sun and stars in order to know where they were and what direction they were headed.
"the terrible storm still blew us roughly back and forth"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "everyone abandoned hope that we would be saved"
Here the word "hope" is a person's thought that what he desires might happen. Here the men on the boat had no reason to believe that they would be rescued, so they quit hoping. Alternate translation: "we quit thinking that we might be saved"
"be rescued." Since there is no mention of the people praying for God to save them, this might simply have the sense of "survive."
Paul speaks to the sailors on the ship.
Here "they" refers to the sailors. It is implied that Luke, Paul, and those with them had not eaten either. Alternate translation: "When we had gone a long time without food"
"among the men"
"and as a result suffer this harm and loss"
Paul is speaking to the sailors. It is implied that Paul also means that he and those with him will not die either. Alternate translation: "none of us will die: the storm will destroy only the ship"
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The phrase "stand before Caesar" refers to Paul's going to court and letting Caesar judge him. Alternate translation: "You must stand before Caesar so he can judge you"
"has decided to allow all those who are sailing with you to live"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "just as the angel told me"
"we must steer our boat so that it wrecks on some island"
The fierce storm continues.
The ordinal number "fourteenth" can be translated as "fourteen" or "14." Alternate translation: "After 14 days since the storm started, that night"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "as the wind blew us back and forth"
This is the sea between Italy and Greece.
"They measured the depth of the sea water." They measured the depth of water by dropping a line with a weight tied to the end of it into the water.
"found 20 fathoms." A "fathom" is a unit of measurement for measuring the depth of water. One fathom is about two meters. Alternate translation: "found 40 meters"
"found 15 fathoms." A "fathom" is a unit of measurement for measuring the depth of water. One fathom is about two meters. Alternate translation: "found 30 meters"
An anchor is a heavy object attached to a rope that is secured to the boat. The anchor is tossed into the water and sinks to the bottom of the sea, keeping the ship from drifting about. See how you translated this in Acts 27:13.
"from the back of the ship"
This was a smaller boat towed behind or secured onto a ship, used to take people and goods across water too shallow for the ship and also to escape from the ship if it sank. See how you translated this in Acts 27:16.
"from the front of the ship"
Here the word "you" is plural and refers to the centurion and the Roman soldiers.
Paul meant that if those men left the ship, then no one on the ship would be saved. This can be stated positively, and the passive phrase "be saved" can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "You can be saved only if these men stay in the ship" or "Only if these men stay in the ship will you survive"
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"When it was almost sunrise"
The ordinal number "fourteenth" can be stated as "fourteen." Alternate translation: "For 14 days"
This was a customary way of saying no harm would come upon them. Alternate translation: "every one of you will survive this disaster unharmed"
"tore the bread" or "tore off a piece from the loaf of bread"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "This encouraged all of them"
"There were two hundred and seventy-six of us in the ship." This is background information.
This is a metonym for the people themselves. Alternate translation: "people"
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a large area of water partly surrounded by land
"saw land but could not recognize it as any place they knew"
"cut the ropes and left the anchors behind"
large oars or pieces of wood at the back of the ship used for steering
"the sail at the front of the ship." The sail was a large piece of cloth that caught the wind to move the ship.
"they steered the ship toward the beach"
an underwater pile of sand that made the water suddenly shallow
the front end of the ship
"the back end of the ship"
"The soldiers were planning"
"so he stopped them from doing what they planned to do"
"jump off the ship into the water"
"some on wooden boards"
No one knows for sure why Luke ends his history without telling what happened to Paul after he had been in Rome for two years.
The Jewish leaders were surprised that Paul wanted to speak with them, because they had received no letters from the high priest in Jerusalem telling them that Paul was coming.
When the Jewish leaders spoke of "brothers," they were referring to fellow Jews, not to Christians.
The native people believed that Paul was a god, but they did not believe that he was the one true God. We do not know why Paul did not tell the native people that he was not a god.
Here the word "we" refers to Paul, the writer, and those who traveled with them, but not to the reader.
After the shipwreck, people on the island of Malta helped Paul and everyone on the ship. They stay there for 3 months.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "When we arrived safely"
Paul and Luke learned the name of the island. Alternate translation: "we learned from the people" or "we found out from the residents"
Malta is an island located south of the modern-day island of Sicily.
"The local people"
Being kind to someone is spoken of as if it were an object that someone offers. Alternate translation: "were not only very kind to us"
This phrase is used to emphasize the opposite of what is said. Alternate translation: "a great deal of kindness"
"they put together twigs and branches and burned them"
Possible meanings are 1) "welcomed all of the people from the ship" or 2) "welcomed Paul and all his companions."
"a poisonous snake came out of the bundle of sticks"
"bit Paul's hand and did not let go"
"For sure, this man is a murderer" or "This man is truly a murderer"
"Justice" was the name of a goddess that the people on the island worshiped. Alternate translation: "the goddess called Justice"
"shook his hand so that the snake fell from his hand into the fire"
"Paul was not hurt at all"
They they that his body would swell because of the snake venom.
This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "everything about him was as it should be"
To think differently about a situation is spoken of as if a person is changing his mind. Alternate translation: "they thought again"
Perhaps the people believed that someone who lived after a poisonous snake bite was divine or a god. This can be stated as a direct quotation. Alternate translation: "said, 'This man must be a god.'"
Here the words "us" and we" refer to Paul, Luke, and those traveling with them, but not to the reader.
"Now" is used to introduce a new person or event in the account.
Possible meanings are 1) the main leader of the people or 2) someone who was the most important person on the island, perhaps because of his wealth.
This is background information about Publius' father that is important to understanding the story.
"was in bed, ill"
Dysentery is an infectious disease of the intestines.
"touched him with his hands"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he healed them too"
Probably they honored Paul and those with him by giving them gifts.
Paul's journey to Rome continues.
"that the crew left at the island for the cold season"
Possible meanings are this refers to 1) a ship that came from Alexandria, or 2) a ship that was registered or licensed in Alexandria.
On the bow of the ship, there was a carving of the two idols called "the twin gods." Their names were Castor and Pollux.
Syracuse is a city on the southeast coast of the modern-day island of Sicily, just southwest of Italy.
This is the port city located at the southwestern tip of Italy.
"the wind began to blow from the south"
Puteoli is located in modern-day Naples on the west coast of Italy.
"There we met"
These were followers of Jesus, including both men and women. Alternate translation: "fellow believers"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they invited us"
Once Paul reached Puteoli, the rest of the journey to Rome was on land. Alternate translation: "And after we stayed seven days with them, we went to Rome"
The Market of Appius was a popular market village about 60 kilometers south of the city of Rome on a road called the Appian Way. The Three Taverns was another village about 50 kilometers south of Rome.
"after they heard we were coming"
Courage is spoken of as if it were an object that a person could take. Alternate translation: "this encouraged him, and he thanked God"
Here the word "we" refers to the writer, Paul, and those traveling with them, but not to the reader.
Paul arrives in Rome as a prisoner but with the freedom to stay in his own place. He calls the local Jews together to explain what has happened to him.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "After we had arrived in Rome, the Roman authorities gave Paul permission to"
This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.
These are the Jewish civil or religious leaders present in Rome.
Here this means "Fellow Jews."
"against our people" or "against the Jews"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "some of the Jews arrested me in Jerusalem and placed me in the custody of the Roman authorities"
Here "hands" stands for power or control.
"there was no reason for them to execute me" or "I had done nothing to cause them to kill me"
This does not mean all of the Jews. Alternate translation: "the Jewish leaders"
"complained about what the Roman authorities wanted to do"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I had to ask for Caesar to judge me"
The abstract noun "accusation" can be stated as the verb "accuse." Here "nation" stands for the people. Alternate translation: "but it was not because I wanted to accuse the people of my nation before Caesar"
Here the word "hope" is what a person desires to happen and is confident will happen. In this case it is what the people of Israel hope for. Alternate translation: "what Israel joyfully waits for" or "what the people of Israel confidently expect"
Paul did not state clearly what Israel hoped for. He may have been referring 1) to their hope that the Messiah would come or 2) to their hope that God would cause those who have died to live again.
Here "Israel" stands for the people. Alternate translation: "the people of Israel" or "the Jews"
Here "wearing this chain" stands for being a prisoner. Alternate translation: "that I am a prisoner"
Here the word "We" refers to the Jewish leaders in Rome.
The Jewish leaders respond to Paul.
Here "brothers" stands for fellow Jews. Alternate translation: "nor did any of our fellow Jews"
Here the words "we" and "us" refer to the Jewish leaders in Rome.
A sect is a smaller group within a larger group. Here it refers to those who believe in Jesus. Alternate translation: "you think about this group to which you belong"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "because we know"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "many Jews all over the Roman Empire are saying bad things about it"
Here all instances of "they" and "them" refer to the Jewish leaders in Rome. All instances of "him," "his," and "He" refer to Paul (Acts 28:17).
"had chosen a time for him to speak to them"
Here "kingdom of God" stands for God's rule as king. Alternate translation: "told them about God's rule as king" or "told them how God would show himself as king"
Here "the prophets" refers to what they wrote. Alternate translation: "from what the prophets wrote"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Paul was able to convince some of them"
Here the word "they" refers to the Jewish leaders in Rome (Acts 28:17). The word "your" refers to the people to whom Paul had been speaking.
As the Jewish leaders were ready to leave, Paul quoted the Old Testament scriptures that were appropriate for this time.
Here "word" stands for a message or statement. Alternate translation: "after Paul had said one more thing" or "after Paul had made this statement"
This sentence contains quotations within quotations.
Paul begins to quote the book that the prophet Isaiah wrote.
This is the end of the sentence that begins with the words "The Holy Spirit spoke" in verse 25 and that contains quotations within quotations. You can translate one of the inner quotations as an indirect quotation, or you can translate two of the inner quotations as indirect quotations. Alternate translation: "The Spirit told Isaiah to go tell them that they will hear but will not understand and they will see but they will not know"
The words "hear" and "see" are repeated for emphasis. "You will listen carefully ... you will look intently"
Both of these phrases mean basically the same thing. They emphasize that the Jewish people will not understand God's plan.
Translate Paul's quotation of Isaiah as a direct quotation or an indirect quotation according to how you translated it in Acts 28:25-26.
Paul finishes quoting Isaiah the prophet.
People who stubbornly refuse to understand what God is saying or doing are spoken of as if their heart is dull. Here "heart" is a metonym for the mind.
People who stubbornly refuse to understand what God is saying or doing are spoken of as if they are unable to hear and are shutting their eyes so that they will not see.
Here "heart" stands for the mind.
To start obeying God is spoken of as though the person were physically turning toward God.
This does not mean God would only heal them physically. He would also heal them spiritually by forgiving their sins.
Paul finishes speaking to the Jewish leaders in Rome.
God's message about how he saves people is spoken of as if it were an object that is sent. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God is sending his messengers to the Gentiles to tell them about how he will save them"
"some of them will listen." This response of the Gentiles is in contrast to the way the Jews of that time responded.
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Luke ends the story of Paul in the book of Acts.
Here "kingdom of God" refers to God's rule as king. Alternate translation: "He was preaching about God's rule as king" or "He was preaching about how God will show himself as king"
The first verse is a type of introduction. People in the ancient Mediterranean region often started their letters this way. Sometimes this is called a "salutation."
When Paul writes of "the gospel" in this chapter (verses 1, 2, 9, 15, 16, 17), he is referring to the message about God's salvation for people through Jesus's sacrifice on the cross.
This chapter uses the image of a harvest (1:13) to speak of the Roman Christians doing good works because they believe what Paul has told them about Jesus. (See: fruit and faith and righteous)
This chapter explains that everyone is without excuse. We all know about the true God, Yahweh, from his creation all around us. Because of our sin and our sinful nature, every person justly deserves the wrath of God. This wrath was satisfied by Jesus dying on a cross for those who believe in him. (See: believe and sin)
Many scholars view the phrases "God gave them over" and "God gave them up" as theologically significant. In both cases, it means that God had stopped trying to teach the people the right way and had allowed them to do whatever they want, even though everything they wanted to do was evil.
This chapter has many difficult ideas in it. The way Paul writes makes many of the phrases in this chapter difficult to translate. The translator may need to use the UDB to understand the meaning of the phrases and then translate them in a way that is easy for people to understand. Some of the difficult phrases include: "obedience of faith," "whom I serve in my spirit," "from faith to faith" and "exchanged the glory of the imperishable God for the likenesses of an image of perishable man."
Your language may have a particular way of introducing the author of a letter. You may also need to tell in this same verse who the people are to whom Paul wrote the letter
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "Christ. God called me to be an apostle and chose me to tell people about the gospel"
appointed or chosen by God to be his child, to be his servant and proclaimer of his message of salvation through Jesus
God promised his people that he would set up his kingdom. He told the prophets to write these promises in the Scriptures.
This refers to "the gospel of God," the good news that God promised to send his Son into the world.
This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God.
Here the word "flesh" refers to the physical body. Alternate translation: "who is a descendant of David according to the physical nature" or "who was born into the family of David"
The word "he" refers to Jesus Christ. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God declared him with power to be the Son of God"
"by raising him from among the people who are dead." This expression speaks of all dead people together in the underworld, and coming alive again is spoken of as resurrection from among them.
This refers to the Holy Spirit.
Paul talks here about his obligation to preach.
God has given Paul the gift of being an apostle. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God caused me to be an apostle. This is a special privilege"
Paul uses the word "name" as a metonym to refer to Jesus. Alternate translation: "in order to teach all nations to obey because of their faith in him"
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You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "I am writing this letter to all of you in Rome whom God loves and has chosen to become his people"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "May God give you grace and peace" or "May God bless you and give you inner peace"
The word "Father" is an important title for God.
the world Paul and his readers knew and could travel in, which was the Roman Empire
Paul emphasizes that he earnestly prays for them and that God has seen him praying. The word "for" is often left untranslated.
A person's spirit is the part of him that can know God and believe in him.
The good news (gospel) of the Bible is that the Son of God has given himself as the Savior of the world.
This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God.
"I talk to God about you"
"Every time I pray, I ask God that ... I may succeed ... in coming to visit you"
"in whatever way God allows"
"eventually" or "finally"
"now, because God desires it,"
Paul continues his opening statements to the people in Rome by stating his desire to see them in person.
"Because I really want to see you"
Paul wants to strengthen the Roman Christians spiritually. Alternate translation: "some gift that will help you to grow spiritually"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "I mean that I want us to encourage each other by sharing our experiences of faith in Jesus"
Paul is emphasizing that he wanted them to have this information. You can translate this double negative in a positive form. Alternate translation: "I want you to know"
Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "something has always prevented me"
The word "fruit" is a metaphor that represents people in Rome whom Paul wants to believe the gospel. Alternate translation: "that more people among you might trust in Jesus"
the Gentiles in the other regions where he had gone
Using the metaphor "debtor," Paul speaks of his duty to serve God as if he owed God a financial debt. Alternate translation: "I must take the gospel to"
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You can translate this in a positive form. Possible meanings are that 1) Paul is not ashamed of believing the gospel because he knows it is true. Alternate translation: "I am confident in the gospel" 2) Paul is not ashamed of preaching the gospel because he knows that is true. Alternate translation: "I confidently preach the gospel"
Here "believes" means that one puts his trust in Christ. Alternate translation: "it is through the gospel that God powerfully saves those who put their trust in Christ"
"for Jewish people and also for Greek people"
Here "first" means coming before all others in order of time.
Here "it" refers to the gospel. Paul explains why he completely trusts in the gospel.
Paul speaks about the gospel message as if it were an object that God could physically show to people. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God has told us that it is by faith from beginning to end that people become righteous"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "as someone has written in the Scriptures"
Possible meanings are 1) the words "by faith" describe "righteous," and those who by faith are righteous will live, or 2) the words "by faith" describe "will live," and those who are righteous will live by faith.
The word "righteous" can be written as an adjective. Alternate translation: "Righteous people" or "A person who is righteous"
Paul reveals God's great anger against sinful man.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "For God shows how angry he is"
Paul uses the word "for" to show he is about to tell why people know that what he has said in Romans 1:17 is true.
The words "ungodliness" and "unrighteousness" are abstract nouns that can be expressed using the adjectives "ungodly," which describes the people, and "unrighteous," which describes their deeds. These nouns are metonyms for the people with whom God is angry. You can translate this in active form. Alternate translation: "God reveals from heaven how angry he is with people because they are ungodly and do unrighteous deeds"
Here "truth" refers to true information about God. Alternate translation: "hide the true information about God"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "they can know about God because of what they can plainly see"
Here "enlightened them" means God has shown them the truth about him. Alternate translation: "Because God has shown everyone what he is like"
This refers to the heavens and the earth, as well as everything in them.
Paul speaks of people understanding God's invisible qualities as if people have seen those qualities. This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: "people have clearly understood God's invisible qualities, namely his eternal power and divine nature"
"all the qualities and characteristics of God" or "the things about God that make him God"
This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: "because people have discerned them" or "because people have understood them"
This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: "in the things that God has made"
"people do not have an excuse" or "these people can never say that they did not know"
"began to think foolish things"
Here "darkness" is a metaphor that represents the people's lack of understanding. Here "hearts" is a metonym for a person's mind or inner being. Alternate translation: "they became unable to understand what God wanted them to know"
"While they were claiming that they were wise, they became foolish"
the people in Romans 1:18
"traded the truth that God is glorious and will never die"
"stopped loving the glory of the God who never dies and instead chose to worship idols that looked like"
"human beings, who will die"
"or that looked like birds, four-footed beasts, or creeping things"
"Because what I have just said is true"
"God allowed them to indulge in"
These words refer to the "people" of Romans 1:18.
Here "lusts of their hearts" is a synecdoche that represents the evil things they wanted to do. Alternate translation: "the morally impure things they desired greatly"
This is a euphemism that means they committed immoral sexual acts. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "and they committed sexually immoral and degrading acts"
This word refers to the "people" of Romans 1:18.
Here "creation" refers to what God created. Alternate translation: "They worshiped things that God created"
"rather than"
"Because of idolatry and sexual sin"
"God allowed them to do all the dishonorable things they very much wanted to do"
"shameful sexual desires"
"lusts. For example, their women"
The idea of relations "that were unnatural" is a euphemism for immoral sexuality. Alternate translation: "started practicing sexuality in a way God did not design"
Here "natural relations" is a euphemism for sexual relationships. Alternate translation: "many men stopped having natural sexual desire for women"
"experienced strong sexual desire for other men"
"committed acts with men for which they should have been ashamed. But they were not ashamed, and they"
"men, and God has punished them justly for the error they committed"
moral wrong, not a mistake about facts
"They did not think it was necessary to know God"
Possible meanings are 1) God "gave them up to a corrupted mind ... proper" (see the words in this verse) because they not only "exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and ... worshiped and served the creation" (Romans 1:25), but they also "did not approve ... awareness," or 2) God "gave them up ... proper" because "they did not approve ... awareness," in which case "And just as" should be translated "Because."
These words refer to the "people" of Romans 1:18.
Here "a corrupted mind" means a mind that thinks only about immoral things. Alternate translation: "God allowed their minds, which they had filled with worthless and immoral thoughts, to completely control them"
"disgraceful" or "sinful"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "They have in them a strong desire for all" or "They strongly desire to do deeds of"
"Many are constantly envying other people ... Many constantly desire to murder people ... to cause arguments and quarrels among people ... to deceive others ... to speak hatefully about others"
A slanderer says false things about another person in order to damage that person's reputation.
"thinking of new ways to do evil things to others"
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"They know how God wants them to live and that"
Here "practice" refers to continually or habitually doing things that are evil. Alternate translation: "that those who keep on doing wicked things"
"deserve to die"
"these kinds of evil things"
Here the verb "do" refers to continuing to do things that are evil. Alternate translation: "who keep on doing evil things"
This chapter shifts its audience from Roman Christians to those who "judge" other people and do not believe in Jesus. (See: judge and believe)
This phrase looks back at Chapter 1. In some ways, it actually concludes what Chapter 1 teaches. This phrase explains why everyone in the world must worship the true God.
Those who try to obey the law will not be justified by trying to obey it. Those who are justified by believing in Jesus show that their faith is real by obeying God's commands. (See: justice and lawofmoses)
Paul uses several rhetorical questions in this chapter. It appears the intent of these rhetorical questions is to make the readers see their sin so they will trust in Jesus. (See:, guilt and sin and faith)
At times, this could be translated in a simpler way. But it is translated in this relatively awkward way because when Paul refers to "people who judge" he is also saying that everyone judges. It is possible to translate this as "those who judge (and everyone judges)."
Paul has stated that all people are sinners and continues to remind his readers that all people are wicked.
The word "therefore" marks a new section of the letter. It also makes a concluding statement based on what Paul has said in [Romans 1:1-32]
Paul is writing here as if he were addressing a Jewish person who is arguing with him. Paul is doing this to teach his audience that God will punish everyone who continually sins, whether Jew or Gentile.
Here the pronoun "you" is singular.
"excuse. You are just a human being, yet you judge others and say they deserve God's punishment. But you are only judging yourself because you do the same wicked deeds that they do"
Another possible meaning is "whoever you are."
Here the pronoun "we" may include Christian believers and also Jews who are not Christians.
Here Paul speaks of "God's judgment" as if it were alive and could "fall" on people. Alternate translation: "God will judge those people truly and fairly"
"the people who do those wicked deeds"
"So consider this" or "Therefore, consider this"
"think about what I am going to tell you"
Use the phrase "you, whoever you are" or use "you," (with the comma), followed by a general word for a human being.
"you who say someone deserves God's punishment while you do the same wicked deeds"
This remark appears in the form of a question to add emphasis. You can also translate this question as a strong negative statement. Alternate translation: "You will certainly not escape God's judgment!"
This remark appears in the form of a question to add emphasis. You can also translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: "You should not act like it does not matter that God is good and that he patiently waits a long time before he punishes people so that his goodness will cause them to repent!"
"consider the riches ... patience unimportant" or "consider ... patience not good"
This remark appears in the form of a question to add emphasis. You can also translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: "You must know that God shows you he is good so that you might repent!"
Paul continues to remind the people that all people are wicked.
Paul uses a metaphor to compare a person who refuses to obey God to something hard, like a stone. He also uses the metonym "heart" to represent the person's mind or inner being. Alternate translation: "It is because you refuse to listen and repent"
This is a doublet that you can combine as "unrepentant heart."
The phrase "storing up" implies a metaphor that usually refers to a person gathering his treasures and putting them in a safe place. Paul says, instead of treasures, that the person is gathering God's punishment. The longer they go without repenting, the more severe the punishment. Alternate translation: "you are making your punishment worse"
Both of these phrases refer to the same day. Alternate translation: "when God will show everyone that he is angry and that he judges all people fairly"
"give a fair reward or punishment"
"each person according to what that person has done"
who, by persevering and doing good deeds, have
have tried to get
They want God to praise and honor them, and they want to never die.
This refers to physical, not moral, decay.
"selfish" or "only concerned with what makes themselves happy"
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second intensifies the first.
The words "wrath" and "fierce anger" mean basically the same thing and emphasize God's anger. Alternate translation: "God will show his terrible anger"
Here the word "wrath" is a metonym that refers to God's severe punishment of wicked people.
Though this section is speaking to the non-religious wicked person, Paul sums it up by stating both non-Jews and Jews are wicked before God.
The words "tribulation" and "distress" mean basically the same thing here and emphasize how bad God's punishment will be. Alternate translation: "awful punishments to"
Here, Paul uses the word "soul" as a synecdoche that refers to the whole person. Alternate translation: "upon every person"
"has continually done evil things"
"evil. He will judge the Jewish people first, and then those people who are not Jewish"
Possible meanings are 1) "first in order of time" or 2) "most certainly"
"But God will praise, honor, and give peace"
"continually does what is good"
"good. God will reward the Jewish people first, and then those people who are not Jewish"
You should translate this the same way you did in Romans 2:9.
You can translate this in a positive form. Alternate translation: "For God treats all people the same"
"For all those who have sinned"
Paul repeats "without the law" to emphasize that it does not matter if people do not know the law of Moses. If they sin, God will judge them. Alternate translation: "without knowing the law of Moses will certainly still die spiritually"
"all those who have sinned"
God will judge sinful people according to his law. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "and who do know the law of Moses, God will judge them according to that law"
Paul continues to let the reader know that perfect obedience to God's law is required even for those who never had God's law.
Here "the law" refers to the law of Moses. Alternate translation: "it is not those who only hear the law of Moses"
"whom God considers righteous"
"but it is those who obey the law of Moses"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "whom God will accept"
This verse is the beginning of an interruption of Paul's main argument, in which he gives the reader extra information. If you have a way to mark an interruption like this in your language, you can use it here.
This is an idiom that means that these people naturally obey God's laws. Alternate translation: "have God's laws already inside them ... actually do not have the law"
Here "the law" refers to the law of Moses." Alternate translation: "they do not actually have the laws that God gave to Moses"
This verse is the end of an interruption of Paul's main argument, in which he gives the reader extra information. If you have a way to mark an interruption like this in your language, you can use it here.
"By naturally obeying the law they show"
Here "hearts" is a metonym for the person's thoughts or inner person. The phrase "written in their hearts" is a metaphor for knowing something in their mind. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "that God has written on their hearts what the law requires them to do" or "that they know the actions that God wants them to do according to his law"
Here "bears witness" refers to the knowledge they gain from the law that God has written in their hearts. Alternate translation: "tells them if they are disobeying or obeying God's law"
This finishes Paul's thought from Romans 2:13. You can put a period at the end of 2:15 and start a new sentence here. Alternate translation: "This will happen when God judges"
Here begins Paul's discussion that the law the Jews possess actually condemns them because they do not obey it.
"since you call yourself a Jew" or "if you want people to think of you as a Jew"
The phrase "rest upon the law" represents believing that they can become righteous by obeying the law. Alternate translation: "rely on the law of Moses"
"and know God's will"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "because people have taught you what is right from the law" or "because you have learned from the law"
Here "the blind" and "those who walk in darkness" represent people who do not understand the law. Alternate translation: "that because you teach the law, you yourself are like a guide to blind people, and you are like a light to people who are lost in the dark"
"you correct those who do wrong"
Here Paul compares those who do not know anything about the law to very small children. Alternate translation: "you teach those who do not know the law"
The knowledge of the truth that is in the law comes from God. Alternate translation: "and you are sure you understand the truth that God has given in the law"
Paul is using a question to scold his listeners. You can translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: "You teach others, but you do not teach yourself!" or "You teach others, but you do not do what you teach!"
Paul is using a question to scold his listeners. You can translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: "You tell people not to steal, but you steal!"
Paul is using a question to scold his listeners. You can translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: "You tell people not to commit adultery, but you commit adultery!"
Paul is using a question to scold his listener. You can translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: "You say you hate idols, but you rob temples!"
Possible meanings are 1) "do you steal items from local pagan temples to sell and make a profit" or 2) "do you keep back from the Jerusalem temple all the money that is due to God"
Paul uses a question to scold his listener. You can translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: "It is wicked that you claim to be proud of the law while at the same time you disobey it and bring shame to God!"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "many Gentiles blaspheme the name of God"
The word "name" is a metonym that refers to the entirety of God, not just his name.
Paul continues to show that God, by his law, condemns even the Jews who have God's law.
"I say all of this because it is good for you to be circumcised"
"if you do not obey the commandments found in the law"
"it is as though you were no longer circumcised"
"the person who is not circumcised"
"obeys what God commands in the law"
This is the first of two questions Paul asks here to emphasize that circumcision is not what makes one right before God. You can translate this question as a statement in an active form. Alternate translation: "God will consider him as circumcised."
This is the second of two questions that Paul asks here
This refers to Jewish rituals, such as circumcision, which people can see.
This refers to the physical change to a man's body when someone circumcises him.
This is a synecdoche for the whole body. Alternate translation: "body"
These two phrases have similar meanings. The first phrase, "he is a Jew who is one inwardly," explains the second phrase, "circumcision is that of the heart."
This refers to the values and motivations of the person whom God has transformed.
Here "heart" is a metonym for the inner person.
Here "letter" is a synecdoche that refers to written Scripture. Alternate translation: "through the work of the Holy Spirit, not because you know the Scriptures"
This refers to the internal, spiritual part of a person that the Holy Spirit changes.
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verses 4 and 10-18 of this chapter, which is from the Old Testament.
Chapter 3 answers the question, "What advantage does being a Jew have over being a Gentile?" (See: lawofmoses and save)
Because God is holy, anyone with him in heaven must be perfect. Any sin at all will condemn a person. (See: heaven and condemn)
Obeying the law cannot make a person right with God. Obeying God's law is a way a person shows they believe in God. People have always been justified only by faith. (See: justice and faith)
Paul frequently uses rhetorical questions in this chapter. It appears the intent of these rhetorical questions is to make the readers see their sin so they will trust in Jesus. (See: and guilt)
Paul proclaims the advantage that Jews have because God gave them his law.
Paul presents ideas that people might have after they hear what he wrote in chapter 2. He does this in order to respond to them in verse 2. Alternate translation: "Some people might say, 'Then what advantage does the Jew have? And what is the benefit of circumcision?'" or "Some people might say, 'If that is true, then the Jews do not have any advantage, and there is no benefit in being circumcised.'"
Paul now responds to the concerns brought up in verse 1. Here "It" refers to being a member of the Jewish people. Alternate translation: "But there is great advantage to being a Jew"
Possible meanings are 1) "First in order of time" or 2) "Most certainly" or 3) "Most importantly."
Here "revelation" refers to God's words and promises. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God gave his words that contain his promises to the Jews"
Paul uses these questions to make people think. Alternate translation: "Some Jews have not been faithful to God. We should not conclude from this that God will not fulfill his promise."
This expression strongly denies that this could happen. You may have an expression in your language that you could use here. "That is not possible!" or "Certainly not!"
"We should say this instead, let"
God will always be true and will keep his promises. Alternate translation: "God always does what he has promised"
The words "every" and "liar" are exaggerations here to add emphasis that God alone is always true to his promises. Alternate translation: "even if every man were a liar"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "The Scriptures themselves agree with what I am saying"
These two phrases have very similar meanings. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "Everyone must acknowledge that what you say is true, and you will always win your case when anyone accuses you"
Paul uses these questions to present what some people were arguing and to get his readers to think about whether or not this argument is true. Alternate translation: "Some people say that since our unrighteousness shows God's righteousness, then God is unrighteous when he punishes us."
Here "wrath" is a metonym for punishment. Alternate translation: "to bring his punishment upon us" or "to punish us"
"I am saying here what some people say" or "This is what some people say"
"We must never say that God is unrighteous"
Paul uses this question to show that the arguments against the gospel are not valid, since the Jews believe that God will judge all people. Alternate translation: "We all know that God will in fact judge the world!"
The "world" is a metonym for the people who live in the world. Alternate translation: "the people who live in the world"
Here Paul imagines someone continuing to reject the Christian gospel. That adversary argues that his sin shows that God is righteous, so God should not declare that person guilty of sin on judgment day.
"causes people to praise God for his glory"
Here Paul raises a question of his own, to show how ridiculous the argument of his imaginary adversary is. Alternate translation: "I might as well be saying ... come!'"
"as some lie to others, claiming that this what we are saying"
These Greek words are plural: "evil deeds ... good things"
You may need to make explicit that the speakers expect to receive good things. Alternate translation: "good things may come to us" or "we may receive good things"
God will be acting justly when he condemns these enemies of Paul for telling lies about what Paul has been teaching.
Paul sums up that all are guilty of sin, none are righteous, and no one seeks God.
Paul asks these questions to emphasize his point. Alternate translation: "We Jews should not try to imagine we are going to escape God's judgment, just because we are Jewish!"
These words are stronger than a simple "no," but not as strong as "absolutely not!"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "This is as the prophets have written in the Scriptures"
There is no one who understands what is right. Alternate translation: "no one really understands what is right"
Here the phrase "seeks after God" means tries to have a relationship with God. Alternate translation: "no one sincerely tries to have a right relationship with God"
This is an idiom that means the people do not even want to think about God. They want to avoid him. Alternate translation: "They have all turned away from God"
Since no one does what is good, they are useless to God. Alternate translation: "Everyone has become useless to God"
The word "their" refers to the "Jews and Greeks" of Romans 3:9.
The word "throat" is a metonym for everything that people say. Here "open grave" is a metaphor that refers to the stench of dead bodies, a metaphor for the evil words of the people.
The word "tongues" is a metonym for the false words that people speak. Alternate translation: "People speak lies"
Here "poison of snakes" is a metaphor that is used to represent the great harm of the evil words that the people speak. The word "lips" refers to the words of the people. Alternate translation: "Their evil words injure people just like the poison of a venomous snake"
Here "mouths" is a metonym that represents the evil words of the people. The word "full" exaggerates how often people speak bitterly and curse. Alternate translation: "They often speak curses and cruel words"
Here "feet" is a synecdoche that represents the people themselves. The word "blood" is a metaphor that refers to killing people. Alternate translation: "They are in a hurry to harm and murder people"
The word "their" refers to the Jews and Greeks in Romans 3:9.
The word "their" refers to the Jews and Greeks in Romans 3:9.
Here "destruction and suffering" are metonyms that represent the harm that these people cause others to suffer. Alternate translation: "They try to destroy others and cause them to suffer"
These words refer to the Jews and Greeks in Romans 3:9.
"how to live at peace with others." A "way" is a road or path.
This word refers to the Jews and Greeks in Romans 3:9.
Here "fear" is a metonym that represents respect for God and willingness to honor him. Alternate translation: "They refuse to give God the respect he deserves"
Paul speaks of the law here as if it were alive and had its own voice. Alternate translation: "everything that the law says people should do is for" or "all the commands that Moses wrote in the law are for"
"those who must obey the law"
Here "mouth" is a synecdoche that means the words people speak. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "so that no people will be able to say anything valid to defend themselves"
Here "world" is a synecdoche that represents all the people who live in the world. Alternate translation: "that God can declare everyone in the world guilty"
Here "flesh" refers to all human beings.
Possible meanings are 1) "Therefore, through the law" or 2) "This is because through the law"
"when someone knows God's law, he realizes that he has sinned"
The word "but" here shows Paul has completed his introduction and is now beginning to make his main point.
The word "now" refers to the time since Jesus came to the earth.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God has made known a way to be right with him without obeying the law"
The words "the Law and the Prophets" refer to the parts of scripture that Moses and the prophets wrote. Paul describes them here as if they were people testifying in court. Alternate translation: "What Moses and the prophets wrote confirms this"
Here "righteousness" means being right with God. Alternate translation: "being right with God through trusting Jesus Christ"
Paul implies that God accepts all people in the same way. Alternate translation: "There is no difference at all between the Jews and the Gentiles"
Here the "glory of God" is a metonym that refers to the image of God and his nature. Alternate translation: "have failed to be like God"
Here "justified" refers to being made right with God. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God makes them right with himself as a free gift, because Christ Jesus sets them free"
This means that they are justified without having to earn or merit being justified. God freely justifies them. Alternate translation: "they are made right with God without earning it"
This is a metonym for the death of Jesus as a sacrifice for sins. Alternate translation: "in his death as a sacrifice for sins"
Possible meanings are 1) his ignoring or 2) his forgiving.
"God did this to show at this present time that he is righteous"
"By this he shows that he is both just and the the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus"
"the one who declares everyone righteous who has faith in Jesus"
Paul asks this question to show that there is no reason for people to boast about obeying the law. Alternate translation: "So there is no way that we can boast that God favors us because we obeyed those laws. Boasting is excluded"
This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "God does not allow it"
You may need to fill in the words omitted in the ellipsis. Alternate translation: "Through what kind of law is boasting excluded? Is it excluded through a law of works? No, it is excluded through a law of faith" You can also translate using active forms. Alternate translation: "On what grounds does God exclude boasting? Does he exclude it through a law of works? No, he excludes it through a law of faith" or "Why does God exclude boasting? Is it because of something that we have done? No, it is because we have believed"
"On what grounds? ... on the grounds of"
Paul asks these questions to get his readers ready to receive the point he is making. Alternate translation: "Let me tell you what kind of law he excludes it through. It is not through a law of works."
This can be translated in active form. Here the words "by faith" refers to either 1) the means by which God justifies a person. Alternate translation: "God justifies a person through that person's faith" Or 2) the reason for which God justifies a person. Alternate translation: "God justifies a person because he has faith" Faith is not the actor that justifies a person.
"even if he has done no works of the law"
Paul asks this question for emphasis. Alternate translation: "You who are Jews certainly should not think that you are the only ones whom God will accept!"
Paul asks this question to emphasize his point. Alternate translation: "He will also accept non-Jews, that is, Gentiles"
Here "circumcision" is a metonym that refers to Jews and "uncircumcision" is a metonym that refers to non-Jews. Alternate translation: "God will make both Jews and non-Jews right with himself through their faith in Christ"
Paul confirms the law though faith.
Paul asks a question that one of his readers might have. Alternate translation: "Someone might say that we can ignore the law because we have faith."
This expression gives the strongest possible negative answer to the preceding rhetorical question. You may have a similar express in your language that you could use here. Alternate translation: "This is certainly not true" or "Certainly not"
"we obey the law"
This pronoun refers to Paul, other believers, and the readers.
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verses 7-8 of this chapter, which is from the Old Testament.
Paul builds upon material from chapter 3. He explains how Abraham, the father of Israel, was justified. Even Abraham could not be justified by what he did. Obeying the law of Moses does not make a person right with God. Obeying God's commands is a way a person shows they believe in God. People have always been justified only by faith. (See: justice and lawofmoses and faith)
Circumcision was important to the Israelites. It identified a male as a descendant of Abraham. It was also a sign of the covenant between Abraham and Yahweh. However, no person was justified only by being circumcised. (See: circumcise and covenant)
Paul uses rhetorical questions in this chapter. It appears the intent of these rhetorical questions is to make the readers see their sin so they will trust in Jesus. (See: and guilt and sin)
Paul uses the question to catch the attention of the reader and to start talking about something new. Alternate translation: "This is what Abraham our physical ancestor found."
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Paul uses this question to call attention to what he is about to say, not to receive an answer. He speaks of the Scriptures as if they were alive and could talk. Alternate translation: "For this is what is in the scripture:"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God considered Abraham to be a righteous person because he believed"
"no one counts what his employer pays him as a gift from his employer"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "but as what his employer owes him"
"in God, who justifies"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God considers that person's faith as righteousness" or "God considers that person righteous because of his faith"
"David also wrote about how God blesses the man whom God makes righteous without works"
The same concept is stated in two different ways. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "who have broken the law, but the Lord has forgiven ... whose sins the Lord has covered"
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This remark appears in the form of a question to show that Paul is beginning a discussion about the relationship between blessing and circumcision. Alternate translation: "I want to show you how it is that God blesses not only those who are circumcised, but also those who are not circumcised"
This is a metonym that refers to the Jewish people. Alternate translation: "the Jews"
This is a metonym that refers to the people who are not Jews. Alternate translation: "the Gentiles"
Paul is going to show that because God counted Abraham as righteous by faith, we can infer that it is people who have faith that God counts righteous.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God considered the faith of Abraham as righteousness"
Paul asks two questions to introduce the third sentence. If your language does not allow speakers to use questions to introduce what they are talking about, you may need to translate these all as statements. Alternate translation: "This is when righteousness was counted to him: it was not after he had been circumcised, but before!"
Paul is asking in a general way about the circumstances in which God considered Abraham righteous. He is not asking what procedure God followed to consider Abraham righteous. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "How did God consider Abraham to be righteous?"
This can be stated with the words that have been omitted in the ellipsis. Alternate translation: "It happened before he was circumcised, not after he was circumcised"
Here "righteousness that he had by faith" means that God considered him to be righteous because he had faith. Alternate translation: "a visible sign that God considered him righteous because he had believed in God before he was circumcised"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "so that God would consider them righteous"
Paul is saying that circumcision alone does not make a man a descendant of Abraham, that is, a true Jew. A true Jew is one who has been circumcised and who lives by faith the way Abraham did.
Here "the circumcision" refers to Jews.
Here "walk in the footsteps of the faith" is an idiom that means to follow someone's example. Alternate translation: "who follow our father Abraham's example in the faith that he had" or "who have faith as our father Abraham did"
Paul confirms that even in the past believers were made right with God by faith and not by the law.
The words "the promise came" are understood from the first phrase. You can translate this by adding these implied words. Alternate translation: "law, but the promise came through faith, which God considers as righteousness"
The people to whom God has made promises are spoken of as if they were to inherit property and wealth from a family member.
Here "live by the law" refers to obeying the law. Alternate translation: "if those who obey the law are the ones who will inherit the earth"
"faith has no value, and the promise is meaningless"
This can be restated to remove the abstract noun "transgression." Alternate translation: "no one has disobeyed the law" or "it is impossible to disobey the law"
"So"
The word "it" refers to receiving what God had promised. Alternate translation: "it is by faith that we receive the promise" or "we receive the promise by faith"
Here "the promise may rest on grace" represents God giving what he promised because of his grace. Alternate translation: "so that what he promised might be a free gift" or "so that his promise would be because of his grace"
This refers to the Jewish people, who were obligated to obey the law of Moses.
This refers to those who have faith as Abraham did before he was circumcised. Alternate translation: "those who believe as Abraham did"
Here the word "us" refers to Paul and includes all Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Christ. Abraham is the physical ancestor of the Jewish people, but he is also the spiritual father of those who have faith.
Where it is written can be made explicit. You can also translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "as someone has written in the Scriptures"
Here the word "you" is singular and refers to Abraham.
Here "of him whom he trusted" refers to God. Alternate translation: "Abraham was in the presence of God whom he trusted, who gives life to those who have died"
"creates everything from nothing"
This idiom means that Abraham hoped and believed even though what he hoped for seemed to be impossible. That is, Abraham trusted God to give him many descendants, even though it seemed to be impossible for him to have children. Alternate translation: "Even though it seemed that there was no reason to hope, Abraham hoped and believed" or "Even though it seemed to be impossible for him to have descendants, Abraham believed God and confidently expected"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "just as God said to Abraham"
The full promise God gave to Abraham can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "You will have more descendants than you can count"
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You can translate this double negative in a positive form. Alternate translation: "kept on acting in faith. He"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "he became stronger in his faith"
"Abraham was completely sure"
"God was able to do"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "Therefore God counted Abraham's belief as righteousness" or "Therefore God considered Abraham righteous because Abraham believed him"
"also, as the scripture says, 'counted to him as righteousness.'"
"for Abraham only"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God counted righteousness to him" or "God considered him righteous"
The word "us" refers to Paul and includes all believers in Christ.
You can translate this without the passive form "written." Alternate translation: "Those words were also for us"
The word "it" refers to righteousness. You can translate this with an active form. Alternate translation: "God will count righteousness to us who believe in him" or "God will consider us righteous if we believe in him"
"Raised ... from the dead" here is an idiom for "caused to live again." Alternate translation: "him who caused Jesus our Lord to live again"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "whom God gave over to enemies for our trespasses and whom God brought back to life so he could make us right with him"
Many scholars view verses 12-17 as some of the most important, but difficult, verses in Scripture to understand. Some of their richness and meaning has likely been lost while being translated from how the original Greek was constructed.
How Paul explains the results of our being justified is an important part of this chapter. These results include having peace with God, having access to God, being confident about our future, being able to rejoice when suffering, being eternally saved, and being reconciled with God. (See: justice)
Scholars are divided over what Paul meant in verse 12: "And death spread to all people, because all sinned." Some believe that all of mankind was present in the "seed of Adam." So, as Adam is the father of all mankind, all of mankind was present when Adam sinned. Others believe that Adam served as a representative head for mankind. So when he sinned, all of mankind "fell" as a result. Whether people today played an active or passive role in Adam's original sin is one way these views differ. Other passages will help one decide.
Adam was the first man and the first "son" of God. He was created by God. He brought sin and death into the world by eating the forbidden fruit. Paul describes Jesus as the "second Adam" in this chapter and the true son of God. He brings life and overcame sin and death by dying on the cross. (See: sonofgod and death)
Paul begins to tell many different things that happen when God makes believers right with him.
"Because we are justified"
All occurrences of "we" and "our" refer to all believers and should be inclusive.
"because of our Lord Jesus Christ"
Here "Lord" means that Jesus is God.
Here "by faith" refers to our trust in Jesus, which allows us to stand before God. Alternate translation: "Because we trust in Jesus, God allows us to come into his presence"
Here the word "hope" is a person's confident expectation that what he desires really will happen. The abstract noun "hope" can be translated here with the verbs "confidently expect" or "confidently wait" or "trust." Alternate translation: "we rejoice because we confidently expect to share in the glory of God"
The word "this" refers to the ideas described in Romans 5:1-2.
These words refer to all believers and should be inclusive.
"suffering helps us learn to endure"
Perseverance is an abstract noun that can be translated as a verb. Here it is a metonym for the person who endures. You may need to make explicit what it is that a person endures. Alternate translation: "We develop character when we endure hardship"
the desire and ability to do what is right
"having characer helps us to hope." Here the word "hope" is a person's confident expectation that what he desires really will happen, and it refers to the confident expectation that God will fulfill all his promises. The abstract noun "hope" can be translated here with the verbs "wait confidently" or "trust". Alternate translation: "character helps us to wait confidently" or "character helps us to trust God"
These words refer to all believers and should be inclusive.
Paul uses personification here as he speaks of "hope" as if it were alive. "Hope" is an abstract noun that can be translated as a verb. Alternate translation: "we are very confident that we will receive the things that we wait for"
"make us ashamed"
Here "hearts" represents a person's thoughts, feelings, or inner person. The phrase "the love of God has been poured into our hearts" is a metaphor for God showing love to his people. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "because he has loved us greatly" or "because God has shown us how much he loves us"
The word "we" here refers to all believers and so should be inclusive.
"It is hard to find someone who is willing to die, even for a righteous person"
"but you might find someone who is willing to die for such a good person"
You can translate this verb in past tense using "demonstrated" or "showed."
All occurrences of "us" and "we" refer to all believers and should be inclusive.
Paul is saying that because we are justified by Christ's blood, we can be much more certain that Christ will save us. Alternate translation: "Now that we are justified by his blood, we will more certainly be saved"
Here "justified" means that God puts us in a right relationship with himself. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "now that God has made us right with himself because of Christ's death"
This is a metonym for the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross.
God forgives us and rescues us from being punished in hell for our sin.
Here "wrath" is a metonym that refers to God's punishment of those who have sinned against him. Alternate translation: "God's punishment"
All occurrences of "we" refer to all believers and should be inclusive.
"God's Son ... the life of God's Son"
The death of the Son of the God has provided eternal forgiveness and made all who believe in Jesus friends with God. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God allowed us to have a peaceful relationship with him because his Son died for us"
This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "now that God has made us his friends again"
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Paul explains why death happened even before God gave the law to Moses.
Paul describes sin as a dangerous thing that came into the world through the actions of "one man," Adam. This sin then became an opening through which death, pictured here as another dangerous thing, also came into the world.
This means that the people sinned before God gave the law. Alternate translation: "People in the world sinned before God gave his law to Moses"
This means that God did not charge the people with sinning before he gave the law. Alternate translation: "but God recorded no sin against the law before he gave the law"
"Even though what I have just said is true, death" or "There was no written law from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, but death" (Romans 5:13).
Paul is speaking of death as if it were a king who ruled. Alternate translation: "people continued to die from the time of Adam until the time of Moses as a consequence of their sin"
"Moses. Even people whose sins were different from Adam's continued to die, Adam being"
Adam was a pattern of Christ, who appeared much later. He had much in common with him.
Here "grace" refers to God's free gift that he made available to everyone through Jesus Christ. Alternate translation: "even more through the man Jesus Christ, who died for us all, did God kindly offer us this gift of everlasting life, although we do not deserve it"
Here "the gift" refers to God's freely erasing the record of our sins. Alternate translation: "The gift is not like the result of Adam's sin"
The abstract nouns "judgment," "trespass," and "condemnation," can be expressed with verbs. Alternate translation: "After one man trespassed, God judged all people and condemned them to be punished" or "God declared that all people deserved to have him punish them because one man committed one sin"
The abstract nouns "gift," "trespass," and "justification" can be expressed as verbs. It is implied that God's gift of justification is greater than his judgement. Alternate translation: "but after people trespassed many times, God gave the gift and justified them" or "but the gift is greater because he gave it after many people had committed many sins, and by giving the gift he justified them"
This refers to the sin of Adam.
Here Paul speaks of "death" as a king who ruled. The "rule" of death causes everyone to die. Alternate translation: "everyone died"
The abstract nouns "trespass" and "condemnation" can be expressed with the verbs "sin" and "condemn." Alternate translation: "as one trespass caused all people to be condemned" or "as all people are condemned because one person sinned against God"
This refers to Adam's sin.
Here "condemnation" refers to God's punishment. Alternate translation: "all people deserve God's punishment for sin"
The abstract nouns "justification" and "life" can be expressed with the verbs "justify" and "live." Alternate translation: "one act of righteousness allows all people to be justified and live" or "all people can be justified and live because one person did that one righteous act"
This refers to Jesus's obedience to God in dying for our sins.
the disobedience of Adam
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "many people sinned"
the obedience of Jesus
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "of the one, God will make many people right with him"
Here Paul speaks of the law as if it were a person. Alternate translation: "God gave his law to Moses"
"sin increased"
Here "grace" refers to God's undeserved blessings. Alternate translation: "God continued to act even more kindly toward them, in a way that they did not deserve"
Here Paul speaks of sin as if it were a king who ruled over people and made them unable to obey God and ultimately killing them, and he speaks of grace as if it were a king who might rule over people and enable them to be right with God. Alternate translation: "as people obeyed their desire to sin and therefore had to die ... God might show grace to people and allow them to be right with him, resulting in everlasting life"
Paul includes himself, his readers, and all believers.
Paul begins this chapter by answering how someone might object to what he taught in Chapter 5.
In this chapter, Paul refutes the teaching that Christians can live however they want after they are saved. Scholars call this "antinomianism" or being "against the law." To motivate godly living, Paul recalls the great price Jesus paid for a Christian to be saved. (See: save and godly)
Before they believe in Jesus, people are servants of sin, that is, they are unable to resist their desire to sin. God frees Christians from serving sin. They are able to choose to serve Christ in their lives. Paul explains that when Christians choose to sin, they willingly choose to sin. (See: faith and sin)
This chapter uses the imagery of fruit. The image of fruit usually refers to a person's faith producing good works in their life. (See: fruit and righteous)
Paul uses rhetorical questions in this chapter. It appears the intent of these rhetorical questions is to make the readers see their sin so they will trust in Jesus. (See: and guilt and sin)
Paul uses "death" to refer to many different things in this chapter: physical death, spiritual death, sin reigning in the heart of man, and the end of something. He contrasts sin and death with the new life provided by Christ and the new way Christians are supposed to live after they are saved. (See: death)
Under grace, Paul tells those who believe in Jesus to live a new life as though dead to sin and alive to God.
Paul asks these rhetorical questions to get the attention of his readers. Alternate translation: "So, what should we say about all of this? We certainly should not keep on sinning so that God will give us more and more grace!
The pronoun "we" refers to Paul, his readers, and other people.
Here "We who died to sin" refers to those who follow Jesus, who are now like dead people who cannot be affected by sin. Paul uses this rhetorical question to add emphasis. Alternate translation: "We are now like dead people on whom sin has no effect! So we certainly should not keep on sinning!"
Paul uses this question to add emphasis. Alternate translation: "Remember, when someone baptized us to show that we have a relationship with Christ, this also shows that we died with Christ on the cross!
Here Paul speaks of a believer's baptism in water as if it were a death and burial. Alternate translation: "When someone baptized us, it is just like that person buried us with Christ in the tomb"
To raise from the dead is an idiom for causing a person to live again. This compares a believer's new spiritual life to Jesus coming back to life physically. The believer's new spiritual life enables that person to obey God. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "just as the Father brought Jesus back to life after he died, we might have new spiritual life and obey God"
All those who have died. This expression describes all dead people together in the underworld. To be raised from among them speaks of becoming alive again.
Paul compares our union with Christ to death. Those who are joined with Christ in death will share in his resurrection. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "died with him ... come back to life with him"
The "old man" is a metaphor that refers to the person before he believes in Jesus. Paul describes our old sinful person as dying on the cross with Jesus when we believe in Jesus. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "our sinful person died on the cross with Jesus"
This means the person who once was, but who does not exist now.
This is a metonym that refers to the whole sinful person. Alternate translation: "our sinful nature"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "might die"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "sin should no longer enslave us" or "we should no longer be slaves to sin"
Slavery to sin is a metaphor meaning having such a strong desire to sin that one is unable to stop himself from sinning. It is as if sin controls the person. Alternate translation: "we should no longer be controlled by sin"
Here "righteous" refers to being right with God. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "When God declares a person right with him, that person is no longer controlled by sin"
Here "died" refers to the fact that believers are no longer controlled by sin.
Here to raise up is an idiom for causing someone who has died to become alive again. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "We know since God brought Christ back to life after he died"
All those who have died. This expression describes all dead people together in the underworld. To be raised from among them is to become alive again.
Here "death" is described as if it were a king or ruler that has power over people. Alternate translation: "He cannot ever die again"
Possible meanings are 1) he died once, and he will not die again, nor will anyone else need to die, or 2) it is true now and will be true for all time that he died.
"For this reason consider"
"think of yourselves as" or "see yourselves as"
Just as one cannot force a corpse to do anything, sin has no power to force believers to dishonor God. Alternate translation: "as if you were dead to the power of sin"
"dead to the power of sin, but living to honor God"
"living to honor God through the power Christ Jesus gives you"
Paul reminds us that grace rules over us, not the law; we are not sin's slaves, but God's slaves.
Paul speaks of people sinning as if sin were their master or king that controlled them. Alternate translation: "Do not let sinful desires control you"
This phrase refers to the physical part of a person, which will die. Alternate translation: "you"
Obeying the mortal body's lusts would be the result of letting sin rule in the body. That is why Paul commands people not to let sin rule in their mortal body—so they they do not obey its lusts. Paul speaks of people doing the evil things they desire as if the body had evil desires and commanded people to do what it desires.
The picture is of the sinner offering his "members," the parts of his body to his master or king. One's "members" are a synecdoche for the whole person. Alternate translation: "Do not offer yourselves to sin so that you do what is not right"
Here the words "brought ... to life" refer to the believer's new spiritual life. Alternate translation: "But offer yourselves to God because he has given you new spiritual life" or "But offer yourselves to God as those who had died and are now alive"
Here "members" is a synecdoche that refers to the whole person. Alternate translation: "let God use you for what is pleasing to him"
Paul speaks of "sin" here as if it were a king who rules over people. Alternate translation: "Do not let sinful desires control what you do" or "Do not allow yourselves to do the sinful things you want to do"
To be "under law" means to be subject to its limitations and weaknesses. You can make the full meaning explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: "For you are no longer bound to the law of Moses, which could not give you the power to stop sinning"
To be "under grace" means that God's free gift provides the power to keep from sinning. You can make the full meaning explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: "but you are bound to God's grace, which does give you the power to stop sinning"
Paul is using a question to emphasize that living under grace is not a reason to sin. Alternate translation: "However, just because we are bound to grace instead of the law of Moses certainly does not mean we are allowed to sin"
"We would never want that to happen!" or "May God help me not to do that!" This expression shows an extremely strong desire that this does not take place. You may have a similar expression in your language that you could use here. See how you translated it in Romans 3:31.
Paul uses a question to scold anyone who may think God's grace is a reason to keep sinning. You can translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: "You should know that if you present yourselves as slaves to anyone, you are slaves to whomever you obey!"
"which results in death ... which results in righteousness"
"But I thank God!"
Being "slaves of sin" is a metaphor meaning they have such a strong desire to sin that they are unable to keep from sinning. It is as if sin controls the person. Alternate translation: "you were like slaves of sin" or "you were unable to keep from sinning"
Here the word "heart" refers to having sincere or honest motives for doing something. Alternate translation: "but you truly obeyed"
Here "pattern" refers to the way of living that leads to righteousness. The believers change their old way of living to match this new way of living that Christian leaders teach to them. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "the teaching that Christian leaders gave you"
Here "free from sin" is a metaphor for them no longer having a strong desire to sin and therefore being able to stop themselves from sinning. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "Christ has freed you from sin" or "Your strong desire to sin has been taken away" or "You have been made free from sin's control over you" (See: and )
Slavery of righteousness is a metaphor meaning having a strong desire to do what is right. It is as if righteousness controls the person. Alternate translation: "you have been made like slaves of righteousness" or "you are now controlled by righteousness"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Christ has made you slaves of righteousness" or "Christ has changed you so that now you are controlled by righteousness"
Paul may have expected his readers to wonder why he was speaking of slavery and freedom. Here he is saying that he is using these ideas from their everyday experience to help them understand that people are controlled either by sin or by righteousness. Alternate translation: "I am speaking about this in human terms" or "I am using examples from everyday life"
Often Paul uses the word "flesh" as the opposite of "spirit." Alternate translation: "because you do not fully understand spiritual things"
Here, the word "members" refers to the whole person. Alternate translation: "offered yourselves as slaves to everything that is evil and not pleasing to God"
Here the word "members" refers to the whole person. Alternate translation: "offer yourselves as slaves to what is right before God so that he might set you apart and give you the power to serve him"
Here "free from righteousness" is a metaphor for not having to do what is righteous. The people were living as though they thought that they did not have to do what was right. Alternate translation: "it was as though you were free from righteousness" or "you behaved as though you did not have to do what was right" or
"Fruit" here is a metaphor for "result" or "outcome." Paul is using a question to emphasize that sinning results in nothing good. Alternate translation: "Nothing good came from those things that now cause you shame." or "You gained nothing by doing those things that now cause you shame."
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "But now that you have become free from sin and have become God's slaves" or "But now that God has freed you from sin and made you his slaves"
Being "free from sin" is a metaphor for being able not to sin. Alternate translation: "But now that God has made you able not to sin"
Being "enslaved" to God is a metaphor for being able to serve and obey God. Alternate translation: "and God has made you able to serve him"
Here "fruit" is a metaphor for "result" or "benefit." Alternate translation: "the benefit is your sanctification" or "the benefit is that you live in a holy way"
"The result of all of this is that you will live forever with God"
The word "wages" refers to a payment given to someone for their work. "For if you serve sin, you will receive spiritual death as payment" or "For if you continue sinning, God will punish you with spiritual death"
"but God gives eternal life to those who belong to Christ Jesus our Lord"
Paul uses this phrase to discuss a new topic and connects what follows with the previous teaching.
Paul explains that the law of Moses is no longer in effect. While this is true, the timeless principles behind the law reflect the character of God. (See: lawofmoses)
Scripture commonly uses marriage as a metaphor. Here Paul uses it to describe how the church relates to the law of Moses and now to Christ.
This is a complex issue. "Flesh" is possibly a metaphor for our sinful nature. Paul is not teaching that our physical bodies are sinful. Paul appears to be teaching that as long as Christians are alive ("in the flesh"), we will continue to sin. But our new nature will be fighting against our old nature. (See: flesh and sin)
Paul explains how the law controls those who want to live under the law.
Paul asks this question to add emphasis. Alternate translation: "So you certainly know brothers ... that people have to obey laws only while they are alive"
Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.
This verse begins a description of what Paul means by "the law controls a person for as long as he lives" (Romans 7:1).
Here "bound by law to the husband" is a metaphor for a woman being united to her husband according to the law of marriage. Alternate translation: "according to the law, the married woman is united to the husband"
This refers to any woman who is married.
This verse ends a description of what Paul means by "the law controls a person for as long as he lives" (Romans 7:1).
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God will consider her an adulteress" or "people will call her an adulteress"
Here being free from the law means not having to obey the law. In this case, the woman does not have to obey the law that says that a married woman cannot marry another man. Alternate translation: "she does not have to obey that law"
This relates back to Romans 7:1.
Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "you also died to the law when through Christ you died on the cross"
"Raised" here is an idiom for "caused to live again." This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: "to him who was caused to live again" or "to him whom God raised from the dead" or "to him whom God caused to live again"
Here "fruit" is a metaphor for actions that please God. Alternate translation: "we might be able to do things pleasing to God"
Here "fruit" is a metaphor for a "result of one's actions" or "outcome of one's actions." Alternate translation: "which resulted in spiritual death" or "the outcome of which was our own spiritual death"
Paul reminds us that God does not make us holy by the law.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God has released us from the law"
This pronoun refers to Paul and the believers.
This refers to the law. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "to the law, which bound us"
This refers to the law of Moses. Alternate translation: "the law of Moses"
Paul is introducing a new topic.
"Of course that is not true!" This expression gives the strongest possible negative answer to the preceding rhetorical question. You may have a similar expression in your language that you could use here. See how you translated this in Romans 9:14.
Paul is speaking of sin as if it were a person who can act.
"my desire to sin"
Paul continues comparing sin to a person who can act.
This word includes both the desire to have what belongs to other people and wrong sexual desire.
"if there were no law, there would be no breaking of the law, so there would be no sin"
This can mean 1) "I realized that I was sinning" or 2) "I strongly desired to sin"
Paul speaks of God's condemnation as if it resulted primarily in physical death. Alternate translation: "God gave me the commandment so I would live, but it killed me instead"
As in [Romans 7:7-8]
"my desire to sin"
Paul is comparing sin to a person who can act. See how you translated this in [Romans 7:8]
Paul speaks of God's condemnation on sinners as if it resulted primarily in physical death. Alternate translation: "it separated me from God"
Possible meanings are that it is holy because 1) it comes from God or 2) it reveals God's true nature.
Paul talks about the struggle inside his inner man between sin in his inner man and his mind with the law of God—between sin and good.
Paul is introducing a new topic.
Paul uses this question to add emphasis.
This refers to God's law.
"cause me to die"
This expression gives the strongest possible negative answer to the preceding rhetorical question. You may have a similar expression in your language that you could use here. Alternate translation: "Of course that is not true"
Paul speaks of sin as though it were a person who could act.
Paul speaks of being separated from God as if he were literally dead. Alternate translation: "separated me from God"
"because I disobeyed the commandment"
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Paul talks about the struggle inside his inner man between his flesh and the law of God—between sin and good.
"I am not sure why I do some of the things that I do"
"Because what I do"
The words "I do not do" are an exaggeration to emphasize that Paul does not do what he wants to do as often as he would like or that he does what he does not want to do too often. Alternate translation: "I do not always do what I want to do"
The words "I do," which implies that he always does what he hates to do, are an exaggeration to emphasize that Paul does what he does not want to do too often. Alternate translation: "the things that I know are not good are the things that I sometimes do"
"However, if I do"
To agree with the law here is to agree with God about the law. Alternate translation: "I agree with God that the law is good"
Paul describes sin as a living being that has the power to influence him.
Here "flesh" is a metonym for the sinful nature. Alternate translation: "my sinful nature"
"the good deeds" or "the good actions"
"the evil deeds" or "the evil actions"
Paul speaks of "sin" as if it were alive and living inside him.
The words "this law" refer to the natural human desire to rebel against God and disobey him. Paul calls this a law because he has observed that this is the way people live. It is not a collection of written commands.
Paul speaks of evil here as if it were alive and living with him.
Here the phrase "inner person" refers to the personality, heart, or soul. Alternate translation: "with my heart" or "with my soul"
Paul has a desire to obey God, but at times he also has a desire to do things that God hates. He writes of the two desires he has as if they were two men fighting each other.
These words refer to the natural human desire to rebel against God and disobey him. Paul calls this a law because he has observed that this is the way people live. It is not a collection of written commands.
The phrase "the members of my body" is another way of saying "my flesh"
These words refer to the law of Moses, which was God's commands in written form (Romans 7:22).
This "law of sin" is the same as the "different law," the natural human desire to rebel against God and disobey him. Paul calls this a law because he has observed that this is the way people live. It is not a collection of written commands.
Paul uses this question to express great emotion. If your language has a way of showing great emotion through an exclamation or a question, use it here. Alternate translation: "I want someone to set me free from the control of what my body desires!"
"rescue me"
This is a metaphor that means a body that will experience physical death.
This is the answer to the question in 7:24.
The law of God and the law of sin are spoken of as if they were masters whom Paul serves as a slave. With the mind or intellect Paul chooses to please and obey God, and with the flesh or physical nature he chooses to disobey God and to sin. Alternate translation: "My mind chooses to please God by obeying the law of Moses, but my flesh chooses to disobey God and sin"
These words refer to the law of Moses, which was God's commands in written form.
These words refer to the natural human desire to rebel against God and disobey him. Paul calls this a law because he has observed that this is the way people live. It is not a collection of written commands.
The first verse of this chapter is a transitional sentence. Paul concludes his teaching of Chapter 7 and leads into the words of Chapter 8.
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with verse 36. Paul quotes these words from the Old Testament.
The Holy Spirit is said to live inside a person or inside their heart. If the Spirit is present, this signifies that a person is saved. (See: save)
Jesus is the Son of God in a unique way. God also adopts Christians to be his children. (See: sonofgod and adoption)
Twice in verses 29-30 Paul uses the word "predestined." Some take this to indicate that God has, from before the foundation of the world, chosen his own people to be eternally saved. Christians have different views on what the Bible teaches on this subject. So translators need to take extra care when translating this chapter, especially with regards to elements of causation. (See: predestine and save)
Paul poetically presents his teaching in verses 38 and 39 in the form of an extended metaphor. He explains that nothing can separate a person from the love of God in Jesus.
This phrase must be translated carefully to avoid doctrinal confusion. People are still guilty of their sin. God disapproves of sinful acts, even those that believers in Jesus commit. God still punishes the sins of believers, but Jesus has paid the punishment for their sin. This is what Paul expresses here. The word "condemn" has several possible meanings. Here Paul emphasizes that people who believe in Jesus are no longer punished eternally for their sin by being "condemned to hell." (See: guilt and faith and condemn)
This is a complex issue. "Flesh" is possibly a metaphor for our sinful nature. Paul is not teaching that our physical bodies are sinful. Paul appears to be teaching that as long as Christians are alive ("in the flesh"), we will continue to sin. But our new nature will be fighting against our old nature. (See: flesh)
Paul gives the answer to the struggle he has with sin and good.
Here "condemnation" refers to the punishment of people. Alternate translation: "God will not condemn and punish those who are joined to Christ Jesus"
"For that reason, there is now" or "Because what I have just told you is true, there is now"
This refers to God's Spirit. Alternate translation: "God's Spirit in Christ Jesus"
Being free from the law of sin and death is a metaphor for not being controlled by the law of sin and death. Alternate translation: "has caused the law of sin and death to no longer control you"
Possible meanings are that this refers to 1) the written law, which provokes people to sin, which in turn causes them to die. Alternate translation: "the law which causes sin and death" or 2) the "different law" (see Romans 7:23) that people sin and die.
Here the law is described as a person who could not break the power of sin. Alternate translation: "For the law did not have the power to stop us from sinning, because the power of sin within us was too strong. But God did stop us from sinning"
"because of people's sinful nature"
The Son of God forever satisfied God's holy anger against our sin by giving his own body and human life as the eternal sacrifice for sin.
This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God.
"who looked like a sinful human being"
"so that he could die as a sacrifice for our sins"
Possible meanings are 1) "flesh" refers to our human nature or lives. Alternate translation: "he destroyed sin in our human nature" or 2) "flesh" refers to Christ's body, and "in the flesh" refers to Christ's death. Alternate translation: "in Christ's flesh God condemned sin" or "by Christ's death God condemned sin."
In this verse, "condemned" is a metonym for "destroyed." Alternate translation: "he destroyed sin" or "he broke the power of the sin"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "we might fulfill what the law requires"
Walking on a path is a metaphor for how a person lives his life. The flesh is an idiom for sinful human nature. Alternate translation: "we who do not obey our sinful desires"
"but who obey the Holy Spirit"
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Paul continues to contrast the flesh with the Spirit we now have.
Here Paul speaks of both the "flesh" and the "spirit" as if they were living persons. Alternate translation: "the way sinful people think ... the way people who listen to the Holy Spirit think"
Here this means the separation of a person from God.
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This refers to people who do what their sinful nature tells them to do.
"acting according to your sinful natures." See how "the flesh" was translated in Romans 8:5.
"acting according to the Holy Spirit"
These all refer to the Holy Spirit.
This phrase does not mean Paul doubts that some of them have God's Spirit. Paul wants them to realize that they all have God's Spirit. Alternate translation: "since" or "because"
How Christ lives in a person could be made explicit. Alternate translation: "If Christ lives in you through the Holy Spirit"
Possible meanings are 1) a person is spiritually dead to the power of sin or 2) the physical body will still die because of sin.
Possible meanings are 1) a person is spiritually alive because God has given him power to do what is right or 2) God will bring the person back to life after he dies because God is righteous and gives believers eternal life.
Paul assumes that the Holy Spirit lives in his readers. Alternate translation: "Since the Spirit ... lives in you"
"of God, who raised ... from the dead, lives"
Here to raise is an idiom for causing someone who has died to become alive again. Alternate translation: "caused Jesus to live again"
"physical bodies through his Spirit" or "bodies, which will die someday, through his Spirit"
"Because what I have just told you is true"
Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.
Paul is speaking of obedience as if it were paying back a debt. Alternate translation: "we need to obey, but not"
Again Paul speaks of obedience as if it were paying back a debt. You can include the implied word "debtors." Alternate translation: "but we are not debtors to the flesh, and we do not have to obey our sinful desires"
"Because if you live only to please your sinful desires"
"you will certainly be separated from God"
Paul speaks of the "old man," crucified with Christ, as the person who is responsible for his sinful desires. Alternate translation: "but if by the power of the Holy Spirit you stop obeying your sinful desires"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "For all the people whom the Spirit of God leads"
Here this means all believers in Jesus and is often translated as "children of God."
"who causes us to cry out"
"Abba" is "Father" in the Aramaic language.
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Paul speaks of the Christian believers as if they will inherit property and wealth from a family member. Alternate translation: "and we also will one day receive what God has promised us"
Paul speaks of the Christian believers as if they will inherit property and wealth from a family member. God will give to us what he gives to Christ. Alternate translation: "we will also receive what God has promised us and Christ together"
God will honor Christian believers when he honors Christ. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "that God may glorify us along with him"
Paul begins to remind the believers in Rome that sometime in the future, God will change their bodies in a glorious way.
This emphasizes "I consider." It does not mean "because."
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "I cannot compare ... with"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God will reveal" or "God will make known"
Paul continues to remind the believers in Rome that sometime in the future, God will change their bodies in a glorious way.
Paul describes everything that God created as a person who eagerly waits for something.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "for the time when God will reveal his children"
Here this means all believers in Jesus. You can also translate this as "children of God."
Paul continues to remind the believers in Rome that sometime in the future, God will change their bodies in a glorious way.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "For God caused what he had created to be unable to achieve what he intended"
Here Paul describes "creation" as a person who can desire. Alternate translation: "not because this is what the created things wanted, but because it is what God wanted"
Here the word "hope" is confident expectation that what one desires really will happen. The abstract noun "hope" can be translated here with the verbs "confidently expect" or "confidently wait." God could be absolutely sure that what he intended would happen. Alternate translation: "confidently expecting" or "confidently waiting"
Paul continues to remind the believers in Rome that sometime in the future, God will change their bodies in a glorious way.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God will save creation"
Here being in slavery to decay is a metaphor for being certain to decay. Alternate translation: "from being like a slave to decay"
"Freedom" here is in contrast with slavery to decay. It is a metaphor meaning that the creation will not decay. Alternate translation: "that it will become gloriously free from decay like the children of God"
Paul continues to remind the believers in Rome that sometime in the future, God will change their bodies in a glorious way.
The creation is compared to a woman groaning while giving birth to a baby. Alternate translation: "For we know that everything that God created wants to be free and groans for it the way a woman giving birth groans for her baby to be born"
Paul continues to remind the believers in Rome that sometime in the future, God will change their bodies in a glorious way.
The abstract nouns "adoption" and "redemption" can be stated as verbs. Alternate translation: "as we wait eagerly for God to adopt us and redeem our bodies"
Paul continues to remind the believers in Rome that sometime in the future, God will change their bodies in a glorious way.
This can be stated in active form. Possible meanings are 1) "For God saved us so that we might have this hope" 2) "For God saved us because we have this hope"
Here the word "hope" is a person's confident expectation that what he desires really will happen. The abstract noun "hope" can be translated here with the verbs "confidently expect" or "confidently wait" or "trust." Alternate translation: "it was so that we might confidently wait for this that we were saved" or "we were saved that we might trust God to do this"
The phrase "this hope" refers to the hope of our adoption, the redemption of our bodies (8:23).
"Hope that is seen" is hope that has already been fulfilled. Alternate translation: "If we already have what we hope for, that is not hope" or "If we have what we want, we would not say that we hope for it"
Paul uses a question to help his audience understand what "hope" is. Alternate translation: "No one hopes for what he already has." or "No one waits for what has already happened."
Paul finishes reminding the believers in Rome that sometime in the future, God will change their bodies in a glorious way.
Here the word "hope" means confidently expect that what one desires will happen. The person who hopes in this way believes that what he desires will happen. Alternate translation: "If we confidently expect to receive what we do not see" or "if we trust God for what we do not see"
Not seeing what we hope for represents not yet having it or experiencing it. Alternate translation: "what we do not yet have" or "what has not yet happened"
"we wait for it patiently"
Though Paul has been emphasizing that there is a struggle in believers between the flesh and the Spirit, he affirms that the Spirit is aiding us.
"groanings that we cannot express in words"
Here "He" refers to God. Here "hearts" is a metonym for a person's thoughts and emotions. The phrase "searches out the hearts" is a metaphor for examining thoughts and emotions. Alternate translation: "God, who knows what all our thoughts and feelings are, knows"
Paul reminds the believers that nothing can separate them from God's love.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "for those whom God chose"
"those whom he knew before he even created them"
"he also planned in advance that they would be conformed"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "that he would change them to be like his Son"
This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God.
"so that his Son would be the firstborn"
Here "brothers" refers to all believers, both male and female. Alternate translation: "among many brothers and sisters who belong to the family of God"
"Those whom God made plans for in advance"
Here "justified" is in the past tense to emphasize that this will certainly happen. Alternate translation: "these he also put right with himself"
The word "glorified" is in the past tense to emphasize that this will certainly happen. Alternate translation: "these he will also glorify"
Paul uses questions to emphasize the main point of what he said previously. Alternate translation: "This is what we should know from all of this: since God is helping us, no one can defeat us."
God the Father sent the Son of God, Jesus Christ, to the cross as the holy, infinite sacrifice necessary to satisfy God's infinite, holy nature against the sin of humanity. Here "Son" is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God.
"but put him under the control of his enemies"
Paul is using a question for emphasis. Alternate translation: "he will certainly and freely give us all things!"
"kindly give us all things"
Paul uses a question for emphasis. Alternate translation: "No one can accuse us before God because he is the one who makes us right with him"
Paul uses a question for emphasis. He does not expect an answer. Alternate translation: "No one will condemn us!"
To be at the "right hand of God" is a symbolic action of receiving great honor and authority from God. Alternate translation: "who is at the place of honor beside God"
Paul uses this question to teach that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Alternate translation: "No one will ever separate us from the love of Christ!" or "Nothing will ever separate us from the love of Christ!"
The words "shall separate us from the love of Christ" are understood from the previous question. Alternate translation: "Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or sword separate us from the love of Christ?"
Paul uses this question to emphasize that even these things cannot separate us from the love of Christ. Alternate translation: "Even tribulation, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, and sword cannot separate us from the love of Christ."
The abstract nouns can be expressed with verb phrases. Here "sword" is a metonym that represents being killed violently. Alternate translation: "Even if people cause us trouble, hurt us, take away our clothes and food, or kill us, they cannot separate us from the love of Christ."
These words both mean the same thing.
Here "your" is singular and refers to God. Alternate translation: "For you"
Here "we" refers to the writer and to other people, but not his audience, who was God. The phrase "all day long" is an exaggeration to emphasize how much danger they are in. Paul uses this part of Scripture to show that all who belong to God should expect difficult times. This can be translated in an active form. Alternate translation: "our enemies continually seek to kill us"
Here Paul compares to livestock those whom people kill because they are loyal to God. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "Our lives have no more value to them than the sheep they kill"
"we have complete victory"
You can make explicit the kind of love that Jesus showed. Alternate translation: "because of Jesus, who loved us so much he was willing to die for us"
"I am convinced" or "I am confident"
Possible meanings are 1) demons or 2) human kings and rulers.
Possible meanings are 1) spiritual beings with power or 2) human beings with power.
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In this chapter, Paul changes what he is teaching about. In Chapters 9-11, he focuses on the nation of Israel.
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verses 25-29 and 33 of this chapter. Paul quotes all of these words from the Old Testament.
Paul uses the word "flesh" in this chapter only to refer to Israelites, people physically descending from Abraham through Jacob, whom God named Israel. (See: flesh)
In other chapters, Paul uses the word "brother" to mean fellow Christians. However, in this chapter, he uses "my brothers" to mean his kinsmen the Israelites.
Paul refers to those who believe in Jesus as "children of God" and "children of the promise."
Paul explains that while some Gentiles accepted Jesus as their savior by believing in him, most Jews were trying to earn their salvation and so rejected Jesus. Paul, quoting the Old Testament, describes Jesus as a stone that the Jews stumble over when walking. This "stone of stumbling" causes them to "fall."
Paul uses the word "Israel" in this verse with two different meanings. The first "Israel" means the physical descendants of Abraham through Jacob. The second "Israel" means those who are God's people through faith. The UDB reflects this.
Paul tells of his personal desire that the people of the nation of Israel will be saved. Then he emphasizes the different ways in which God has prepared them to believe.
These two expressions mean basically the same thing. Paul uses them to emphasize that he is telling the truth.
"the Holy Spirit controls my conscience and confirms what I say"
Here "unceasing pain in my heart" is an idiom that Paul uses to share his emotional distress. Alternate translation: "that I grieve very greatly and deeply"
These two expressions mean basically the same thing. Paul uses them together to emphasize how great his emotions are.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "I personally would be willing to let God curse me and keep me apart from Christ forever if that would help my fellow Israelites, my own people group, to believe in Christ"
"They, like me, are Israelites. God chose them to be Jacob's descendants"
Here Paul uses the metaphor of "adoption" to indicate that the Israelites are like God's children. Alternate translation: "They have God as their father, and they have the glory"
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Paul emphasizes that those who are born in the family of Israel can really only be a true part of Israel through faith.
The word "word" is a metonym for the promise that God used the words to make. Alternate translation: "But we should not think that God has failed to keep his promises" or "We should know that God has kept his promises"
God did not make his promises to all the physical descendants of Israel (or Jacob), but to his spiritual descendants, that is, those who trust in Jesus.
"Nor are they all children of God just because they are Abraham's descendants"
Here "children of the flesh" is a metonym that refers to the physical descendants of Abraham. Alternate translation: "not all of Abraham's descendants are"
This is a metaphor that refers to people who are spiritual descendants, those who have faith in Jesus.
This refers to people who will inherit the promises that God gave to Abraham.
"these are the words God used when he made the promise"
You can translate this in an active form to express that God will give a son to Sarah. Alternate translation: "I will give Sarah a son"
Paul refers to Isaac as "our father" because Isaac was the ancestor of Paul and of the Jewish believers in Rome.
"had become pregnant"
"before the children were born and before they had done anything, whether good or bad"
"so that what God wants to happen according to His choice will happen"
"before the children were born"
It may be necessary in your language to place this verse between verse 10 and verse 11: "... our father Isaac, it was said to her, 'The older will serve the younger.' For the children were not yet born and had not yet done anything good or bad, but so that the purpose of God according to choice might stand—not because of actions, but because of him who calls. It is just...."
because of God
"God said to Rebekah, 'The older son will serve the younger son'"
The word "hated" is an exaggeration. God loved Jacob much more than he loved Esau. He did not literally hate Esau.
Paul is using the question to get the attention of his readers.
"Is God unrighteous?" or "Is God unjust?"
"That is not possible!" or "Certainly not!" This expression strongly denies that this could happen. You may have a similar expression in your language that you could use here.
Paul speaks about God's talking with Moses as if it is being done in the present time. Alternate translation: "For God said to Moses"
"it is not because of what people want or because they try hard"
Paul speaks of a person who does good things in order to gain God's favor as if that person were running a race.
Here the scripture is personified as if God were talking to Pharaoh. Alternate translation: "The scripture records that God said"
God is referring to himself.
The word "you" in this verse is singular.
"Raised" here is an idiom for "caused something to be what it is." Alternate translation: "I made you the powerful man that you are"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "that people might proclaim my name"
This metonym refers either 1) to God in all of his being. Alternate translation: "who I am" or 2) To his reputation. Alternate translation: "how great I am"
"wherever there are people"
God makes stubborn whomever he wishes to make stubborn.
Paul is talking to the critics of his teaching as though he were only talking to one person. You may need to use the plural here.
These rhetorical questions are complaints against God. You can translate them as strong statements. Alternate translation: "He should not find fault with us. No one has ever been able to withstand his will."
The words "he" and "his" here refer to God.
"has ... stopped him from doing what he wanted to do"
Paul uses the potter's right to make any kind of container he wants from the clay as a metaphor for the creator's right to do whatever he wants with his creation. Paul asks questions to emphasize his point. This can be translated as a strong statement. Alternate translation: "What a person has molded should never say to the one who molds it, 'Why ... way?'"
This question is a rebuke and can be translated as a strong statement. Alternate translation: "You should not have made me this way!"
This rhetorical question is a rebuke. Alternate translation: "The potter certainlly has the right ... for dishonorable use."
Some modern translations read, "special use ... daily use."
Paul speaks of people as if they were containers. This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: "people to whom he would show wrath and whom he will certainly destroy"
The words "he" and "his" here refer to God.
Paul speaks of people as if they were containers. Alternate translation: "those to whom he would show mercy, whom"
Paul compares God's wonderful actions here to great "riches." Alternate translation: "his glory, which is of great value, upon"
Here "glory" refers to life in heaven with God. Alternate translation: "whom he prepared ahead of time in order that they might live with him"
The word "us" here refers to Paul and fellow believers.
Here "called" means God has appointed or chosen people to be his children, to be his servants and proclaimers of his message of salvation through Jesus.
In this section Paul explains how Israel's unbelief as a nation was told ahead of time by the prophet Hosea.
Here "he" refers to God. Alternate translation: "As God says also in the book that Hosea wrote"
Hosea was a prophet.
"I will choose those who were not my people to be my people"
Here "her" refers to Hosea's wife, Gomer, who represents the nation of Israel. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "I will choose her whom I did not love to be one whom I love"
The word "living" may refer to the fact that God is the only true God, and not like the false idols. Alternate translation: "children of the true God"
"calls out"
Here Paul compares the number of the people of Israel to the number of grains of sand in the sea. Alternate translation: "too many to count"
Paul uses the word "saved" in a spiritual sense. If God saves a person, it means that through believing in Jesus's death on the cross, God has forgiven him and rescued him from being punished for his sin. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God will save"
"the Lord will punish people on the earth as he has said he will"
Here the words "us" and "we" refer to Isaiah and those to whom he spoke.
God killed all of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sin. Alternate translation: "we all would have been destroyed like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah" or "God would have destroyed all of us as he destroyed the people in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah"
Paul uses this question to get the attention of his readers. Alternate translation: "So this is what we must say."
"We will say that the Gentiles"
"who were not trying to get righteousness" or "who were not trying to be righteous"
Here "by faith" refers to placing one's trust in Christ. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: "righteousness because God made them right with him when they trusted in Christ"
"who tried to obey a law in order to get righteousness" or "who tried to be righteous by obeying a law"
"could not keep that law" or "did not succeed at keeping that law"
You can translate this rhetorical question as a statement and include the words from the ellipsis in your translation. Paul asks this question to get the attention of his readers. Alternate translation: "Why could they not attain righteousness? Because they" or "This is why they could not attain righteousness: they"
This refers to things that people do to try to please God. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: "by trying to do things that would please God" or "by keeping the Law"
You can indicate that Isaiah wrote this. You can also translate it in an active form. Alternate translation: "as Isaiah the prophet wrote"
Here Zion is a metonym that represents Israel. Alternate translation: "in Israel"
These phrases mean basically the same thing and are metaphors that refer to Jesus and his death on the cross. It was as if the people stumbled over a stone because they were disgusted when they considered Jesus's death on the cross.
Because the words "stone" and "rock" are a metaphors for a person, you may need to translate this as "believes in him."
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verses 18-20 of this chapter. These lines of poetry are from the Old Testament.
Some translations also set prose quotations from the Old Testament farther to the right than the rest of the text. The ULB does this with the quoted words in verse 8.
Paul teaches here that while many Jews earnestly tried to be righteous, they did not succeed. We cannot earn God's righteousness. God gives us Jesus's righteousness when we believe in him. (See: righteous and faith)
Paul uses many rhetorical questions in this chapter. He does this to convince his readers that God does not save only the Hebrew people, so Christians must be ready to go and share the gospel with the whole world. (See: and save)
Paul uses this prophecy to explain that God will use the church to make the Hebrew people jealous. This is so they will seek God and believe the gospel.
Paul continues stating his desire for Israel to believe but emphasizes that both those who are Jews and those who are not can only be saved by faith in Jesus.
Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.
Here "heart" is a metonym for a person's emotions or inner being. Alternate translation: "my greatest desire"
"is that God will save the Jews"
"I declare truthfully about them"
Here "righteousness refers to the way God puts people right with himself. You can make this explicit in the translation. Alternate translation: "For because they did not know how God puts people right with himself"
"they did not accept God's way of putting people right with himself"
"For Christ completely fulfilled the law"
Here "believes" means "trusts." Alternate translation: "law, and he makes everyone who trusts in him right before God"
Paul speaks of "righteousness" as if it were alive and able to move. Alternate translation: "how the law makes a person right before God"
In order to be made right with God through the law, a person would have to keep the law perfectly, which is not possible. Alternate translation: "The person who perfectly obeys the law will live because the law will make him right before God"
The words "will live" can refer to 1) eternal life or 2) mortal life in fellowship with God.
Here "righteousness" is described as a person who can speak. Alternate translation: "But Moses writes this about how faith makes a person right before God"
Moses was addressing the people as if he were speaking to only one person. Here "heart" is a metonym for a person's mind or inner being. Alternate translation: "Do not say to yourself"
Moses uses a question to teach his audience. His previous instruction of, "Do not say" requires a negative answer to this question. You can translate this question as a statement. Alternate translation: "No one is able to go up to heaven"
"in order that they might have Christ come down to earth"
Moses uses a question to teach his audience. His previous instruction of, "Do not say" requires a negative answer to this question. You can translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: "No person can go down and enter the place where the spirits of dead persons are."
All those who have died. This expression describes all dead people together in the underworld. To be brought up from among them is to become alive again.
This word speaks of physical death.
The word "it" refers to the scripture. Alternate translation: "But this is what Moses says"
Paul speaks of God's message as if it were a person who can move. The word "mouth" is a metonym that refers to what a person says. The phrase "in your heart" is metonym that refers to what a person thinks and believes. Alternate translation: "You have heard the message. You know how to speak it, and you know what it means"
"God's message that tells us that we must believe in him"
"if you confess that Jesus is Lord"
Here "heart" is a metonym for a person's mind or inner person. Alternate translation: "believe in your mind" or "truly believe"
"Raised" here is an idiom for "caused to live again." Alternate translation: "caused him to live again"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God will save you"
Here "heart" is a metonym that represents the mind or will. Alternate translation: "For it is with the mind that a person trusts and is right before God, and it is with the mouth that a person confesses so that God saves him"
Here "mouth" is a synecdoche that represents a person's capacity to speak.
Paul speaks of the scripture as if it were alive and had a voice. You can make explicit who wrote the scripture that Paul uses here. Alternate translation: "For Isaiah wrote in the scripture"
This is equivalent to: "If a person believes, then that person will not be shamed." The negative is used here for emphasis. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God will honor everyone who believes in him" or "God will shame only those who do not believe in Jesus"
Paul implies that God will treat all people the same. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: "In this way, God treats the Jews and the non-Jews the same"
Here "he is rich" means that God blesses richly. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: "he richly blesses all who trust in him"
Here the word "name" is a metonym for Jesus. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "The Lord will save everyone who trusts in him"
Paul uses a question to emphasize the importance of taking the good news of Christ to those who have not heard. The word "they" refers to those who do not yet belong to God. Alternate translation: "Those who do not believe in God cannot call on him!"
Paul uses another question for the same reason. Alternate translation: "And they cannot believe in him if they have not heard his message!" or "And they cannot believe in him if they have not heard the message about him!"
trust and desire to obey
Paul uses another question for the same reason. Alternate translation: "And they cannot hear the message if someone does not tell them!"
Paul uses "feet" to represent those who travel and take the message to those who have not heard it. The feet were considered a dirty and ugly part of the body, so the idea of beautiful feet would have seemed odd to Paul's readers. Alternate translation: "How beautiful are even the feet of those who proclaim good news" or "It is wonderful when messengers go and tell others the good news"
Here "they" refers to the Jews. "not all of the Jews obeyed"
Paul is using this question, which Isaiah prophesied in the Scriptures, to emphasize that many Jews would not believe in Jesus. You can translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: "Lord, so many of them do not believe our message!"
Here, "our" refers to God and Isaiah and so is inclusive.
The abstract noun "faith" can be stated as the verb "believes." There are also words that Paul left out, but they are understood. Alternate translation: "So a person believes in Christ by hearing the message about Christ
Here "word" is a metonym that means "message." There are also words that Paul left out, but they are understood. Alternate translation: "and a person hears the message by someone preaching the message about Christ"
Paul uses a question for emphasis. You can translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: "But, I say the Jews certainly have heard the message about Christ"
Both of these statements mean basically the same thing and Paul uses them for emphasis. The word "their" refers to the sun, moon, and stars. Here they are described as human messengers that tell people about God. This refers to how their existence shows God's power and glory. You can make explicit that Paul is quoting Scripture here. Alternate translation: "As the Scriptures record, 'The sun, moon, and the stars are proof of God's power and glory, and everyone in the world sees them and knows the truth about God.'"
Paul uses a question for emphasis. The word "Israel" is a metonym for the people who lived in the nation of Israel. Alternate translation: "Again I tell you the people of Israel did know the message."
This means that Moses wrote down what God said. "I" refers to God, and "you" refers to the Israelites. Alternate translation: "First Moses says that God will provoke you ... God will stir you up"
"by those you do not consider to be a real nation" or "by people who do not belong to any nation"
Here "without understanding" means that the people do not know God. Alternate translation: "By a nation with people who do not know me or my commands"
"I will make you angry" or "I will cause you to become angry"
This refers to the nation of Israel.
Here the words "I" and "me" refer to God.
This means the prophet Isaiah wrote what God had said.
Prophets often speak of things in the future as if they have already happened. This emphasizes that the prophecy will certainly come true. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "Even though the Gentile people will not look for me, they will find me"
"I made myself known"
"He" refers to God, who is speaking through Isaiah.
Here the word "my" refers to God.
This phrase is used to emphasize God's continual effort. "I continually"
"I tried to welcome you and to help you, but you refused my help and continued to disobey"
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verses 9-10, 26-27, and 34-35, which is from the Old Testament.
Paul uses the image of "grafting" to refer to the place of the Gentiles and Jews in the plans of God. Making one plant to be permanently part of another plant is called "grafting." Paul uses the picture of God grafting the Gentiles as a wild branch into his saving plans. But God has not forgotten about the Jews, who are spoken of as the natural plant. God will also save Jews who believe in Jesus.
Though Israel as a nation has rejected God, God wants them to understand salvation comes by grace without works.
"I, Paul, say then"
Paul asks this question so that he can answer the questions of other Jews who are upset that God has included the Gentiles among his people, while the hearts of the Jewish people have been hardened.
"That is not possible!" or "Certainly not!" This expression strongly denies that this could happen. You may have a similar expression in your language that you could use here. See how you translated this in Romans 9:14.
This refers to the tribe descended from Benjamin, one of the 12 tribes into which God divided the people of Israel.
"whom he knew ahead of time"
You can translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: "Surely you know what the Scriptures record about when Elijah pleaded with God against Israel."
Paul is referring to the scripture as if they were able to speak.
"They" refers to the people of Israel.
The pronoun "I" here refers to Elijah.
"desiring to kill me"
Paul is using this question to bring the reader to his next point. Alternate translation: "But this is God's answer to him:"
The pronoun "him" refers to Elijah.
"7,000 men"
Here this means a small part of people whom God chose to receive his grace.
Paul continues to explain how God's mercy works. Alternate translation: "But since God's mercy works by grace"
"What should we conclude?" Paul asks this question to move his reader to his next point. You can translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: "This is what we need to remember" or "So"
This is a metaphor about the fact that the people are spiritually dull. They are not able to hear or receive spiritual truth.
Here this means "having the characteristics of," such as the "spirit of wisdom."
The concept of seeing with one's eyes was considered to be equivalent to gaining understanding.
The concept of hearing with the ears was considered to be equivalent to obedience.
"Table" here is a metonym that represents feasting, and "snare" and "trap" are metaphors that represent punishment. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "Please, God, make their feasts like a trap that catches them"
A "stumbling block" is anything that causes a person to trip so that he falls down. Here it represents something that tempts a person to sin. Alternate translation: "something that tempts them to sin"
"something that allows you to take revenge on them"
Here "bend their backs" is a metonym for forcing slaves to carry heavy loads on their backs. This is a metaphor for making them suffer. Alternate translation: "make them suffer like people carrying heavy loads"
With Israel as a nation rejecting God, Paul warns the Gentiles to be careful they do not make the same mistake.
Paul uses this question to add introduce the next thing he wants to say. If your language uses a different way to introduce new topics, you can use it here. Here the words "stumble" and "fall" are metaphors for sinning and having God reject the sinner. Alternate translation: "Has God rejected them forever because they sinned?"
"That is not possible!" or "Certainly not!" This expression strongly denies that this could happen. You may have a similar expression in your language that you could use here. See how you translated this in Romans 9:14.
See how you translated this phrase in Romans 10:19.
Both of these phrases mean basically the same thing. If you need to, you can combine them in your translation. Alternate translation: "when the Jews trespassed, the result was that God abundantly blessed the non-Jews"
Because the Jews rejected Christ, God richly blessed the Gentiles by giving them the opportunity to receive Christ.
Here the "world" is a metonym that refers to the people who live in the world, especially the Gentiles.
This can be translated as a statement. The words "their fulfillment" refer to either 1) the time when God blesses the Jews 2) when the Jews believe in Jesus. Alternate translation: "their fulfillment will be much greater." or "how much better will it be for the non-Jews when all the Jews believe in Jesus?" or "how much better will it be for the non-Jews when God fully blesses the Jews?"
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See how you translated this phrase in Romans 10:19.
This refers to "my fellow Jews."
God will save those who believe. Alternate translation: "Perhaps some will believe and therefore God will save them"
"For if because God rejected them, he will reconcile the rest of the world to himself"
The pronoun "their" refers to Jewish unbelievers.
Here "the world" is a metonym for the people who live in the world. Alternate translation: "the people in the world"
Paul asks this question to emphasize that when God accepts the Jews, it will be a wonderful thing. The abstract noun "acceptance" can be translated as a verb. Alternate translation: "how will it be when God accepts them? It will be like they have come back to life from among the dead!" or "then when God accepts them, it will be like they have died and become alive again!"
These words speak of all dead people together in the underworld.
Paul is speaking of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Israelites' ancestors, as if they were the first grain or "firstfruits" to be harvested. He is also speaking of the Israelites who are descendants of those men as if they were a "lump of dough" made from the grain. Alternate translation: "If Abraham is counted as the first of what has been offered to God, all of our ancestors who followed should also be counted as God's possession"
The people always dedicated to God the first crops that they harvested. Here "firstfruits" stands for the first people to believe in Christ.
Paul is speaking of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Israelites' ancestors, as if they were the root of a tree, and the Israelites, who are descendants of those men, as if they were the tree's "branches."
Here Paul refers to the Jews who rejected Jesus as "broken branches." You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "But if someone broke off some of the branches"
Here Paul speaks of the Gentile Christians as if they were "grafted branches." You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "if God grafted you, a wild olive branch, among them"
The pronoun "you" is singular. Here "you" and the phrase "a wild olive branch," refer to a Gentile person, in general, who has accepted salvation through Jesus.
Here "the rich root" is a metaphor that refers to the promises of God.
Here "the branches" is a metaphor that stands for the Jewish people. Alternate translation: "do not say you are better than the Jewish people God has rejected"
Again Paul implies that the Gentile believers are branches. God saves them only because of the covenant promises that he made to the Jews.
Here "branches" refers to the Jews who rejected Jesus and whom God has now rejected. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God broke branches off"
Paul uses this phrase to refer to the Gentile believers whom God has accepted. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "he might attach me in"
The pronouns "their" and "they" refer to the Jewish people who did not believe.
Paul speaks of the Gentile believers remaining faithful as if they were standing firm and no one could move them. Alternate translation: "but you remain because of your faith"
"think that you are better than you are" or "be proud"
Here the "natural branches" refers to the Jewish people who rejected Jesus. Alternate translation: "Since God did not spare those unbelieving Jews, who grew up like a tree's natural branches that came from the root, then know that if you do not believe, he will not spare you either"
Paul is reminding the Gentile believers that although God may act very kindly toward them, he will not hesitate to judge and punish them.
This can be restated to remove the abstract nouns "severity" and "kindness." Alternate translation: "God dealt harshly with the Jews who fell ... God acts kindly toward you"
Here "fell" is a metaphor that means to have done something wrong. Alternate translation: "the Jews who have done wrong" or "the Jews who have refused to trust in Christ"
This can be restated to remove the abstract noun "kindness." Alternate translation: "if you continue doing what is right so that he continues being kind to you"
Paul again uses the metaphor of a branch, which God can "cut off" if he needs to. Here "cut off" is a metaphor for rejecting someone. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "Otherwise God will also cut you off" or "Otherwise God will also reject you"
The phrase "do not continue in their unbelief" is a double negative. You can translate this in a positive form. Alternate translation: "if they start believing"
Paul speaks of the Jews as if they were branches that could be grafted back into a tree if they start to believe in Jesus. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God will graft back in"
This is a common process in which the end of a live branch of one tree is inserted into another tree so that the new branch will continue to grow in that tree.
All occurrences of "they" or "them" refer to the Jews.
Paul continues speaking of the Gentile believers and Jews as if they were branches of a tree. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "For if God had cut you out of what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature had grafted you into a good olive tree, how much more will he graft these Jews, who are the natural branches, into their own olive tree?"
This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "then these Jews, who are the natural branches, will certainly be grafted back into their own olive tree."
Paul is speaking of the Jews and Gentiles as if they were branches. The "natural branches" represent the Jews, and the "grafted branches" represent the Gentile believers.
Here Paul uses a double negative to emphasize the positive. You can translate this in a positive form. Alternate translation: "I very much want you to be informed"
Here "brothers" means fellow Christians, including both men and women.
The pronoun "I" refers to Paul.
The pronouns "you" and "your" refer to the Gentile believers.
Paul does not want the Gentile believers to think they are wiser than the Jewish unbelievers. Alternate translation: "so that you will not think you are wiser than you are"
This is the mystery that Paul referred to earlier in the sentence. This can be made a explicit. "A partial hardening" is a metaphor for many of the people remaining stubborn. Paul said this because some of the Jews stubbornly refused to trust Jesus. Alternate translation: "This mystery is that a partial hardening has come upon Israel" or "Many people of Israel remain stubborn"
Here "full number" means the amount determined by God. It does not mean all Gentiles. Alternate translation: "until the number of Gentiles determined by God"
This is a metaphor meaning to be saved or to become a Christian. Alternate translation: "is saved" or "believes in Christ"
Paul says that, to the glory of God, a deliverer will come out of Israel.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Thus God will save all Israel"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "just as the scriptures record"
Here "Zion" is used as a metonym for the place where God dwells. Alternate translation: "From where God is among the Jews"
"the one who brings his people to safety"
Paul speaks of ungodliness as if it were an object that someone could remove, such as a garment..
Here "Jacob" is used as a metonym for Israel. Alternate translation: "from the Israelite people"
Here Paul speaks of sins as if they were objects that someone could take away. Alternate translation: "I will remove the burden of their sins"
You can make explicit why Paul mentions the gospel. Alternate translation: "Because the Jews rejected the gospel"
You can make explicit whose enemies they are, and how this was for the Gentiles' sake. Alternate translation: "they are God's enemies for your sake" or "God has treated them as enemies in order that you also might hear the gospel"
You can make explicit why Paul mentions election. Alternate translation: "because God has elected the Jews" or "because God has chosen the Jews"
You can make explicit who loves the Jews and why Paul mentions their forefathers. You can also translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God still loves them because of what he promised to do for their ancestors"
Paul speaks of the spiritual and material blessings that God promised to give his people as if they were gifts. The call of God refers to the fact that God called the Jews to be his people. Alternate translation: "For God will never change his mind about what he has promised to give them, and about how he has called them to be his people" or "God will never take back his gifts or his call"
"can never be taken back"
"you did not obey God in the past"
Here mercy means God's undeserved blessings. Alternate translation: "because the Jews have rejected Jesus, you have received blessings that you did not deserve"
This refers to Gentile believers, and is plural.
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God has treated people who disobey him like prisoners who are unable to escape from prison. Alternate translation: "God has made prisoners of those who disobey him. Now they cannot stop disobeying God"
Here "wisdom" and "knowledge" mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: "How amazing are the many benefits of both God's wisdom and knowledge"
"We are completely unable to understand the things that he has decided and to find out the ways in which he acts toward us"
Paul uses this question to emphasize that no one is as wise as the Lord. You can translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: "No one has ever known the mind of the Lord, and no one has become his advisor."
Here "mind" is a metonym for knowing things or thinking about things. Alternate translation: "all that the Lord knows" or "what the Lord thinks about"
Paul uses this question to emphasize his point. Alternate translation: "No one has ever given anything to God that he did not first receive from God"
Here, all occurrences of "him" refers to God.
This expresses Paul's desire for all people to honor God. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: "May all people honor him forever"
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verse 20, which is from the Old Testament.
Many scholars believe Paul uses the word "therefore" in Romans 12:1 to refer back to all of Chapters 1-11. Having carefully explained the Christian gospel, Paul now explains how Christians should live in light of these great truths. Chapters 12-16 focus on living out one's Christian faith. Paul uses many different commands in these chapters to give these practical instructions. (See: faith)
Under the law of Moses, people were required to offer temple sacrifices of animals or grain. Now Christians are required to live their lives as a type of sacrifice to God. Physical sacrifices are no longer required. (See: lawofmoses)
The body of Christ is an important metaphor or image used in Scripture to refer to the church. Each church member has a unique and important function. Christians need each other.
Paul tells what the life of a believer should be and how believers should serve.
Here "brothers" refers to fellow believers, both male and female. Alternate translation: "Fellow believers, because of the great mercy that God has given you I very much want you to present"
Here Paul uses the word "bodies" to refer to the entire beings of all those he is addressing. Paul is comparing a believer in Christ who completely obeys God to the animals that the Jews killed and then offered to God. Alternate translation: "to offer yourselves completely to God while you are alive as if you were a dead sacrifice on a temple altar"
Possible meanings are 1) "a sacrifice that you give to God alone and that pleases him" or 2) "acceptable to God because it is morally pure"
"This is the right way to worship God"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Do not behave as this world behaves" or "Do not do what this world does"
This refers to unbelievers who live in the world.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "but let God change the way you think and behave"
Here "grace" refers to God's choosing Paul to be an apostle and leader of the church. You can make this explicit in your translation. You can also translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "because God freely chose me to be an apostle, I can say"
"Do not think you are better than other people"
"instead, you should be wise in how you think about yourselves"
Paul implies here that believers have different abilities that correspond to their faith in God. Alternate translation: "since God has given each of you different abilities because of your trust in him"
Paul uses this word to show that he will now explain why some Christians should not think they are better than others.
Paul refers to all the believers in Christ as if they were different parts of the human body. He does this to illustrate that although believers may serve Christ in different ways, each person belongs to Christ and serves in an important way.
Such parts of the body as eyes, ears, and hands.
Paul speaks of the believers as if God had physically joined them together like the parts of the human body. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God has joined each believer together with all other believers"
Paul speaks of believers' different abilities as being free gifts from God. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God has freely given each of us different abilities to do things for him"
Possible meanings are 1) "let him speak prophecies that do not go beyond the amount of faith God has given us" or 2) "let him speak prophecies that agree with the teachings of our faith."
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Here "giving" refers to giving money and other things to people. You can make this meaning explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: "If one has the gift of giving money or other goods to people in need, let him give"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "You must love people sincerely and truly"
The kind of love that comes from God is focused on having good things happen to others even when those good things do not happen to the one who loves.
Here Paul begins a list of nine items, each of the form "Concerning ... be" to tell the believers what kind of people they should be. You may need to translate some of the items as "Concerning ... do." The list continues to Romans 12:13.
"As for how you love your fellow believers"
In the original language a different word is used for "love" here than is used in 12:9. This word means brotherly love or love for a friend or family member. This is natural human love between friends or relatives.
"show affection"
"Honor and respect one another" or "Honor your fellow believers by respecting them"
"Do not be lazy in your duty, but be eager to follow the Spirit and to serve the Lord"
"Rejoice because of your hope" or "Rejoice as you hope." Here the word "hope" is a person's confident expectation that what he desires really will happen. The abstract noun "hope" can be translated here with the verbs "confidently expect" or "confidently wait" or "trust." Alternate translation: "Rejoice because of what you confidently wait for" or "Rejoice as you confidently wait"
"be patient when you suffer" or "wait patiently whenever you have troubles"
"pray faithfully"
This is the last item in the list that began in Romans 12:9.
"When fellow Christians are in trouble, help them with what they need"
"Always welcome Christians into your home when they need a place to stay"
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This is an idiom that means to live in unity. Alternate translation: "Agree with one another" or "Live in unity with each other"
"Do not think that you are more important than others"
"welcome people who do not seem important"
"Do not think of yourselves as having more wisdom than everyone else"
"Do not do evil things to anyone who has done evil things to you"
"Do things that everyone considers to be good"
"do whatever you can to live in peace with everyone"
Here "wrath" is a metonym for God's punishment. Alternate translation: "allow God to punish those who harm you"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "For someone has written"
These two phrases mean basically the same thing and emphasize that God will avenge his people. Alternate translation: "I will certainly avenge you"
All forms of "you" and "your" are addressed as to one person.
Paul quotes another part of scripture. Alternate translation: "But the scripture also says, 'If your enemy is hungry ... his head.'"
"give him some food"
Paul speaks of the blessings that the enemies will receive as if someone were pouring hot coals on their heads. Possible meanings are 1) "you will make the person who harmed you feel ashamed about how he has mistreated you" or 2) "you will give God a reason to judge your enemy more harshly"
Paul describes "evil" as though it were a person. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "Do not let those who are evil defeat you, but defeat those who are evil by doing what is good"
These verbs are addressed as to one person and so are singular.
In the first part of this chapter, Paul teaches Christians to obey rulers who govern them. At that time, ungodly Roman rulers governed the land. (See: godly)
Some readers will find it difficult to understand what Paul teaches about obeying rulers, especially if they are in places where rulers persecute the church. Christians must obey their rulers as well as obey God, unless the rulers do not allow Christians to do something God explicitly commands them to do. There are times when a believer must submit to these rulers and suffer at their hands. Christians understand that this world is temporary and they will ultimately be with God forever. (See: eternity)
This is a complex issue. "Flesh" is possibly a metaphor for our sinful nature. Paul is not teaching that our physical bodies are sinful. Paul appears to be teaching that as long as Christians are alive ("in the flesh"), we will continue to sin. But our new nature will be fighting against our old nature. (See: flesh and sin)
Paul tells believers how to live under their rulers.
Here "soul" is a synecdoche for the whole person. "Every Christian should obey" or "Everyone should obey"
"government officials"
because
"all authority comes from God"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "And the people who are in authority are there because God put them there"
"that government authority" or "the authority that God placed in power"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God will judge those who oppose government authority"
Paul uses this word to begin his explanation of Romans 13:2 and to tell about what will result if the government condemns a person.
"rulers do not cause terror for those who do good deeds, but for those who do evil deeds"
Paul uses this question to get people to think about what they need to do in order not to be afraid of rulers. Alternate translation: "Let me tell you how you can be unafraid of the ruler."
"the one in authority will say good things about you"
You can translate this in a positive form. Alternate translation: "he carries the sword for a very good reason" or "he has the power to punish people, and he will punish people"
Roman governors carried a short sword as a symbol of their authority.
Here "wrath" represents the punishment people receive when they do evil deeds. Alternate translation: "a person who punishes, on God's behalf, those who do evil"
"not only so the government will not punish you, but also so you will have a clear conscience before God"
"Because the government punishes evildoers"
Paul is addressing the believers here, so this is plural.
"This is why you should pay taxes: authorities"
"administer" or "work on"
Paul is addressing the believers here, so this is plural.
The word "pay" is understood from the previous phrase in the general sense of "give." Alternate translation: "pay tax to whom tax is due, pay toll to whom toll is due, pay fear to whom fear is due, and pay honor to him to whom honor is due"
Here paying fear and honor is a metaphor for fearing and honoring those who deserve to be feared and honored. Alternate translation: "fear those who deserve to be feared, and honor those who deserved to be honored" or "respect those whom you ought to respect, and honor those whom you ought to honor"
This is a kind of tax.
Paul tells believers how to act toward neighbors.
This is a double negative. You can translate it in a positive form. Alternate translation: "Pay all you owe to everyone, and love one another"
This verb is plural and applies to all the Roman Christians.
This elliptical command includes the idea of "owe" from earlier in the sentence. Owing things or service to other people is a metaphor for the duty Christians have, in this case to love one another. Alternate translation: "anything, but remember that God has given you the duty to love one another"
The kind of love that comes from God is focused on having good things happen to others even when those good things do not happen to the one who loves.
To covet is to desire to have or possess something that another person possesses.
This phrase portrays love as a person who is being kind to other people. Alternate translation: "People who love their neighbors do not harm them"
Paul speaks of the need for the Roman believers to change their behavior as if they needed to wake up from being asleep.
"time"
Paul speaks of the time when people do evil deeds as night. Alternate translation: "The sinful time is almost over" or "It is as though the night is almost finished"
Paul speaks of the time when people do what is right as the day. Alternate translation: "the time of righteousness will begin soon" or "it is as though it will soon be day"
Paul speaks of of "works of darkness" as if they are clothing that a person puts aside. Here to "put aside" means to stop doing something. Here "darkness" is a metaphor for evil. Alternate translation: "Let us therefore stop doing the evil things that people do in the dark"
Here "light" is a metaphor for what is good and right. Paul speaks of people who are doing what is right as if they were putting on armor to protect themselves. Alternate translation: "let us start doing what is right. Doing this will protect us from what is evil, like armor protects a solider"
Paul includes his readers and other believers with himself.
Paul speaks of people living as true believers as if they were walking while it is day. Alternate translation: "Let us walk in a visible way knowing, that everyone can see us"
These concepts mean basically the same thing. You can combine them in your translation. Alternate translation: "sexually immoral acts"
This refers to plotting against and arguing with other people.
This refers to negative feelings against another person's success or advantage over others.
Paul speaks of accepting the moral nature of Christ as if he were our outer clothing that people can see.
If your language has a plural form for commands, use it here.
Here the "flesh" refers to the self-directed nature of people who oppose God. This is the sinful nature of human beings. Alternate translation: "do not allow your old evil heart any opportunity at all for doing wicked things"
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verse 11 of this chapter, which Paul quotes from the Old Testament.
Paul teaches that Christians can have real faith and at the same time be "weak in faith" in a given situation. This describes Christians whose faith is immature, not strong, or misunderstood. (See: faith)
Many religions in the ancient Near East restricted what was eaten. Christians have freedom to eat what they want. But they need to use this freedom wisely, in a way that honors the Lord and does not cause others to sin. (See: sin)
The judgment seat of God or Christ represents a time when all people, including Christians, will be held accountable for the way they lived their lives.
Paul encourages believers to remember that they are answerable to God.
This refers to those who felt guilty over eating and drinking certain things.
"and do not condemn them for their opinions"
Here "faith" refers to doing what a person believes God is telling him to do.
This describes a person who believes God does not want him to eat meat.
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Paul is using a question to scold those who are judging others. You can translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: "You are not God, and you are not allowed to judge one of his servants!"
The form of "you" here is singular.
Paul speaks of God as if he were a master who owned servants. Alternate translation: "Only the master can decide if he will accept the servant or not"
Paul speaks of the servant who is acceptable to God as if he were being "made to stand" instead of falling. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "But the Lord will accept him because he is able to make the servant acceptable"
"One person thinks one day is more important than some of the others, but another person thinks that all days are the same"
You can make the full meaning explicit. You can also translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "Let each person be sure what he is doing is to honor the Lord"
Here "observes the day" refers to considering a day as a special day on which to worship the Lord. Alternate translation: "Whoever treats a day as special does so to honor the Lord" or "The person who worships on a certain day does it to honor the Lord"
The word "everything" is understood from [Romans 14:3]
"eats to honor the Lord" or "eats that way in order to honor the Lord"
The word "everything" is understood from [Romans 14:3]
His purpose in refraining from eating certain foods is to honor the Lord. Alternate translation: "refrains from eating certain foods in order to honor the Lord"
Here "lives for himself" means to live only to please oneself. Alternate translation: "None of us should live merely to please himself"
Paul is including his readers, so this is inclusive.
Here "dies for himself" means to die only to please oneself. Alternate translation: "None of us should die merely to please himself"
Paul is speaking of both himself and his readers, so all instances of "we" are inclusive.
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By using these questions, Paul is demonstrating how he might need to scold individuals among his readers. Alternate translation: "it is wrong for you to judge your brother, and it is wrong for you to despise your brother!" or "stop judging and despising your brother!"
Here this means a fellow Christian, male or female.
The "judgment seat" refers to God's authority to judge. Alternate translation: "For God will judge us all"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "For someone has written in the Scriptures: 'As"
This phrase is used to start an oath or solemn promise. Alternate translation: "You can be certain that this is true"
Paul uses the words "knee" and "tongue" to refer to the whole person. Also, the Lord uses the word "God" to refer to himself. Alternate translation: "every person will bow and give praise to me"
"will have to explain his actions to God"
Here "stumbling block" and "snare" mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: "but instead make it your goal not to do or say anything that might cause a fellow believer to sin"
Here this means a fellow Christian, male or female.
Here the words "know" and "am persuaded" mean basically the same thing; Paul uses them to emphasize his certainty. Alternate translation: "I am certain because of my relationship with the Lord Jesus"
You can translate this in a positive form. Alternate translation: "everything by itself is clean"
"by its nature" or "because of what it is"
Paul implies here that a person should stay away from anything that he thinks is unclean. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: "But if a person thinks something is unclean, then for that person it is unclean and he should stay away from it"
"If you hurt your fellow believer's faith over the matter of food." Here the word "your" refers to those who are strong in faith and "brother" refers to one who is weak in faith.
Here this means a fellow Christian, male or female.
Paul speaks of the behavior of believers as if it were a walk. Alternate translation: "then you are no longer showing love"
"If someone thinks that something is evil, do not do it, even if you consider it to be good"
Paul argues that God set up his kingdom so he could give us a right relationship with himself, and could provide peace and joy. Alternate translation: "For God did not set up his kingdom so that he could rule over what we eat and drink. He set up his kingdom so we could have a right relationship with him, and so he could give us peace and joy"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "people will approve of him" or "people will respect him"
Here "build up one another" refers to helping each other grow in faith. Alternate translation: "let us seek to live peacefully together and help one another grow stronger in faith"
You can make explicit the full meaning of this sentence. Alternate translation: "Do not undo what God has done for a fellow believer just because you want to eat a certain kind of food"
Here anything that "causes someone to stumble" means it causes a weaker brother to do something that is against his conscience. Alternate translation: "but it would be a sin for someone to eat food that another brother thinks is wrong to eat, if by eating this causes the weaker brother to do something that is against his conscience"
"It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that might cause your brother to sin"
Here this means a fellow Christian, male or female.
This refers to the strong in faith and "brother" refers to the weak in faith.
This refers back to the beliefs about food and drink.
singular. Because Paul is addressing the believers, you may have to translate this using plural.
"Blessed are those who do not feel guilty for what they decide to do"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "God will say that a person does wrong if he is not sure if it is right to eat a certain food, but he eats it anyway" or "A person who is not sure if it is right to eat a certain food, but then eats it anyway, will have a troubled conscience"
Anything that is "not from faith" is something that God does not want you to do. You can make explicit the full meaning here. Alternate translation: "and God will say that he is wrong because he is eating something he believes God does not want him to eat"
Anything that is "not from faith" is something that God does not want you to do. You can make explicit the full meaning here. Alternate translation: "you are sinning if you do something that you do not believe God wants you to do"
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verses 9-11 and 21 of this chapter. These lines of poetry are from the Old Testament.
Some translations also set prose quotations from the Old Testament farther to the right than the rest of the text. The ULB does this with the quoted words in verse 12.
In Romans 15:14, Paul begins to speak more personally. He shifts from teaching to telling of his personal plans.
These terms are used to refer to people who are mature and immature in their faith. Paul teaches that those who are strong in faith need to help those who are weak in faith. (See: faith)
Paul concludes this section about believers' living for others by reminding them how Christ lived.
Translate this using the words your language uses to introduce a new idea into an argument.
Here "strong" refers to the people who are strong in their faith. They believe that God allows them to eat any kind of food. Alternate translation: "we who are strong in faith"
This refers to Paul, his readers, and other believers.
Here "the weak" refers to the people who are weak in their faith. They believe that God does not allow them to eat some kinds of food. Alternate translation: "those who are weak in faith"
By this, Paul means to strengthen someone's faith. Alternate translation: "to strengthen his faith"
Here Paul refers to a scripture where Christ
Those who blasphemed God insulted Christ. This is an indirect way of saying that those who slandered Christ were blaspheming God.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "For in times past, the prophets wrote everything in the Scriptures to teach us"
Paul includes his readers and other believers.
The meanings in the abstract nouns "patience" and "encouragement" can be expressed with the verbs "endure" and "encourage." Alternate translation "in order that by enduring and by being encouraged by the scriptures" or "in order that as we endure and as the scriptures encourage us"
Here the word "hope" is a person's confident expectation that what he desires really will happen. The abstract noun "hope" can be translated here with the verbs "confidently expect" or "confidently wait" or "trust." What the hope is about can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: "we would confidently wait for God" or "we would confidently expect that God will do what he has promised"
This word is used here to mark a break in the main teaching. Here Paul starts to tell a new part of the teaching.
"I pray that ... God ... will grant"
Here to be of the "same mind" is a metonym that means to be in agreement with each other. Alternate translation: "to be in agreement with each other" or "to be united"
The phrases "one mind" and "one mouth" both represent people being united together. Alternate translation: "you may be united when you praise"
This phrase translates a word that speaks of people who agree with each other and who work together to accomplish a common purpose.
"accept one another ... accepted you"
The word "I" refers to Paul.
Here "the circumcision" is a metonym that refers to the Jews. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "Jesus Christ has become a servant of the Jews"
This is one of the two purposes for which Christ became a servant of the circumcision.
Here "the fathers" refers to the ancestors of the Jewish people. You can translate this in active form. Alternate translation: "the promises that God gave to the ancestors of the Jews"
This is the second reason for which Christ became a servant of the circumcision. Alternate translation: "and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy"
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "As someone has written in the Scriptures"
Here "your name" is a metonym that refers to God. Alternate translation: "sing praise to you"
"Again the scripture says"
This refers to God's people. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: "with the people of God"
"praise the Lord"
Jesse was the physical father of King David. Alternate translation: "descendant of Jesse"
Here "him" refers to the descendant of Jesse and King David, the Messiah. The Gentiles will trust him to fulfill his promises. The abstract noun "hope" can be translated here with the verbs "trust" or "confidently wait" or confidently expect." Alternate translation: "the Gentiles will trust in him" or "the Gentiles will confidently wait for him to fulfill his promises"
"the God who gives hope" or "the God who causes us to hope." The abstract noun "hope" can be translated here with the verbs "confidently expect" or "confidently wait" or "trust." Alternate translation: "the God who causes us to confidently wait for him to fulfill his promises" or "the God who helps us to trust in him"
Here "fill you" is a metaphor for "cause you to have." Alternate translation: "cause you to have great joy and peace" or "give you great joy and peace"
"as you believe in him"
Paul reminds the believers in Rome that God chose him to reach the Gentiles.
Paul is quite sure that the believers in Rome are honoring each other in their behavior. Alternate translation: "I myself am completely sure that you yourselves have acted toward others in a completely good way"
Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.
Paul exaggerates here to emphasize his point. Alternate translation: "filled with sufficient knowledge to follow God"
Paul speaks of grace as if it were a physical gift that God had given him. God had appointed Paul an apostle even though he had persecuted believers before he decided to follow Jesus. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "the grace that God gave me"
Paul speaks of the Gentiles as if they were an offering brought to God. Alternate translation: "the Gentiles might be like an offering that pleases God"
"having been made holy by the Holy Spirit." This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "which the Holy Spirit made holy" or "which the Holy Spirit dedicated to God"
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This double negative emphasizes that what Christ has accomplished is the only thing that Paul wants to speak about. Alternate translation: "I will dare to speak only of what Christ has accomplished"
"so that the Gentiles will obey God"
This can be translated in active form: Alternate translation: Alternate translation: "These are things that Christ has accomplished through what I have said and done"
These two words mean basically the same thing and refer to various kinds of miracles.
This is from the city of Jerusalem as far as the province of Illyricum, a region close to Italy.
Paul only wants to preach to people who have never heard of Christ. Alternate translation: "And so, my desire has been to preach the good news in places where people have never heard of Christ"
Paul speaks of his ministry work as if he were building a house on a foundation. Alternate translation: "in order that I might not be simply continuing the work that someone else already started. I do not want to be like a man who builds a house on someone else's foundation"
Here Paul refers to what Isaiah wrote in the scriptures. You can translate this in an active form and make the meaning explicit. Alternate translation: "What is happening is like what Isaiah wrote in the scriptures"
Here Paul speaks of the "report" or message about Christ as if it were alive and able to move by itself. Alternate translation: "Those whom no one had told the news about him"
Paul tells the believers in Rome about his personal plans to visit them and asks the believers to pray.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "they also hindered me" or "people also hindered me"
Paul implies that the reason he no longer has any place is because the Gospel had been preached in all these regions. Alternate translation: "there are no more places in these regions where people have not heard about Christ"
Paul wanted to see the believers in Rome. He did not know if he actually would be able to see them. Alternate translation: "I want to see you" or "I plan to see you"
This is a roman province west of Rome that Paul desired to visit.
Here Paul implies that he wants the Roman believers to provide some financial assistance to him for his journey to Spain. You may have to translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "that you will help me on my journey"
"have enjoyed spending some time with you" or "have enjoyed visiting you"
You may need to make explicit how Paul was serving the people. Alternate translation: "bringing aid to God's holy people" )
Here the words "Macedonia" and "Achaia" are synecdoches for the people who live in those areas. Alternate translation: "the believers in the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia were happy"
"The believers in Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to do it"
"and the people of Macedonia and Achaia owe it to God's people in Jerusalem" or "and they are obligated to help them"
"since the Gentiles have shared in the spiritual things of the Jerusalem believers
The word "minister" here means to serve in a formal way as part of their service to God, much like the priests offered sacrifices in the temple.
"by giving them material things"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "and have safely delivered this offering to them"
This phrase means that Christ will bless Paul and the Roman believers. Alternate translation: "And I know that when I visit you, Christ will abundantly bless us"
If your language has a way to show that Paul has stopped talking about the good things he is confident of (Romans 15:29) and is now starting to talk about the dangers he faces, use it here.
"I encourage you"
Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.
"you work hard" or "you struggle"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God may rescue me from those who are disobedient" or "God may keep those who are disobedient from harming me"
Here Paul expresses his desire that the believers in Jerusalem will gladly accept the money from the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. Alternate translation: "pray that the believers in Jerusalem will be glad to receive the money that I am bringing them"
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The "God of peace" means the God who causes believers to have inner peace. Alternate translation: "I pray that God, who causes all of us to have inner peace, will"
In this chapter, Paul gives personal greetings to some of the Christians in Rome. It was common to end a letter in the ancient Near East with this type of personal greeting.
Because of the personal nature of this chapter, much of the context is unknown. This will make translation more difficult.
Paul now greets many of the believers in Rome by name.
"I want you to respect Phoebe"
This is a woman's name.
The word "our" refers to Paul and all believers. Alternate translation: "our sister in Christ"
This was a town in Greece.
Paul encourages the Roman believers to welcome Phoebe as a fellow believer. Alternate translation: "welcome her because we all belong to the Lord"
"in the way that believers should welcome other believers"
"help her by giving her whatever she needs"
"has supported many people, and she has also supported me"
Priscilla was the wife of Aquila.
Paul's "fellow workers" are people who also tell others about Jesus. Alternate translation: "who work with me to tell people about Christ Jesus"
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"Greet the believers who meet in their house to worship"
This is the name of a man.
Paul speaks of Epaenetus as if he were a fruit that he harvested. Alternate translation: "first person in Asia to believe in Jesus"
This is a woman's name.
This is a man's name.
"Junia" is a woman's name. Some versions have "Junias," which would be a man's name.
You can translate this in an active form. "The apostles Alternate translations: "The apostles know them very well"
This is a man's name.
"my dear friend and fellow believer"
These are the names of men.
These are the names of men.
The word "approved" refers to someone who has been tested and proved to be genuine. Alternate translation: "whom Christ has approved"
These are the names of men.
This refers to those who trust in Jesus. Alternate translation: "who are believers" or "who belong to the Lord"
These are women's names.
This is a man's name.
You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "whom the Lord has chosen"
Paul speaks of the mother of Rufus as if she were his own mother. Alternate translation: "his mother, whom I also think of as my mother"
These are men's names.
Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.
These are men's names.
The name of a woman. Julia was probably the wife of Philologus.
an expression of affection for fellow believers
Here Paul speaks in a general manner concerning the churches of Christ. Alternate translation: "The believers in all the churches in this area send their greetings to you"
Paul gives one last warning to the believers about unity and living for God.
Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.
This refers to those who argue and cause others to stop trusting in Jesus. Alternate translation: "who cause believers to argue with one another and to stop having faith in God"
"teaching things that do not agree with the truth you have already learned"
"Turn away" here is an metaphor for "refuse to listen." Alternate translation: "Do not listen to them"
The words "they serve" are understood from the previous phrase. This can be expressed as a separate sentence. Alternate translation: "Christ. Rather, they serve their own stomach"
Here "stomach" is a metonym that refers to physical desires. Serving there stomach represents satisfying their desires. Alternate translation: "but they only want to satisfy their own selfish desires"
The words "smooth" and "flattering" mean basically the same thing. Paul is emphasizing how these people are deceiving believers. Alternate translation: "By saying things that seem to be good and true"
Here "hearts" is a metonym for the minds and inner beings of people. Alternate translation: "they deceive the innocent believers"
This refers to those who are simple, inexperienced, and naive. Alternate translation: "those who innocently trust them" or "those who do not know these teachers are fooling them"
Here Paul speaks of the Roman believers' obedience as if it were a person who could go to people. Alternate translation: "For everyone has heard how you obey Jesus"
"not involved in doing evil things"
To say that a person will crush their enemy under their feet means that the person will have complete victory over their enemy. Here Paul speaks of the victory over Satan as if the Roman believers were trampling an enemy under their feet. Alternate translation: "Soon God will give you peace and complete victory over Satan"
Paul gives greetings from the believers who are with him.
These are men's names.
Tertius is the man who wrote down what Paul spoke.
"greet you as a fellow believer"
These are men's names.
This refers to Gaius, the person in whose house Paul and his fellow believers gathered for worship.
This is a person who takes care of the money for a group.
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Paul closes with a prayer of blessing.
Here the word "now" marks the closing section of the letter. If you have a way of doing this in your language, you can use it here.
"to make your faith strong"
"by the good news that I have preached about Jesus Christ"
Paul says that God has revealed previously hidden truths to the believers. He speaks of these truths as if they were a secret. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "because God has revealed to us believers the secret that he was keeping for long ages"
since the beginning of time
The verbs "revealed" and "made known" mean basically the same thing. Paul uses both of them to emphasize his point. You can combine these words and translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: "but the eternal God has now made known to all the nations through the prophetic writings"
Here "obedience" and "faith" are abstract nouns. You can use the verbs "obey" and "trust" in your translation. You may need to make explicit who will obey and trust. Alternate translation: "so that all nations will obey God because they trust in him"
Here "through Jesus Christ" refers to what Jesus did. To give "glory" means to praise God. Alternate translation: "Because of what Jesus Christ has done for us, we will praise forever the one who alone is God and who alone is wise. Amen"