The Jewish Annotated New Testament (247 page)

25
:
Nothing deserving death
, see 23.29.

26.1
–32: Paul’s final defense
(cf. 22.1–21; 24.10–21). Paul responds to charges brought by Jews (vv. 2–8), describes his conversion (vv. 9–18), summarizes his preaching (vv. 19–23), and appeals to Agrippa II (vv. 24–29).

1
:
Stretched out his hand
, common gesture (12.17; 13.16; 21.40).

2
–4
: Paul opens with standard words of praise; see 24.2–4.

3
:
Customs
…
of the Jews
, the assumption that Agrippa practices Judaism.

4
–5
: Acts represents Paul as an observant Jew; see 22.3; 24.15–16.

6
–8
: Paul presents resurrection, the defining Christian belief according to Acts (23.6), as the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel and the constant hope of Jews. The
promise
to Abraham in Tanakh was descendants (Gen 15.5), not resurrection.

9
–18
: Paul’s conversion (see also 9.1–19; 22.3–21).

9
–11
: Unlike previous reports (9.1–2; 22.4–5), Paul describes his actions against believers in Jesus as widespread and extremely aggressive.

10
:
Saints
, see 9.13n.

14
:
In the Hebrew language
, a detail not mentioned previously.
It hurts you to kick against the goads
, a proverbial expression, not previously quoted, depicting Paul as resisting the pressure of God’s plan by comparing him to a draft animal kicking the pointed stick used to move it in the desired direction. The saying is frequently attested in Greek literature (e.g., Euripides,
Bacch
. 795).

18
:
From darkness to light
, an image for those who acknowledge God and in this context conversion (13.47; Is 42.16; Lk 1.79; 2.32).
Satan
, conversion is more than a cognitive change; it marks the moving away from the powers of evil. The implication in Luke’s rendering may be that Jews who resist such conversion are under Satan’s control.
Forgiveness of sins
comes about only with belief in Jesus (2.38; 5.31; 10.43; 13.38).

20
:
Repent
, Paul calls for all to repent (17.30; 20.21).

21
: See 21.27–36.

22
: Paul’s claim that his instruction comes from the prophets and Moses authenticates his status as a Jew (see 24.14–16), and establishes the Christian message as consistent with biblical teaching.

23
:
Messiah must suffer
, common understanding in Luke-Acts of messianic identity; see 3.18,21–25; 8.32–35; 9.16; 17.3; Lk 2.49; 24.7,26,46.
Light
, see v. 18.

24
: Festus confirms that Paul’s views are based on knowledge and not ignorance, but that their results, or possibly Paul’s zeal for them, show them to be
insane
.

27
:
Do you believe
, Paul’s question implies that anyone who believes in the prophets should believe in Jesus.

31
:
Doing nothing to deserve death
, see 23.29.

32
:
Appealed to the emperor
, see 25.11; the process, once started, apparently cannot be stopped.

27.1
–28.31: Paul’s travel to Rome. 1–44: Sea voyage to Rome.
Paul’s sea voyage to Rome contains many elements common in contemporaneous literature: detailed itineraries, violent storms, shipwrecks, the crew’s flight. Neither human resistance nor forces of nature can prevent Paul from reaching his divinely appointed end (19.21; 23.11).

1
: The first-person plural “we” resumes and continues through 28.16.
Augustan Cohort
, a military unit stationed in Syria, representing the imperial power.

2
:
Adramyttium
, port city in northwest Asia Minor (present-day Turkey).
Aristarchus
, see 19.29.

3
–5
: The ship sailed north and west along the coast of Asia Minor.

6
:
Alexandrian ship
, the city of Rome relied for much of its grain on shipments from Egypt.

7
:
Cnidus
, southwest Asia Minor (present-day Turkey).
Salmone
, the northeast coast of Crete.

8
:
Fair Havens
and
Lasea
, the southern coast of Crete.

9
:
Fast
, Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement, in late September/early October. From this time of year until early spring sailing in open waters was considered dangerous.

16
:
Cauda
, close to the southern shore of Crete.

17
:
Syrtis
, waters along the north coast of Africa, between Cyrene and Carthage, known as dangerous to shipping.

18
: A standard practice during violent storms; see Jon 1.5; Josephus,
J.W
. 1.1.280.

21
:
Listened to me
, see v. 10.

24
:
Stand before the emperor
, see 9.15; 19.21; 23.11.

26
:
Have to run aground
, Paul’s prediction is fulfilled; see v. 41.

27
:
Sea of Adria
, Adriatic Sea.

35
: By reciting a blessing before eating, Paul shows himself to be an observant Jew; see 22.3; 24.14–16. The benediction, now known as “Birchat ha-motsi” or “Blessing of the Bread” (“Bread” as representing food in general) is a brief prayer said before eating; the standard benediction, “Birchat ha-mason,” is said after eating. The action has Eucharistic overtones (Lk 22.19).

41
: See v. 26.

28.1
–10: Paul on Malta.
Paul is shown to have miraculous abilities to escape death and heal others (13.9–11; 14.9–11; 20.9–12).

1
:
Malta
, island off the southern coast of Sicily.

4
:
Justice
, possibly a personification, the deity Justice, seen as exacting retribution.

6
:
Say that he was a god
, in Iconium Paul’s healing of a paralytic prompts the residents to refer to him as Hermes (14.12).

8
:
Putting his hands
, see 9.12; 14.3; 19.6; Lk 4.40; 13.11–13.

11
–31: Paul in Rome.

11
:
Alexandrian ship
, see 27.6.
Twin Brothers
, Dioscuri, the brothers Castor and Pollux, often considered as helpers to sailors in need.

12
–14
: The final part of the journey takes Paul along the eastern coast of Sicily (
Syracuse
) to
Rhegium
, the port on the Italian peninsula opposite Sicily, and up the western coast of Italy to the port of
Puteoli
, near Naples, and finally to Rome.

15
:
Forum of Appius
, town forty-three miles south of Rome.
Three Taverns
, resting spot thirty-three miles south of Rome.

16
:
Live by himself
, under house arrest.

17
–20
: Paul’s remarks to the Jewish leaders summarize his position: he is loyal to Judaism and the Jewish people (22.3); he has committed no crimes against Rome (22.3–21; 24.11–13); Jesus is the fulfillment of Israel’s traditions (23.6; 24.15; 26.6–8).

19
:
Appeal to the emperor
, see 25.11.
No charge to bring against my nation
, no accusation against the Jewish leadership that caused Paul’s appeal to Rome.

22
:
Sect
, 9.2; 24.14.

23
–29
: The final scene dramatically presents the related themes that the failure of the Jews to receive salvation both was foretold by the prophets and is a consequence of their own rejection of Jesus (13.12,45–46).

23
:
Law of Moses and from the prophets
, 26.22.

26
: Isa 6.9–10; cf. 13.46–48; 18.5–6.

28
:
Gentiles
, at least by anticipation of what developed later, if not in reality by the time represented in the narrative (mid-60s CE), the mission to the Jews is over.

30
–31
: Acts ends without narrating Paul’s death, although the text often alludes to it (19.21; 20.22–25; 23.11; 26.32; 27.24).

31
:
Kingdom of God
, see 8.12.
Boldness
, see 4.13.

1.1
–15: Salutation, thanksgiving, introduction of issues.
Paul introduces his occupation as a herald of God’s good news about Jesus Christ, the descendant of David who is the Messiah awaited by Israel. Christ will also rescue the nations, as promised in scripture. The letter opening represents formal features of Roman diplomatic correspondence, clarifying sender, who is represented, by what authority, and to whom written.