Read The Jewish Annotated New Testament Online
Authors: Amy-Jill Levine
23
:
Worms
, appropriate punishment for those who persecute God’s people (e.g., Jdt 16.17; 2 Macc 9.9).
24
: Threats against the believers regularly fail (4.4; 5.42; 14.6–7,19–20; 16.23–34).
25
: See 11.29–30.
John
…
Mark
, see v. 12; 9.36n.
13.1
–14.28: Paul’s journey in Asia Minor.
The narrative shifts to Paul’s travels through Asia Minor and Greece (chs 13–20), his arrest in Jerusalem and defense before Roman and Jewish authorities (chs 21–27), and his journey to Rome (chs 27–28).
13.1
–12: Paul travels to Cyprus. 1–3: The church in Antioch.
1
:
Prophets
, see 11.27.
Barnabas
, 4.36n.
Herod the ruler
, Gk “tetrarch,” meaning Herod Antipas, son of Herod I and tetrarch of Galilee and Perea 6–37 CE, not Herod Agrippa. On Luke’s presentation of Antipas, see Lk 23.8–11.
2
:
Holy Spirit
, 8.29; 10.19; 13.4; 16.6,7.
3
:
Praying they laid their hands
, actions sanctioning ministerial appointment (cf. 6.6; 1 Tim 4.14; 2 Tim 1.6).
4
–12: Preaching on Cyprus.
4
:
Seleucia
, seaport near Antioch.
Cyprus
, other Christians preceded Paul and Barnabas there (11.19).
5
:
Salamis
, seaport on eastern side of Cyprus.
Synagogues of the Jews
, Paul regularly preaches in synagogues (13.14; 14.1; 16.13; 17.1,10,17; 18.4,19; 19.8).
6
:
Paphos
, seat of Roman administration on Cyprus, on the southwest coast.
Magician
, see Peter’s meeting with Simon (8.14–24).
Bar-Jesus
, the Aramaic name means Son of Jesus/Joshua, a common Jewish name.
7
:
Proconsul, Sergius Paulus
, representing the Roman emperor (18.12; 24.22–27; 25.14). A “proconsul” was the governor of a province, usually for a fixed term of one year, by appointment of the emperor.
8
:
Elymas
, meaning uncertain, not a translation of Bar-Jesus.
9
:
Saul, also known as Paul
, here, and for most of the rest of Acts, the name Paul is used. Luke may have preferred the Hebrew name Saul to this point to emphasize Paul’s Jewish background.
Intently
, see 3.4.
10
:
Son of the devil
, Elymas is the son not of Jesus but of Satan (cf. Jn 8.44).
11
: Paul often performs miracles (14.10; 19.11; 20.9–10; 28.3–6). Paul’s ability to blind the magician reflects God’s power to subdue Satan.
12
:
Lord
, here meaning Jesus.
13.13
–52: Preaching in Pisidia.
Paul’s speech covers several central elements: Jesus is David’s heir and the culmination of Israel’s sacred narrative (vv. 17–25); his death and resurrection bring forgiveness and salvation to those who believe (vv. 26–41); Jews reject God’s message and persecute Christians, while Gentiles become believers (vv. 44–52).
13
:
Perga in Pamphylia
, important seaport city in southern Asia Minor (present-day Turkey).
John
, 15.37–38.
14
:
Antioch in Pisidia
, Roman city approximately 100 mi (160 km) from Perga.
Sabbath day
, Jews regularly gathered on the Sabbath (seventh day, Saturday) to read scripture, both Torah (Pentateuch) and prophets (Philo,
Spec
.
Laws
. 2.60–62; Josephus,
J.W
. 2.289–92;
m. Meg
. 3.6).
Synagogue
, Paul’s typical practice; see 13.5.
15
:
Officials
, Gk “archisynagōgos,” commonly used for leaders in the Jewish community.
16
:
Others who fear God
, Gentiles are present in the synagogues (16.14; 17.4,12; 18.7).
17
–25
: For Paul, Israel’s story culminates with Jesus; cf. 7.2–5.
Chose our ancestors
, Deut 4.37; 7.6; 10.15.
Uplifted arm
, Ex 6.6; Deut 4.34; 26.8.
18
:
Put up with
, other manuscripts read “cared for.” The difference in the two Greek words is one letter. While both meanings fit the context, Stephen’s speech (7.42) suggests Luke meant
put up with
.
19
:
Seven nations
, Deut 7.1.
Land as an inheritance
, Num 34.2; Deut 4.38; 26.1; Josh 14.1–2.
20
:
Four hundred fifty years
, this is not the length of time between the conquest and the judges; it may be that Paul is including 400 years before the Exodus (Gen 15.13), that is, from the time of Israel in Egypt.
21
:
Asked for a king
, 1 Sam 8.5,10; 10.21,24.
Forty years, Ant
. 6.378.
22
: A pastiche of citations (e.g., 1 Sam 13.14; Ps 89.24 [MT 89.25]).
23
:
Posterity
, Jesus’ legal inheritance of Davidic descent according to Luke came through Joseph (Lk 3.23–38).
24
:
John
, Lk 3.3.
25
: See Lk 3.16.
27
:
Did not recognize him
, see 3.17.
28
:
No cause
, Lk 23.4,14–15,22,47.
Pilate
, see 3.13n.
29
:
Tree
, 5.30; 10.39.
30
:
God raised him
, 3.15; 4.10; 10.40.
31
:
Witnesses
, the primary responsibility of apostles (1.8n.; 2.32; 3.15; 5.32); Paul does so as well (23.11).
33
: Ps 2.7.
34
: Isa 55.3.
35
: Ps 16.10.
38
:
Forgiveness of sins
, forgiveness is tied to belief in Jesus (2.38; 5.31; 10.43; 26.18).
39
:
Set free
, Gk “justified”; on the relation between justification and the
law
, see Gal 3.23–25; Rom 3.28; 8.3.
40
–41
: Hab 1.5. The quotation is from the LXX;
will never believe
, or “would not believe.” For Luke, the prophets not only look forward to Jesus but also recognized the dire consequences for not believing in him.
43
: Many Jews respond positively (14.1; 17.4,11–12; 18.8).
45
:
The Jews
, Acts presents Jewish opposition as persistent (17.5,13; 18.12; 20.3,19) and irrational (5.17; 17.5).
Blaspheming
, perhaps meaning “swearing falsely.”
46
:
Spoke out boldly
, see 4.13. Just as Jesus’ death results from both divine will and Jewish malevolence, so the mission to the Gentiles results from God’s plan (10.1–11.18) and Jewish rejection.
47
: Isa 49.6. Paul takes himself and his companions, rather than Israel (
T. Levi
14.3;
Sib
.
Or
. 14.214), to be the light.
48
:
Destined for eternal life
, proven worthy of becoming part of God’s kingdom.
50
: Jews are the source of enmity.
51
:
Shook the dust
, Lk 10.11; cf Mt 10.14.
Iconium
, present-day Konya, 75 mi (120 km) southeast of Antioch.
14.1
–28: Preaching in Lycaonia. 1
:
Iconium
, see 13.51n.
Synagogue
, despite announcing that he is turning to the Gentiles (13.46), Paul continues to preach to Jews (16.13; 17.1,10,17; 18.4,19,26; 19.8), some of whom continue to join the movement.
Jews
, see 13.43.
Greeks
, see 13.16.
3
:
Speaking boldly
, see 4.13.
4
:
Jews
, those not persuaded to join the movement of Jesus-followers.
Apostles
, title applied to Paul only here and v. 14. Paul claimed the title (Rom 1.1; 1 Cor 1.1; 9.1; 2 Cor 1.1; Gal 1.1), although some objected (1 Cor 9.2).
5
:
Rulers
, the leaders of each religious group (synagogue leaders for Jews, temple officials for Greeks).
Stone them
, uncertain whether legal punishment or mob action (cf. Stephen, 7.58). One of the accepted forms of punishment in the Tanakh (Lev 20.2; 24.14; Num 15.35–36; Deut 13.11; 17.5; 21.21) and rabbinic tradition (
b. Shabb
. 153b–154a;
b. B. Kamma
44b;
b. Sanh
., passim).
6
:
Lystra
…
Derbe
, smaller towns in Lycaonia.