Lectionary Year A
April 28, 2002
Acts 7:55-60

Initial Acquaintance/Rough Translation

A. Comparing Translations

(JFC) The Anchor Bible, the New American Bible and the New Living Translation differ some, according to these notes:

55 But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed toward heaven, - AB
But he, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven - NAB
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven - NLT

and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, - AB and NAB
and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God's right hand. - NLT

57 But they shrieked aloud and covered their ears, - AB
But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, - NAB
Then they put their hands over their ears and drowned out his voice with their shouts, - NLT

58 They drove him out of the city - AB
They threw him out of the city - NAB
They dragged him out of the city - NLT

60 "Lord do not hold them responsible for this sin!" - AB
"Lord do not hold this sin against them"; - NAB
"Lord, don't charge them with this sin!" - NLT

And when he had said this, he fell asleep. - AB
and when he said this, he fell asleep. - NAB
And with that, he died. - NLT

B. Textual Criticism

(JFC) 55 Some of the western texts add ton kurion after the name VIhsou/n. Mettzger (TCGNT) calls it "characteristically" to do so. So, what is likely to have been the original? Is it any different to include or to include the ton kurion? I think not.

56 For the perfect, passive, participle dihnoigme,nouj, some few witnesses read the same case and tense of another word, from anoigw, which means more straight forward, "open", and the printed version has a mental innuendo attached with it, which seems a little unnecessary in this context, while just as many reliable witnesses retain the text as received, which does seem more likely to be original. Then, instead of avnqrw,pou, Papyrus 74vid reads qeou, which to the lesser sophisticated readers/hearers of this pericope, might have been more appreciated, if not original, as well.

C. Rough Translation

(JFC) 55 But being full of spirit holy he was looking (aorist, active, participle) upon the heaven he saw glory of God and Jesus standing (perfect, active, participle) at the right hand of the God 56 and he said , "Behold I see the heavens opened (perfect, passive, passive) and the son of man at the right hand standing of the God." 57 But crying out in a voice loud sounding they controlled the hearing of them and they rushed together at him 58 and they forcing/driving (aorist, active, participle) from the city/town they stoned (imperfect, active, indicative). And the witnesses threw off the coats/garments of his at the feet of a young man named Saul, 59 and they stoned this Stephen who was calling (present, middle, participle) and saying (present, active, participle), "Lord Jesus, receive the spirit of mine." 60 But going onto a knee he cried out in a voice great/loud, "Lord, do not hold against them this the sin." And this having said (aorist, active, participle) he died/fell asleep (aorist, passive, indicative).

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