1
Μετὰ δὲ πέντε ἡμέρας κατέβη ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς Ἁνανίας μετὰ ⸂πρεσβυτέρων τινῶν⸃ καὶ ῥήτορος Τερτύλλου τινός, οἵτινες ἐνεφάνισαν τῷ ἡγεμόνι κατὰ τοῦ Παύλου.
And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus, who notified the governor against Paul.
2
κληθέντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἤρξατο κατηγορεῖν ὁ Τέρτυλλος λέγων· Πολλῆς εἰρήνης τυγχάνοντες διὰ σοῦ καὶ ⸀διορθωμάτων γινομένων τῷ ἔθνει τούτῳ διὰ τῆς σῆς προνοίας
And when he had been called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Obtaining much peace through you, and improvements coming to this nation through your forethought,
3
πάντῃ τε καὶ πανταχοῦ ἀποδεχόμεθα, κράτιστε Φῆλιξ, μετὰ πάσης εὐχαριστίας.
in every way and everywhere we welcome it, most excellent Felix, with all thanksgiving.
4
ἵνα δὲ μὴ ἐπὶ πλεῖόν σε ἐγκόπτω, παρακαλῶ ἀκοῦσαί σε ἡμῶν συντόμως τῇ σῇ ἐπιεικείᾳ.
But so that I may not hinder you further, I urge you to hear us briefly in your forbearance.
5
εὑρόντες γὰρ τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον λοιμὸν καὶ κινοῦντα ⸀στάσεις πᾶσι τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις τοῖς κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην πρωτοστάτην τε τῆς τῶν Ναζωραίων αἱρέσεως,
For we have found this man a plague, and one stirring up strife among all the Jews throughout the inhabited world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazoreans,
first here Jews Ἰουδαῖος Ioudaios
first here Nazorean Ναζωραῖος Nazōraios
Why this rendering
Acts.24.5 Observation
Syntactic observation
εὑρόντες γὰρ τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον λοιμὸν … πρωτοστάτην τε τῆς τῶν Ναζωραίων αἱρέσεως — we have found this man a plague … and a leader of the sect of the Nazoreans. λοιμός, plague, is the word of Luke 21:11, famines and plagues — two places in the New Testament, and only here of a person; this edition keeps the word of disease and does not paraphrase it as troublemaker. The sect of the Nazoreans (ἡ τῶν Ναζωραίων αἵρεσις) — the title of Jesus, the Nazorean (2:22; 22:8, singular), becomes plural and names his followers. αἵρεσις, sect, is the word of 5:17 (the sect of the Sadducees) and 15:5 (of the Pharisees), and in v.14 Paul takes it up — the Way, which they call a sect. πρωτοστάτης, leader (one who stands first), is unique in the New Testament. V.2 πρόνοια, forethought, is the word of Rom 13:14, make no forethought for the flesh — the orator’s flattery and Paul’s warning share a word. The base text does not print v.7 after v.6 (the Received Text’s Lysias came and took him out of our hands) — the numbering skips from 6 to 8.
Rendering options · 1
Adopted “a plague” — the word of Luke 21:11; no v.7
Basis The insult of the charge keeps the word of disease; v.7 is skipped as the base text skips it.
6
ὃς καὶ τὸ ἱερὸν ἐπείρασεν βεβηλῶσαι, ὃν καὶ ⸀ἐκρατήσαμεν,
who even attempted to profane the temple; whom we also seized,
8
παρ’ οὗ δυνήσῃ αὐτὸς ἀνακρίνας περὶ πάντων τούτων ἐπιγνῶναι ὧν ἡμεῖς κατηγοροῦμεν αὐτοῦ.
from whom you yourself, having examined him, will be able to learn about all these things of which we accuse him.”
9
συνεπέθεντο δὲ καὶ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι φάσκοντες ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχειν.
And the Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.
10
Ἀπεκρίθη ⸀τε ὁ Παῦλος νεύσαντος αὐτῷ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος λέγειν· Ἐκ πολλῶν ἐτῶν ὄντα σε κριτὴν τῷ ἔθνει τούτῳ ἐπιστάμενος ⸀εὐθύμως τὰ περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ ἀπολογοῦμαι,
And Paul answered, when the governor had nodded to him to speak: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I gladly make my defence about the things concerning myself,
11
δυναμένου σου ⸀ἐπιγνῶναι, ὅτι οὐ πλείους εἰσίν μοι ἡμέραι ⸀δώδεκα ἀφ’ ἧς ἀνέβην προσκυνήσων ⸀εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ,
since you are able to learn that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem;
first here Jerusalem Ἰερουσαλήμ Ierousalēm
12
καὶ οὔτε ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ εὗρόν με πρός τινα διαλεγόμενον ἢ ⸀ἐπίστασιν ποιοῦντα ὄχλου οὔτε ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς οὔτε κατὰ τὴν πόλιν,
and neither in the temple did they find me reasoning with anyone or making a rising of a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor throughout the city;
13
⸀οὐδὲ ⸀παραστῆσαι δύνανταί ⸀σοι περὶ ὧν ⸀νυνὶ κατηγοροῦσίν μου.
nor can they present to you the things of which they now accuse me.
14
ὁμολογῶ δὲ τοῦτό σοι ὅτι κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν ἣν λέγουσιν αἵρεσιν οὕτως λατρεύω τῷ πατρῴῳ θεῷ, πιστεύων πᾶσι τοῖς κατὰ τὸν νόμον καὶ ⸂τοῖς ἐν⸃ τοῖς προφήταις γεγραμμένοις,
But this I acknowledge to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things that are according to the law and that are written in the prophets,
Why this rendering
Acts.24.14 Observation
Syntactic observation
κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν ἣν λέγουσιν αἵρεσιν οὕτως λατρεύω τῷ πατρῴῳ θεῷ — according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers. Paul renames the sect (αἵρεσις) as the Way (ἡ ὁδός — 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4) — the base text sets the two names side by side in one verse. λατρεύω, serve, is the verb of Luke 1:74; 2:37; Acts 7:7; 26:7 — a different word from worship (προσκυνέω, v.11), and this edition keeps them apart. πατρῷος, of our fathers, is the word of 22:3, the law of our fathers — both the law and God are of the fathers. V.15, a resurrection both of the righteous and of the unrighteous (ἀνάστασιν … δικαίων τε καὶ ἀδίκων) — the only place in Acts that speaks of a resurrection of the unrighteous (John 5:29, a resurrection of judgement, is the Gospel counterpart). V.16 ἀπρόσκοπον συνείδησιν, a conscience free of stumbling — προσκόπτω is the verb of Matt 4:6, lest you strike your foot against a stone; this edition keeps the root.
Rendering options · 1
Adopted “the Way, which they call a sect” — two names in one verse
Basis αἵρεσις = sect, ἡ ὁδός = the Way — as fixed.
15
ἐλπίδα ἔχων εἰς τὸν θεόν, ἣν καὶ αὐτοὶ οὗτοι προσδέχονται, ἀνάστασιν μέλλειν ⸀ἔσεσθαι δικαίων τε καὶ ἀδίκων·
having a hope toward God, which these themselves also wait for, that there is going to be a resurrection both of the righteous and of the unrighteous.
16
ἐν τούτῳ ⸀καὶ αὐτὸς ἀσκῶ ἀπρόσκοπον συνείδησιν ⸀ἔχειν πρὸς τὸν θεὸν καὶ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους διὰ παντός.
In this I myself also strive to have a conscience free of stumbling toward God and men continually.
17
δι’ ἐτῶν δὲ πλειόνων ⸂ἐλεημοσύνας ποιήσων εἰς τὸ ἔθνος μου παρεγενόμην⸃ καὶ προσφοράς,
Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings,
18
ἐν ⸀αἷς εὗρόν με ἡγνισμένον ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ, οὐ μετὰ ὄχλου οὐδὲ μετὰ θορύβου,
in which they found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd nor with an uproar;
19
τινὲς δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀσίας Ἰουδαῖοι, οὓς ⸀ἔδει ἐπὶ σοῦ παρεῖναι καὶ κατηγορεῖν εἴ τι ἔχοιεν πρὸς ⸀ἐμέ,
but certain Jews from Asia, who ought to be present before you and to accuse me, if they have anything against me.
20
ἢ αὐτοὶ οὗτοι εἰπάτωσαν τί ⸀εὗρον ἀδίκημα στάντος μου ἐπὶ τοῦ συνεδρίου
Or let these men themselves say what wrong they found when I stood before the council,
21
ἢ περὶ μιᾶς ταύτης φωνῆς ἧς ἐκέκραξα ⸂ἐν αὐτοῖς ἑστὼς⸃ ὅτι Περὶ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν ἐγὼ κρίνομαι σήμερον ⸀ἐφ’ ὑμῶν.
other than this one voice which I cried out standing among them: ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged today before you.’”
22
⸂Ἀνεβάλετο δὲ αὐτοὺς ὁ Φῆλιξ⸃, ἀκριβέστερον εἰδὼς τὰ περὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ, ⸀εἴπας· Ὅταν Λυσίας ὁ χιλίαρχος καταβῇ διαγνώσομαι τὰ καθ’ ὑμᾶς·
But Felix, knowing the things about the Way more accurately, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will determine your case,”
23
⸀διαταξάμενος τῷ ἑκατοντάρχῃ τηρεῖσθαι ⸀αὐτὸν ἔχειν τε ἄνεσιν καὶ μηδένα κωλύειν τῶν ἰδίων αὐτοῦ ⸀ὑπηρετεῖν αὐτῷ.
directing the commander of a hundred that he be kept, and have liberty, and that none of his own people be prevented from serving him.
24
Μετὰ δὲ ἡμέρας τινὰς παραγενόμενος ὁ Φῆλιξ σὺν Δρουσίλλῃ τῇ ⸀ἰδίᾳ γυναικὶ οὔσῃ Ἰουδαίᾳ μετεπέμψατο τὸν Παῦλον καὶ ἤκουσεν αὐτοῦ περὶ τῆς εἰς Χριστὸν ⸀Ἰησοῦν πίστεως.
And after some days Felix arrived with Drusilla his own wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him about faith in Christ Jesus.
first here Christ Χριστός Christos
first here Jesus Ἰησοῦς Iēsous
25
διαλεγομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ περὶ δικαιοσύνης καὶ ἐγκρατείας καὶ τοῦ κρίματος τοῦ ⸀μέλλοντος ἔμφοβος γενόμενος ὁ Φῆλιξ ἀπεκρίθη· Τὸ νῦν ἔχον πορεύου, καιρὸν δὲ μεταλαβὼν μετακαλέσομαί σε·
And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the judgement to come, Felix became afraid and answered, “Go for now; and when I get an opportunity I will call for you” —
Why this rendering
Acts.24.25 Observation
Syntactic observation
διαλεγομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ περὶ δικαιοσύνης καὶ ἐγκρατείας καὶ τοῦ κρίματος τοῦ μέλλοντος ἔμφοβος γενόμενος ὁ Φῆλιξ — as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the judgement to come, Felix became afraid. Of the three topics, ἐγκράτεια, self-control, is only here in Acts and returns in Paul’s letters (Gal 5:23, the fruit of the Spirit). ἔμφοβος, afraid, is the word of Luke 24:5, 37 and of Cornelius at Acts 10:4 — fear before an angel and a governor’s fear are one word. Τὸ νῦν ἔχον πορεύου, go for now — an idiom, unique in the New Testament. V.26, hoping that money would be given him — the base text states Felix’s motive in the narrator’s voice (ἐλπίζων). V.27 διετία, two years, is the word of the two years in Rome at 28:30 — only these two places in the New Testament: the two years at Caesarea and the two in Rome. To lay up grace (χάριτα καταθέσθαι) is repeated of Festus at 25:9 — a place where χάρις, grace, is used in a governor’s arithmetic.
Rendering options · 1
Adopted “to lay up grace” — χάρις as “grace”
Basis Paraphrasing as to curry favour would hide that the fixed word is used in a governor’s calculation.
26
ἅμα καὶ ἐλπίζων ὅτι χρήματα δοθήσεται αὐτῷ ὑπὸ τοῦ ⸀Παύλου· διὸ καὶ πυκνότερον αὐτὸν μεταπεμπόμενος ὡμίλει αὐτῷ.
at the same time also hoping that money would be given him by Paul; and so, sending for him more often, he was conversing with him.
27
Διετίας δὲ πληρωθείσης ἔλαβεν διάδοχον ὁ Φῆλιξ Πόρκιον Φῆστον· θέλων τε ⸀χάριτα καταθέσθαι τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ὁ Φῆλιξ κατέλιπε τὸν Παῦλον δεδεμένον.
But when two years were fulfilled, Felix received Porcius Festus as successor; and wanting to lay up grace with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.