This chapter records an event, commonly known as the "Ascension," when Jesus returns to heaven after his resurrection. He will not come back until he returns at his "second coming." (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/heaven]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/resurrection]])
Following other translations, the UDB has chosen to set the salutation ("Dear Theophilus") apart. This follows the style of a letter, but it may be approached differently to follow a similar practice in the translator's culture.
Some translations indent quotations from the Old Testament. The ULB does this with the two quotes from Psalms in 1:20.
Some scholars believe that Jesus explained to the disciples why the kingdom of God did not come during his life. Others believe that a new phase of the kingdom of God has just begun.
The following are the list 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, Thaddeus, 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.
It is probable that Thaddaeus and Jude, the son of James, are two names of the same person.
It may be difficult to translate the phrase, "Jesus began to do and to teach" because it changes the tense or timing of events within the same sentence (Acts 1:1). It may be necessary to make all these actions agree with each other in tense. An alternative translation could be, "Jesus did and taught."
This is a phrase in Hebrew or Aramaic. Luke transliterates this word by writing it with Greek letters, and then he explains the meaning. Translators are encouraged to transliterate it using the letters of the target language and then explain the meaning.
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The former book 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" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
This refers to Jesus' ascension into heaven. AT: "until the day on which God took him up to heaven" or "until the day that he ascended into heaven" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
The Holy Spirit led Jesus to instruct his apostles on certain things.
This refers to Jesus' suffering and death on the cross.
Jesus appeared to his apostles and to many other disciples.
This event happened during the 40 days that Jesus appeared to his followers after he had risen from the dead.
Here the word "he" refers to Jesus. Except where otherwise noted, the word "you" in the book of Acts is plural. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]])
"When Jesus was meeting together with his apostles"
This is a reference to the Holy Spirit. AT: "the Holy Spirit, whom the Father promised to send" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
If you translated the previous phrase to include the words "Holy Spirit," you can change the word "which" to "whom." AT: "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. AT: "God will baptize you" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
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. AT: "the general period of time or the specific date" or 2) the two words are basically synonymous. AT: "the exact time" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]])
The apostles will receive power that will enable them to be witnesses for Jesus. AT: "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" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
"as they watched." The apostles "were looking up" at Jesus because Jesus rose into the sky. AT: "as they were looking up at the sky" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
"Raised" here is an idiom for "lifted." This can be stated in active form. AT: "he was lifted up" or "he rose up into the sky" or "God took him up into the sky" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
"a cloud blocked their view so that they could no longer see him"
"staring at the sky" or "gazing at the sky"
The angels address the apostles as men who are from Galilee.
Jesus will return in the sky, just as clouds covered him when he arose into heaven.
"The apostles returned"
This refers to the distance which, according to Rabbinical tradition, a person was allowed to walk on a Sabbath day. AT: "about one kilometer away" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
"When they reached their destination." Verse 12 says they were returning to Jerusalem.
"the room on the upper level of the house"
This means that the apostles and believers there all shared a common commitment and purpose, and there was no strife among them.
This means that the disciples prayed together regularly and frequently.
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 while the disciples were meeting in the upper chamber. AT: "During that time" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
"one hundred and twenty people" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])
Here the word "brothers" refers to fellow believers and includes both men and women.
This can be stated in active form. AT: "the things that we read about in scripture had to take place" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
The word "mouth" refers to the words that David wrote. AT: "through the words of David" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
In verse 17 Peter continues his speech to the believers that he began in Acts 1:16.
In verses 18-19 the author tells 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. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])
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. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
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. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
When the people living in Jerusalem heard of the way in which Judas died, they renamed the field.
Peter continues his speech to the believers that he began in Acts 1:16.
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.
This can be stated in active form. AT: "For David wrote in the Book of Psalms" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])
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. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
"become empty"
Peter finishes his speech to the believers that he began in Acts 1:16.
Here the word "us" refers to the apostles and does not include the audience to whom Peter is speaking. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive]])
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. AT: "the Lord Jesus lived among us" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
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" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])
This can be stated in active form. AT: "until the day when Jesus left us and rose up to heaven" or "until the day that God took him up from us" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
Here the word "They" refers to all of the believers who were present. AT: "They proposed two men who fulfilled the requirements that Peter listed" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
This can be translated with an active form. AT: "Joseph, whom people also called Barsabbas and Justus" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
Here the word "They" refers to all of the believers, but it was probably one of the apostles who spoke these words. AT: "The believers prayed together and one of the apostles said" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
Here the word "hearts" refers to the thoughts and motives. AT: "You, Lord, know the thoughts and motives of everyone" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
Here the word "apostleship" defines what kind of "ministry" this is. AT: "to take Judas' place in this apostolic ministry" or "to take Judas' place in serving as an apostle" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]])
Here the expression "turned away" means that Judas stopped performing this ministry. AT: "which Judas stopped fulfilling"
This phrase refers to Judas' death and likely to his judgment after death. AT: "to go where he belongs" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-euphemism]])
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. AT: "the believers considered him to be an apostle with the other eleven" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
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