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John 1:32-33
New English Translation

32 Then[a] John testified,[b] “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove[c] from heaven,[d] and it remained on him.[e] 33 And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining—this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

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Footnotes

  1. John 1:32 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events in the narrative. Greek style often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” but English style generally does not.
  2. John 1:32 tn Grk “testified, saying.” The participle λέγων (legōn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
  3. John 1:32 sn The phrase like a dove is a descriptive comparison. The Spirit is not a dove, but descended like one in some sort of bodily representation.
  4. John 1:32 tn Or “from the sky.” The Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) may be translated “sky” or “heaven,” depending on the context.
  5. John 1:32 sn John says the Spirit remained on Jesus. The Greek verb μένω (menō) is a favorite Johannine word, used 40 times in the Gospel and 27 times in the Epistles (67 together) against 118 times total in the NT. The general significance of the verb μένω for John is to express the permanency of relationship between Father and Son and Son and believer. Here the use of the word implies that Jesus permanently possesses the Holy Spirit, and because he does, he will dispense the Holy Spirit to others in baptism. Other notes on the dispensation of the Spirit occur at John 3:5 and following (at least implied by the wordplay), John 3:34; 7:38-39, numerous passages in John 14-16 (the Paraclete passages) and John 20:22. Note also the allusion to Isa 42:1—“Behold my servant…my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have put my Spirit on him.”
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Luke 24
John 2
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Acts 1:4-5
New English Translation

4 While he was with them,[a] he declared,[b] “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there[c] for what my[d] Father promised,[e] which you heard about from me.[f] 5 For[g] John baptized with water, but you[h] will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 1:4 tn Or “While he was assembling with them,” or “while he was sharing a meal with them.” There are three basic options for translating the verb συναλίζω (sunalizō): (1) “Eat (salt) with, share a meal with”; (2) “bring together, assemble”; (3) “spend the night with, stay with” (see BDAG 964 s.v.). The difficulty with the first option is that it does not fit the context, and this meaning is not found elsewhere. The second option is difficult because of the singular number and the present tense. The third option is based on a spelling variation of συναυλιζόμενος (sunaulizomenos), which some minuscules actually read here. The difference in meaning between (2) and (3) is not great, but (3) seems to fit the context somewhat better here.
  2. Acts 1:4 tn Grk “ordered them”; the command “Do not leave” is not in Greek but is an indirect quotation in the original (see note at end of the verse for explanation).
  3. Acts 1:4 tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text (direct objects in Greek were frequently omitted when clear from the context).
  4. Acts 1:4 tn Grk “the,” with the article used as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).
  5. Acts 1:4 tn Grk “for the promise of the Father.” Jesus is referring to the promised gift of the Holy Spirit (see the following verse).
  6. Acts 1:4 tn Grk “While he was with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for ‘what my Father promised, which you heard about from me.’” This verse moves from indirect to direct discourse. This abrupt change is very awkward, so the entire quotation has been rendered as direct discourse in the translation.
  7. Acts 1:5 tn In the Greek text v. 5 is a continuation of the previous sentence, which is long and complicated. In keeping with the tendency of contemporary English to use shorter sentences, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  8. Acts 1:5 tn The pronoun is plural in Greek.
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John 21
Acts 2
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Acts 2:1-4
New English Translation

The Holy Spirit and the Day of Pentecost

2 Now[a] when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly[b] a sound[c] like a violent wind blowing[d] came from heaven[e] and filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And tongues spreading out like a fire[f] appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. 4 All[g] of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages[h] as the Spirit enabled them.[i]

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 2:1 tn Grk “And” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic. Greek style often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” but English style does not.
  2. Acts 2:2 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated for stylistic reasons. It occurs as part of the formula καὶ ἐγένετο (kai egeneto) which is often left untranslated in Luke-Acts because it is redundant in contemporary English. Here it is possible (and indeed necessary) to translate ἐγένετο as “came” so that the initial clause of the English translation contains a verb; nevertheless the translation of the conjunction καί is not necessary.
  3. Acts 2:2 tn Or “a noise.”
  4. Acts 2:2 tn While φέρω (pherō) generally refers to movement from one place to another with the possible implication of causing the movement of other objects, in Acts 2:2 φέρομαι (pheromai) should probably be understood in a more idiomatic sense of “blowing” since it is combined with the noun for wind (πνοή, pnoē).
  5. Acts 2:2 tn Or “from the sky.” The Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) may be translated “sky” or “heaven” depending on the context.
  6. Acts 2:3 tn Or “And divided tongues as of fire.” The precise meaning of διαμερίζομαι (diamerizomai) in Acts 2:3 is difficult to determine. The meaning could be “tongues as of fire dividing up one to each person,” but it is also possible that the individual tongues of fire were divided (“And divided tongues as of fire appeared”). The translation adopted in the text (“tongues spreading out like a fire”) attempts to be somewhat ambiguous.
  7. Acts 2:4 tn Grk “And all.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
  8. Acts 2:4 tn The Greek term is γλώσσαις (glōssais), the same word used for the tongues of fire.sn Other languages. Acts 2:6-7 indicates that these were languages understandable to the hearers, a diverse group from “every nation under heaven.”
  9. Acts 2:4 tn Grk “just as the spirit gave them to utter.” The verb ἀποφθέγγομαι (apophthengomai) was used of special utterances in Classical Greek (BDAG 125 s.v.).
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Acts 1
Acts 3
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Matthew 12:34
New English Translation

34 Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say anything good, since you are evil? For the mouth speaks from what fills the heart.

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Matthew 12:34 in all English translations
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Matthew 11
Matthew 13
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2 Corinthians 1:21-22
New English Translation

21 But it is God who establishes[a] us together with you in Christ and who anointed us,[b] 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:21 tn Or “strengthens.”
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:21 tn Grk “But he who establishes us together with you in Christ and anointed us is God.”
  3. 2 Corinthians 1:22 tn Or “first installment,” “pledge,” “deposit.”sn Down payment. The Greek word ἀρραβών (arrabōn) denotes the first payment or first installment of money or goods which serves as a guarantee or pledge for the completion of the transaction. In the NT the term is used only figuratively of the Holy Spirit as the down payment of the blessings promised by God (it occurs later in 2 Cor 5:5, and also in Eph 1:14). In the “already—not yet” scheme of the NT the possession of the Spirit now by believers (“already”) can be viewed as a guarantee that God will give them the balance of the promised blessings in the future (“not yet”).
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1 Corinthians 16
2 Corinthians 2
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Ephesians 1:13-14
New English Translation

13 And when[a] you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ[b]—you were marked with the seal[c] of the promised Holy Spirit,[d] 14 who is the down payment[e] of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession,[f] to the praise of his glory.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:13 tn Grk “in whom you also, when…” (continuing the sentence from v. 12).
  2. Ephesians 1:13 tn Grk “in whom also having believed.” The relative pronoun “whom” has been replaced in the translation with its antecedent (“Christ”) to improve the clarity.
  3. Ephesians 1:13 tn Or “you were sealed.”
  4. Ephesians 1:13 tn Grk “the Holy Spirit of promise.” Here ἐπαγγελίας (epangelias, “of promise”) has been translated as an attributive genitive.
  5. Ephesians 1:14 tn Or “first installment,” “pledge,” “deposit.”sn Down payment. The Greek word ἀρραβών (arrabōn) denotes the first payment or first installment of money or goods which serves as a guarantee or pledge for the completion of the transaction. In the NT the term is used only figuratively of the Holy Spirit as the down payment of the blessings promised by God (it is used also in 2 Cor 1:22 and 5:5). In the “already—not yet” scheme of the NT the possession of the Spirit now by believers (“already”) can be viewed as a guarantee that God will give them the balance of the promised blessings in the future (“not yet”).
  6. Ephesians 1:14 tn Grk “until the redemption of the possession.”
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Galatians 6
Ephesians 2
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Acts 10:44-48
New English Translation

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on[a] all those who heard the message.[b] 45 The[c] circumcised believers[d] who had accompanied Peter were greatly astonished[e] that[f] the gift of the Holy Spirit[g] had been poured out[h] even on the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising[i] God. Then Peter said, 47 “No one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did,[j] can he?”[k] 48 So he gave orders to have them baptized[l] in the name of Jesus Christ.[m] Then they asked him to stay for several days.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:44 tn Or “came down on.” God now acted to confirm the point of Peter’s speech.
  2. Acts 10:44 tn Or “word.”
  3. Acts 10:45 tn Grk “And the.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
  4. Acts 10:45 tn Or “The Jewish Christians”; Grk “The believers from the circumcision.”
  5. Acts 10:45 sn The Jewish Christians who were with Peter were greatly astonished because they thought the promise of the Spirit would be limited only to those of Israel. God’s plan was taking on fresh dimensions even as it was a reflection of what the prophets had promised.
  6. Acts 10:45 tn Or “because.”
  7. Acts 10:45 tn That is, the gift consisting of the Holy Spirit. Here τοῦ πνεύματος (tou pneumatos) is a genitive of apposition; the gift consists of the Spirit.
  8. Acts 10:45 sn The gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out. Cf. the account in Acts 2, especially 2:33. Note also Joel 2:17-21 and Acts 11:15-18.
  9. Acts 10:46 tn Or “extolling,” “magnifying.”
  10. Acts 10:47 tn Grk “just as also we.” The auxiliary verb in English must be supplied. This could be either “have” (NIV, NRSV) or “did” (NASB). “Did” is preferred here because the comparison Peter is making concerns not just the fact of the present possession of the Spirit (“they received the Spirit we now possess”), but the manner in which the Gentiles in Cornelius’ house received the Spirit (“they received the Spirit in the same manner we did [on the day of Pentecost]”).
  11. Acts 10:47 tn The Greek construction anticipates a negative reply which is indicated in the translation by the ‘tag’ question, “can he?” The question is rhetorical. Peter was saying these Gentiles should be baptized since God had confirmed they were his.
  12. Acts 10:48 tn The Greek construction (passive infinitive with accusative subject) could be translated either “he ordered them to be baptized” or “he ordered that they be baptized,” but the implication in English in either case is that Peter was giving orders to the Gentiles in Cornelius’ house, telling them to get baptized. It is much more likely in the context that Peter was ordering those Jewish Christians who accompanied him to baptize the new Gentile converts. They would doubtless have still had misgivings even after witnessing the outpouring of the Spirit and hearing the tongues. It took Peter’s apostolic authority (“ordered”) to convince them to perform the baptisms.
  13. Acts 10:48 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.” Jesus’ right to judge as the provider of forgiveness is highlighted here.
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Acts 9
Acts 11
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Acts 11:15-16
New English Translation

15 Then as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on[a] them just as he did[b] on us at the beginning.[c] 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord,[d] as he used to say,[e] ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’[f]

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 11:15 tn Or “came down on.”
  2. Acts 11:15 tn The words “he did” are not in the Greek text but are implied. They form an ellipsis which must be supplied for the modern English reader. Some modern translations supply “it” rather than “he” because the gender of πνεῦμα (pneuma) in Greek is neuter, but there are sufficient NT contexts that use masculine pronouns to refer to the Spirit to justify the use of a masculine pronoun here in the translation.
  3. Acts 11:15 sn At the beginning is an allusion to Acts 2 and Pentecost. The beginning is a way to refer to the start of the period of the realization of Jesus’ promise in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8. Peter was arguing that God gave Gentiles the same benefits he gave the Jews at the start of their mission.
  4. Acts 11:16 sn The word of the Lord is a technical expression in OT literature, often referring to a divine prophetic utterance (e.g., Gen 15:1, Isa 1:10, Jonah 1:1). In the NT it occurs 15 times: 3 times as ῥῆμα τοῦ κυρίου (rhēma tou kuriou; here and in Luke 22:61, 1 Pet 1:25) and 12 times as λόγος τοῦ κυρίου (logos tou kuriou; Acts 8:25; 13:44, 48, 49; 15:35, 36; 16:32; 19:10, 20; 1 Thess 1:8; 4:15; 2 Thess 3:1). As in the OT, this phrase focuses on the prophetic nature and divine origin of what has been said.
  5. Acts 11:16 tn The imperfect verb ἔλεγεν (elegen) is taken as a customary imperfect.
  6. Acts 11:16 sn John…Spirit. This remark repeats Acts 1:5.
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Acts 10
Acts 12
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Acts 8:14-17
New English Translation

14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word[a] of God, they sent[b] Peter and John to them. 15 These two[c] went down and prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. 16 (For the Spirit[d] had not yet come upon[e] any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)[f] 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on the Samaritans,[g] and they received the Holy Spirit.[h]

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 8:14 tn Or “message.”
  2. Acts 8:14 sn They sent. The Jerusalem church with the apostles was overseeing the expansion of the church, as the distribution of the Spirit indicates in vv. 15-17.
  3. Acts 8:15 tn Grk “who.” The relative pronoun was replaced by the phrase “these two” and a new sentence was begun in the translation at this point to improve the English style.
  4. Acts 8:16 tn Grk “For he”; the referent (the Spirit) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  5. Acts 8:16 tn Or “fallen on.”
  6. Acts 8:16 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
  7. Acts 8:17 tn Grk “on them”; the referent (the Samaritans) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  8. Acts 8:17 sn They received the Holy Spirit. It is likely this special distribution of the Spirit took place because a key ethnic boundary was being crossed. Here are some of “those far off” of Acts 2:38-40.
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Acts 7
Acts 9
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New English Translation (NET)

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