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# Acts 01 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
This chapter records an event, commonly known as the "Ascension," when Jesus returned to heaven after he became alive again. 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]])
The UDB has set the words "Dear Theophilus" apart from the other words. This is because English speakers often start letters this way. You might want to start this book the way people start letters in your culture.
Some translations set quotations from the Old Testament farther to the right on the page than the rest of the text. The ULB does this with the two quotes from Psalms in 1:20.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Baptize
The word "baptize" has two meanings in this chapter. It refers to the water baptism of John and to the baptism of the Holy Spirit ([Acts 1:5](../../act/01/05.md)). (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/baptize]])
#### "He spoke about the kingdom of God"
Some scholars believe that when Jesus "spoke about the kingdom of God," he explained to the disciples why the kingdom of God did not come before he died. Others believe that the kingdom of God did begin while Jesus was alive and that here Jesus was explaining that it was beginning in a new form.
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### The twelve disciples
The following are the lists 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, Thaddaeus, 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.
Thaddaeus is probably the same person as Jude, the son of James.
#### Akeldama
This is a phrase in Hebrew or Aramaic. Luke used Greek letters so his readers would know how it sounded, and then he told what it means. You should probably spell it the way it sounds in your language and then explain the meaning. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-transliterate]])
## Links:
* __[Acts 01:01 Notes](./01.md)__
* __[Acts intro](../front/intro.md)__
__| [>>](../02/intro.md)__

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# Acts 02 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry that is quoted from the Old Testament in 2:17-21, 25-28, and 34-35.
Some translations set quotations from the Old Testament farther to the right on the page than the rest of the text. The ULB does this with the quoted material in 2:31.
The events described in this chapter are commonly called "Pentecost." Many people believe that the church began to exist when the Holy Spirit came to live inside believers at Pentecost.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Tongues
The word "tongues" has two meanings in this chapter. Luke describes what came down from heaven ([Acts 2:3](../../act/02/03.md)) as tongues that looked like fire. This is different from "a tongue of flame," which is a fire that looks like a tongue. Luke also uses the word "tongues" to describe the languages that the people spoke after the Holy Spirit filled them ([Acts 2:4](../02/04.md)).
#### Last days
No one knows for sure when the "last days" ([Acts 2:17](../../act/02/17.md)) began. Your translation should not say more than the ULB does about this. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lastday]])
#### Baptize
The word "baptize" in this chapter refers to Christian baptism ([Acts 2:38-41](../02/38.md)). Though the event described in [Acts 2:1-11](./01.md) is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised in [Acts 1:5](../../act/01/05.md), the word "baptize" here does not refer to that event. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/baptize]])
#### The prophecy of Joel
Many of the things that Joel said would happen did happen on the day of Pentecost ([Acts 2:17-18](../02/17.md)), but some things Joel spoke of have not happened yet ([Acts 2:19-20](../02/19.md)). (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/prophet]])
#### Wonders and signs
These words refer to things that only God could do, things that showed that Jesus was who the disciples said he was.
## Links:
* __[Acts 02:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../01/intro.md) | [>>](../03/intro.md)__

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# Acts 03 General Notes
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### The covenant God made with Abraham
This chapter explains that Jesus came to the Jews because God was fulfilling part of the covenant he had made with Abraham. Peter thought that the Jews were the ones who were truly guilty of killing Jesus, but he wanted them to understand that Jesus, by living and dying, had fulfilled God's promise to Abraham and that if they repented, God would forgive them.
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### "You delivered up"
The Romans were the ones who killed Jesus, but they killed him because the Jews captured him, brought him to the Romans, and told the Romans to kill him. For this reason Peter thought that they were the ones who were truly guilty of killing Jesus. But he tells them that they are also the first ones to whom God has sent Jesus's followers to invite them to repent ([Acts 3:26](../../act/03/26.md)). (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/repent]])
## Links:
* __[Acts 03:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../02/intro.md) | [>>](../04/intro.md)__

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# Acts 04 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry that is quoted from the Old Testament in 4:25-26.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Unity
The first Christians wanted very much to be united. They wanted to believe the same things and share everything they owned and help those who needed help.
#### "Signs and wonders"
This phrase refers to things that only God can do. The Christians wanted God to do what only he can do so that people would believe that what they said about Jesus was true.
### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### Cornerstone
The cornerstone was the first piece of stone that people put down when they were building a building. This is a metaphor for the most important part of something, the part on which everything depends. To say that Jesus is the cornerstone of the church is to say that nothing in the church is more important than Jesus and that everything about the church depends on Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]])
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### Name
"There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" ([Acts 4:12](../../act/04/12.md)). With these words Peter was saying that no other person who has ever been on the earth or will ever be on earth can save people.
## Links:
* __[Acts 04:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../03/intro.md) | [>>](../05/intro.md)__

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# Acts 05 General Notes
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### "Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit"
No one knows for sure if Ananias and Sapphira were truly Christians when they decided to lie about the land that they sold ([Acts 5:1-10](../05/01.md)), because Luke does not say. However, Peter knew that they lied to the believers, and he knew that they had listened to and obeyed Satan.
When they lied to the believers, they also lied to the Holy Spirit. This is because the Holy Spirit lives inside believers.
## Links:
* __[Acts 05:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../04/intro.md) | [>>](../06/intro.md)__

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# Acts 06 General Notes
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### The distribution to the widows
The believers in Jerusalem gave help—probably money but possibly food—every day to women whose husbands had died. All of these widows had been raised as Jews, but some of them had lived in Judea and spoke Hebrew. Others had lived in Gentile areas and spoke Greek. Those who gave out the money or food gave it to the Hebrew-speaking widows but not to the Greek-speaking widows. To please God, the church leaders appointed Greek-speaking men to make sure the Greek-speaking widows received their share of help. One of these Greek-speaking men was Stephen.
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### "His face was like the face of an angel"
No one knows for sure what it was about Stephen's face that was like the face of an angel, because Luke does not tell us. It is best for the translation to say only what the ULB says about this.
## Links:
* __[Acts 06:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../05/intro.md) | [>>](../07/intro.md)__

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# Acts 07 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry that is quoted from the Old Testament in 7:42-43 and 49-50.
It appears that 8:1 is part of the narrative of this chapter.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### "Stephen said"
Stephen told the history of Israel very briefly. He paid special attention to the times that the Israelites had rejected the people God had chosen to lead them. At the end of the story, he said that the Jewish leaders he was talking to had rejected Jesus just as the evil Israelites had always rejected the leaders God had appointed for them.
#### "Full of the Holy Spirit"
The Holy Spirit completely controlled Stephen so that he said only and all of what God wanted him to say.
#### Foreshadowing
When an author speaks of something that is not important at that time but will be important later in the story, this is called foreshadowing. Luke mentions Saul, also known as Paul, here, even though he is not an important person in this part of the story. This is because Paul is an important person in the rest of the Book of Acts.
### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### Implied information
Stephen was talking to Jews who knew the law of Moses well, so he did not explain things that his hearers already knew. But you may need to explain some of these things so that your readers will be able to understand what Stephen was saying. For example, you may need to make explicit that when Joseph's brothers "sold him into Egypt" ([Acts 7:9](../../act/07/09.md)), Joseph was going to be a slave in Egypt. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]])
#### Metonymy
Stephen spoke of Joseph ruling "over Egypt" and over all of Pharaoh's household. By this he meant that Joseph ruled over the people of Egypt and of the people and possessions in Pharaoh's household. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy]])
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### Background knowledge
The Jewish leaders to whom Stephen spoke already knew much about the events he was telling them about. They knew what Moses had written in the Book of Genesis. If the Book of Genesis has not been translated into your language, it may be difficult for your readers to understand what Stephen said.
## Links:
* __[Acts 07:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../06/intro.md) | [>>](../08/intro.md)__

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# Acts 08 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry that is quoted from the Old Testament in 8:32-33.
The first sentence of verse 1 ends the description of the events in chapter 7. Luke begins a new part of his history with the words "So there began."
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Receiving the Holy Spirit
In this chapter for the first time Luke speaks of people receiving the Holy Spirit ([Acts 8:15-19](../08/15.md)). The Holy Spirit had already enabled the believers to speak in tongues, to heal the sick, and to live as a community, and he had filled Stephen. But when the Jews started putting believers in prison, those believers who could leave Jerusalem did leave, and as they went, they told people about Jesus. When the people who heard about Jesus received the Holy Spirit, the church leaders knew that those people had truly become believers.
#### Proclaimed
This chapter more than any other in the Book of Acts speaks of the believers proclaiming the word, proclaiming the good news, and proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ. The word "proclaim" translates a Greek word that means to tell good news about something.
## Links:
* __[Acts 08:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../07/intro.md) | [>>](../09/intro.md)__

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# Acts 09 General Notes
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### "The Way"
No one knows for sure who first started calling believers "followers of the Way." This is probably what the believers called themselves, because the Bible often speaks of a person living his life as if that person were walking on a path or "way." If this is true, the believers were "following the way of the Lord" by living in a way that pleased God.
#### "Letters for the synagogues in Damascus"
The "letters" Paul asked for were probably legal papers that permitted him to put Christians in prison. The synagogue leaders in Damascus would have obeyed the letter because it was written by the high priest. If the Romans had seen the letter, they also would have allowed Saul to persecute the Christians, because they permitted the Jews to do as they desired to people who broke their religious laws.
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### What Saul saw when he met Jesus
It is clear that Saul saw a light and that it was because of this light that he "fell upon the ground." Some people think that Saul knew that it was the Lord speaking to him without seeing a human form, because the Bible often speaks of God as being light and living in light. Other people think that later in his life he was able to say, "I have seen the Lord Jesus" because it was a human form that he saw here.
## Links:
* __[Acts 09:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../08/intro.md) | [>>](../10/intro.md)__

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# Acts 10 General Notes
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Unclean
The Jews believed that they could become unclean in God's sight if they visited or ate food with a Gentile. This was because the Pharisees had made a law against it because they wanted to keep people from eating foods that the law of Moses said were unclean. The law of Moses did say that some foods were unclean, but it did not say that God's people could not visit or eat with Gentiles. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/clean]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]])
#### Baptism and the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit "fell on" those who were listening to Peter. This showed the Jewish believers that Gentiles could receive the word of God and receive the Holy Spirit just as the Jewish believers had. After that, the Gentiles were baptized.
## Links:
* __[Acts 10:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../09/intro.md) | [>>](../11/intro.md)__

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# Acts 11 General Notes
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### "The Gentiles also had received the word of God"
Almost all of the first believers were Jewish. Luke writes in this chapter that many Gentiles started to believe in Jesus. They believed that the message about Jesus was true and so began to "receive the word of God." Some of the believers in Jerusalem did not believe that Gentiles could truly follow Jesus, so Peter went to them and told them what had happened to him and how he had seen the Gentiles receive the Word of God and receive the Holy Spirit.
## Links:
* __[Acts 11:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../10/intro.md) | [>>](../12/intro.md)__

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# Acts 12 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Chapter 12 tells what happened to King Herod while Barnabas was bringing Saul back from Tarsus and they were delivering money from Antioch Jerusalem (11:25-30). He killed many of the leaders of the church, and he put Peter in prison. After God helped Peter escape the prison, Herod killed the prison guards, and then God killed Herod. In the last verse of the chapter, Luke tells how Barnabas and Saul return to Antioch.
### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### Personification
The "word of God" is spoken of as if it were a living thing that could grow and become many. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/wordofgod]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification]])
## Links:
* __[Acts 12:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../11/intro.md) | [>>](../13/intro.md)__

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# Acts 13 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry that is quoted from the Old Testament in 13:33-35 and 13:41.
This chapter is where the second half of the Book of Acts begins. Luke writes more about Paul than about Peter. Luke also writes about the believers preaching to the Gentiles rather than to the Jews.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### A light for the Gentiles
The Bible often speaks of unrighteous people, people who do not do what pleases God, as if they were walking around in darkness. It speaks of light as if it were what enables those sinful people to become righteous, to understand what they are doing wrong and begin to obey God. The Jews considered all Gentiles as walking in darkness, but Paul and Barnabas spoke of telling the Gentiles about Jesus as if they were going to bring them physical light. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/righteous]])
## Links:
* __[Acts 13:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../12/intro.md) | [>>](../14/intro.md)__

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# Acts 14 General Notes
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### "The message of his grace"
The message of Jesus is the message that God will show grace to those who believe in Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/grace]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/believe]])
#### Zeus and Hermes
The Gentiles in the Roman Empire worshiped many different false gods who do not really exist. Paul and Barnabas told them to believe in the "living God." (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/falsegod]])
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### "We must enter into the kingdom of God through many sufferings."
Jesus told his followers before he died that everyone who followed him would suffer persecution. Paul is saying the same thing using different words.
## Links:
* __[Acts 14:1](../../act/14/01.md)__
__[<<](../13/intro.md) | [>>](../15/intro.md)__

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# Acts 15 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry that is quoted from the Old Testament in 15:16-17.
The meeting that Luke describes in this chapter is commonly called the "Jerusalem Council." This was a time when many church leaders got together to decide if believers needed to obey the whole law of Moses.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Brothers
In this chapter Luke begins to use the word "brothers" to refer to fellow Christians instead of fellow Jews.
#### Obeying the law of Moses
Some believers wanted the Gentiles to be circumcised because God had told Abraham and Moses that everyone who wanted to belong to him had to be circumcised and that this was "an everlasting covenant." But Paul and Barnabas had seen God give uncircumcised Gentiles the gift of the Holy Spirit, so they did not want the Gentiles to be circumcised. Both groups went to Jerusalem to have the church leaders decide what they should do.
#### "Abstain from things sacrificed to idols, blood, things strangled, and from sexual immorality"
It is possible that the church leaders decided on these laws so that Jews and Gentiles could not only live together but eat the same foods together.
## Links:
* __[Acts 15:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../14/intro.md) | [>>](../16/intro.md)__

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# Acts 16 General Notes
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Timothy's circumcision
Paul circumcised Timothy because they were telling the message of Jesus to Jews and Gentiles. Paul wanted the Jews to know that he respected the law of Moses even though the church leaders in Jerusalem had decided that Christians did not need to be circumcised.
#### The woman who had a spirit of divination
Most people want very much to know the future, but the law of Moses said that speaking with the spirits of dead people to learn about the future is a sin. This woman seems to have been able to tell the future very well. She was a slave, and her masters made much money from her work. Paul wanted her to stop sinning, so he told the spirit to leave her. Luke does not say that she began to follow Jesus or tell us anything more about her.
## Links:
* __[Acts 16:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../15/intro.md) | [>>](../17/intro.md)__

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# Acts 17 General Notes
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Misunderstandings about the Messiah
The Jews expected the Christ or Messiah to be a powerful king because the Old Testament says so many times. But it also says many times that the Messiah would suffer, and that was what Paul was telling the Jews. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/christ]])
#### The religion of Athens
Paul said that the Athenians were "religious," but they did not worship the true God. They worshiped many different false gods. In the past they had conquered other peoples and begun to worship the gods of the people they had conquered. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/falsegod]])
In this chapter Luke describes for the first time how Paul told the message of Christ to people who knew nothing of the Old Testament.
## Links:
* __[Acts 17:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../16/intro.md) | [>>](../18/intro.md)__

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# Acts 18 General Notes
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### The baptism of John
Some Jews who lived far away from Jerusalem and Judea had heard of John the Baptist and followed his teachings. They had not yet heard about Jesus. One of these Jews was Apollos. He followed John the Baptist, but he did not know that the Messiah had come. John had baptized people to show that they were sorry for their sins, but this baptism was different from Christian baptism. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faithful]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/christ]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/repent]])
## Links:
* __[Acts 18:1](../../act/18/01.md)__
__[<<](../17/intro.md) | [>>](../19/intro.md)__

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# Acts 19 General Notes
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Baptism
John baptized people to show that they were sorry for their sins. Jesus's followers baptized people who wanted to follow Jesus.
#### Temple of Diana
The temple of Diana was an important place in the city of Ephesus. Many people came to Ephesus to see this temple, and they bought statues of the goddess Diana while they were there. The people who sold statues of Diana were afraid that if people did not believe Diana was a real goddess, they would stop giving the sellers money for statues.
## Links:
* __[Acts 19:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../18/intro.md) | [>>](../20/intro.md)__

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# Acts 20 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
In this chapter Luke describes Paul's last visits to believers in the provinces of Macedonia and Asia before he went to Jerusalem.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Race
Paul spoke of living for Jesus as if he were running in a race. By this he meant that he needed to keep working hard even when things were difficult and he wanted to quit. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/discipline]])
#### "Compelled by the Spirit"
Paul thought that the Holy Spirit wanted him to go to Jerusalem even if Paul did not want to go there. The same Holy Spirit told other people that when Paul arrived in Jerusalem, people would try to harm him.
## Links:
* __[Acts 20:1](../../act/20/01.md)__
__[<<](../19/intro.md) | [>>](../21/intro.md)__

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# Acts 21 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Acts 21:1-19 describes Paul's journey to Jerusalem. After he arrived in Jerusalem, the believers there told him that the Jews wanted to harm him and what he should do so they would not harm him (verses 20-26). Even though Paul did what the believers told him to do, the Jews tried to kill him. The Romans rescued him and gave him a chance to speak to the Jews.
The last verse of the chapter ends with an incomplete sentence. Most translations leave the sentence incomplete, as the ULB does.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### "They are all determined to keep the law"
The Jews in Jerusalem were following the law of Moses. Even those who were following Jesus still kept the law. Both groups thought that Paul had been telling Jews in Greece not to keep the law. But it was only the Gentiles to whom Paul was saying that.
#### Nazarite vow
The vow that Paul and his three friends made was probably a Nazarite vow, because they shaved their heads ([Acts 21:23](../../act/21/23.md)).
#### Gentiles in the temple
The Jews accused Paul of bringing a Gentile man into a part of the temple into which God only allowed Jews to go. They thought that God wanted them to punish Paul by killing him. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/holy]])
#### Roman citizenship
The Romans thought that they needed to treat only Roman citizens justly. They could do as they desired with people who were not Roman citizens, but they had to obey the law with other Romans. Some people were born Roman citizens, and others gave money to the Roman government so they could become Roman citizens.
## Links:
* __[Acts 21:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../20/intro.md) | [>>](../22/intro.md)__

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# Acts 22 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
This is the second account of Paul's conversion in the book of Acts. Because this is such an important event in the early church, there are three accounts of Paul's conversion. (See: [Acts 9](../09/01.md) and [Acts 26](../26/01.md))
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### "In the Hebrew language"
Most Jews at this time spoke Aramaic and Greek. Most of the people who spoke Hebrew were educated Jewish scholars. This is why the people paid attention when Paul started speaking in Hebrew.
#### "The Way"
No one knows for sure who first started calling believers "followers of the Way." This is probably what the believers called themselves, because the Bible often speaks of a person living his life as if that person were walking on a path or "way." If this is true, the believers were "following the way of the Lord" by living in a way that pleased God.
#### Roman citizenship
The Romans thought that they needed to treat only Roman citizens justly. They could do as they desired with people who were not Roman citizens, but they had to obey the law with other Romans. Some people were born Roman citizens, and others gave money to the Roman government so they could become Roman citizens. The "chief captain" could have been punished for treating a Roman citizen the same way he would treat a non-citizen.
## Links:
* __[Acts 22:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../21/intro.md) | [>>](../23/intro.md)__

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# Acts 23 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Some translations set quotations from the Old Testament farther to the right on the page than the rest of the text. The ULB does this with the quoted material in 23:5.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Resurrection of the dead
The Pharisees believed that after people died, they would become alive again and God would either reward them or punish them. The Sadducees believed that once people died, they stayed dead and would never become alive again. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/raise]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/reward]])
#### "Called a curse"
Some Jews promised God that they would not eat or drink until they killed Paul, and they asked God to punish them if they did not do what they had promised to do.
#### Roman citizenship
The Romans thought that they needed to treat only Roman citizens justly. They could do as they desired with people who were not Roman citizens, but they had to obey the law with other Romans. Some people were born Roman citizens, and others gave money to the Roman government so they could become Roman citizens. The "chief captain" could have been punished for treating a Roman citizen the same way he would treat a non-citizen.
### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### Whitewashed
This is a metaphor in scripture describing someone who appears to be good or clean or righteous when that person is evil or unclean or unrighteous. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])
## Links:
* __[Acts 23:1](../../act/23/01.md)__
__[<<](../22/intro.md) | [>>](../24/intro.md)__

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# Acts 24 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Paul told the governor that he had not done what the Jews were accusing him of doing and that the governor should not punish him for what he did do.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Respect
Both the Jewish leaders ([Acts 24:2-4](./02.md)) and Paul ([Acts 24:10](../../act/24/10.md)) began their speeches with words that show respect to the governor.
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### Governmental leaders
The words "governor," "commander," and "centurion" may be difficult to translate into some languages. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-unknown]])
## Links:
* __[Acts 24:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../23/intro.md) | [>>](../25/intro.md)__

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# Acts 25 General Notes
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Favor
This word is used in two different ways in this chapter. When the Jewish leaders asked Festus for a favor, they were asking him to do something special for them on that day. They wanted him to do for them something that he would not usually do. When Festus "wanted to gain the favor of the Jews," he wanted them to like him and be willing to obey him in the months and years to come. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/favor]])
#### Roman citizenship
The Romans thought that they needed to treat only Roman citizens justly. They could do as they desired with people who were not Roman citizens, but they had to obey the law with other Romans. Some people were born Roman citizens, and others gave money to the Roman government so they could become Roman citizens. Roman officials could have been punished for treating a Roman citizen the same way they would treat a non-citizen.
## Links:
* __[Acts 25:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../24/intro.md) | [>>](../26/intro.md)__

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# Acts 26 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
This is the third account of Paul's conversion in the book of Acts. Because this is such an important event in the early church, there are three accounts of Paul's conversion. (See: [Acts 9](../09/01.md) and [Acts 22](../22/01.md))
Paul told the King Agrippa why he had done what he had done and that the governor should not punish him for that.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Light and darkness
The Bible often speaks of unrighteous people, people who do not do what pleases God, as if they were walking around in darkness. It speaks of light as if it were what enables those sinful people to become righteous, to understand what they are doing wrong and begin to obey God. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/righteous]])
## Links:
* __[Acts 26:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../25/intro.md) | [>>](../27/intro.md)__

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# Acts 27 General Notes
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Sailing
People who lived near the sea traveled by boat powered by the wind. During some months of the year, the wind would blow in the wrong direction or so hard that sailing was impossible.
#### Trust
Paul trusted God to bring him safely to land. He told the sailers and soldiers to trust that God would also keep them alive. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/trust]])
#### Paul breaks bread
Luke uses almost the same words here to describe Paul taking bread, thanking God, breaking it, and eating it that he used to describe the last supper Jesus ate with his disciples. However, your translation should not make your reader think that Paul was leading a religious celebration here.
## Links:
* __[Acts 27:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../26/intro.md) | [>>](../28/intro.md)__

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# Acts 28 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
No one knows for sure why Luke ends his history without telling what happened to Paul after he had been in Rome for two years.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### "Letters" and "brothers"
The Jewish leaders were surprised that Paul wanted to speak with them, because they had received no letters from the high priest in Jerusalem telling them that Paul was coming.
When the Jewish leaders spoke of "brothers," they were referring to fellow Jews, not to Christians.
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### "He was a god"
The native people believed that Paul was a god, but they did not believe that he was the one true God. We do not know why Paul did not tell the native people that he was not a god.
## Links:
* __[Acts 28:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../27/intro.md) | __

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# Introduction to Acts
## Part 1: General Introduction
### Outline of the Book of Acts
1. The beginning of the church and its mission (1:1–2:41)
1. The early church in Jerusalem (2:42–6:7)
1. Increasing opposition and the martyrdom of Steven (6:8–7:60)
1. The persecution of the church and Philip's ministry (8:1–40)
1. Paul becomes an apostle (9:1–31)
1. The ministry of Peter and the first Gentile converts (9:32–12:24)
1. The ministry of Paul and Barnabas to the Gentiles (12:25–14:28)
1. The debate about the Jewish law and the council of church leaders at Jerusalem (15:1-35)
1. The ministry of Paul and Silas to the Gentiles (15:36–16:5)
1. The expansion of the church into the middle Mediterranean area and Asia Minor (16:6–19:20)
1. Paul travels to Jerusalem and becomes a prisoner in Rome (19:21–28:31)
### What is the Book of Acts about?
The Book of Acts tells the story of the early church as more and more people became believers. It shows the power of the the Holy Spirit helping the early Christians. The events in this book began when Jesus went back to heaven and ended about thirty years later.
### How should the title of this book be translated?
Translators may choose to call this book by its traditional title, "The Acts of the Apostles." Or translators may choose a title that may be clearer, for example, "The Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles."
### Who wrote the Book of Acts?
This book does not give the name of the author. However, it is addressed to Theophilus, the same person to whom the Gospel of Luke is addressed. Also, in parts of the book, the author uses the word "we." This indicates that the author traveled with Paul. Most scholars think that Luke was this person traveling with Paul. Therefore, since early Christian times, most Christians have thought Luke is the author of the Book of Acts as well as the Gospel of Luke.
Luke was a medical doctor. His way of writing shows that he was an educated man. He was probably a Gentile. He saw many of the events described in the Book of Acts.
## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts
### What is the Church?
The Church is the group of people who believe in Christ. The Church includes both Jewish and Gentile believers. The events in this book show God helping the Church. He empowered believers to live righteous lives through his Holy Spirit.
## Part 3: Important Translation Issues
### What are the major issues in the text of the Book of Acts?
These are the most significant textual issues in Acts:
The following verses are found in older versions of the Bible, but they are not in the best ancient copies of the Bible. Some modern versions put the verses in square brackets ([]). The ULB puts them in footnotes.
* "Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may be baptized.' The Ethiopian answered, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God'" (Acts 8:37).
* "But it seemed good to Silas to remain there." (Acts 15:34)
* "And we wanted to judge him according to our law. But Lysias, the officer, came and forcibly took him out of our hands, sending him to you." (Acts 24:6b-8a)
* "When he had said these things, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves." (Acts 28:29)
In the following verses, it is uncertain what the original text said. Translators will need to choose which reading to translate. The ULB has the first readings but includes the second readings in footnotes.
* "They returned from Jerusalem" (Acts 12:25). Some translations read, "They returned to Jerusalem (or to there)."
* "he put up with them" (Acts 13:18). Some translations read, "he cared for them."
* "This is what the Lord says, who has done these things that have been known from ancient times." (Acts 15:17-18). Some older translations read, "This is what the Lord says, to whom are known all his deeds from ancient times."
(See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-textvariants]])

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# Romans 01 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
The first verse is a type of introduction. People in the ancient Mediterranean region often started their letters this way. Sometimes this is called a "salutation."
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### The gospel
When Paul writes of "the gospel" in this chapter (verses 1, 2, 9, 15, 16, 17), he is referring to the message about God's salvation for people through Jesus's sacrifice on the cross.
#### Harvest
This chapter uses the image of a harvest ([1:13](./13.md)) to speak of the Roman Christians doing good works because they believe what Paul has told them about Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/fruit]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/righteous]])
#### Universal Condemnation and the Wrath of God
This chapter explains that everyone is without excuse. We all know about the true God, Yahweh, from his creation all around us. Because of our sin and our sinful nature, every person justly deserves the wrath of God. This wrath was satisfied by Jesus dying on a cross for those who believe in him. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/believe]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]])
### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### "God gave them over"
Many scholars view the phrases "God gave them over" and "God gave them up" as theologically significant. In both cases, it means that God had stopped trying to teach the people the right way and had allowed them to do whatever they want, even though everything they wanted to do was evil.
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### Difficult phrases and concepts
This chapter has many difficult ideas in it. The way Paul writes makes many of the phrases in this chapter difficult to translate. The translator may need to use the UDB to understand the meaning of the phrases and then translate them in a way that is easy for people to understand. Some of the difficult phrases include: "obedience of faith," "whom I serve in my spirit," "from faith to faith" and "exchanged the glory of the imperishable God for the likenesses of an image of perishable man."
## Links:
* __[Romans 01:01 Notes](./01.md)__
* __[Romans intro](../front/intro.md)__
__| [>>](../02/intro.md)__

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# Romans 02 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
This chapter shifts its audience from Roman Christians to those who "judge" other people and do not believe in Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/judge]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/believe]])
#### "Therefore you are without excuse"
This phrase looks back at Chapter 1. In some ways, it actually concludes what Chapter 1 teaches. This phrase explains why everyone in the world must worship the true God.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### "Doers of the Law"
Those who try to obey the law will not be justified by trying to obey it. Those who are justified by believing in Jesus show that their faith is real by obeying God's commands. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/justice]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]])
### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### Rhetorical Questions
Paul uses several rhetorical questions in this chapter. It appears the intent of these rhetorical questions is to make the readers see their sin so they will trust in Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion]], [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/guilt]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]])
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### "You who judge"
At times, this could be translated in a simpler way. But it is translated in this relatively awkward way because when Paul refers to "people who judge" he is also saying that everyone judges. It is possible to translate this as "those who judge (and everyone judges)."
## Links:
* __[Romans 02:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../01/intro.md) | [>>](../03/intro.md)__

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# Romans 03 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verses 4 and 10-18 of this chapter, which is from the Old Testament.
### Special concepts in this chapter
Chapter 3 answers the question, "What advantage does being a Jew have over being a Gentile?" (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/save]])
#### "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"
Because God is holy, anyone with him in heaven must be perfect. Any sin at all will condemn a person. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/heaven]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/condemn]])
#### The purpose of the law of Moses
Obeying the law cannot make a person right with God. Obeying God's law is a way a person shows they believe in God. People have always been justified only by faith. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/justice]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]])
### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### Rhetorical Questions
Paul frequently uses rhetorical questions in this chapter. It appears the intent of these rhetorical questions is to make the readers see their sin so they will trust in Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/guilt]])
## Links:
* __[Romans 03:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../02/intro.md) | [>>](../04/intro.md)__

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# Romans 04 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verses 7-8 of this chapter, which is from the Old Testament.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### The purpose of the law of Moses
Paul builds upon material from chapter 3. He explains how Abraham, the father of Israel, was justified. Even Abraham could not be justified by what he did. Obeying the law of Moses does not make a person right with God. Obeying God's commands is a way a person shows they believe in God. People have always been justified only by faith. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/justice]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]])
#### Circumcision
Circumcision was important to the Israelites. It identified a male as a descendant of Abraham. It was also a sign of the covenant between Abraham and Yahweh. However, no person was justified only by being circumcised. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/circumcise]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/covenant]])
### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### Rhetorical Questions
Paul uses rhetorical questions in this chapter. It appears the intent of these rhetorical questions is to make the readers see their sin so they will trust in Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/guilt]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]])
## Links:
* __[Romans 04:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../03/intro.md) | [>>](../05/intro.md)__

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# Romans 05 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Many scholars view verses 12-17 as some of the most important, but difficult, verses in Scripture to understand. Some of their richness and meaning has likely been lost while being translated from how the original Greek was constructed.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Results of justification
How Paul explains the results of our being justified is an important part of this chapter. These results include having peace with God, having access to God, being confident about our future, being able to rejoice when suffering, being eternally saved, and being reconciled with God. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/justice]])
#### "All sinned"
Scholars are divided over what Paul meant in verse 12: "And death spread to all people, because all sinned." Some believe that all of mankind was present in the "seed of Adam." So, as Adam is the father of all mankind, all of mankind was present when Adam sinned. Others believe that Adam served as a representative head for mankind. So when he sinned, all of mankind "fell" as a result. Whether people today played an active or passive role in Adam's original sin is one way these views differ. Other passages will help one decide. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/seed]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive]])
#### The second Adam
Adam was the first man and the first "son" of God. He was created by God. He brought sin and death into the world by eating the forbidden fruit. Paul describes Jesus as the "second Adam" in this chapter and the true son of God. He brings life and overcame sin and death by dying on the cross. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sonofgod]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/death]])
## Links:
* __[Romans 05:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../04/intro.md) | [>>](../06/intro.md)__

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# Romans 06 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Paul begins this chapter by answering how someone might object to what he taught in Chapter 5.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Against the Law
In this chapter, Paul refutes the teaching that Christians can live however they want after they are saved. Scholars call this "antinomianism" or being "against the law." To motivate godly living, Paul recalls the great price Jesus paid for a Christian to be saved. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/save]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/godly]])
#### Servants of sin
Before they believe in Jesus, people are servants of sin, that is, they are unable to resist their desire to sin. God frees Christians from serving sin. They are able to choose to serve Christ in their lives. Paul explains that when Christians choose to sin, they willingly choose to sin. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]])
#### Fruit
This chapter uses the imagery of fruit. The image of fruit usually refers to a person's faith producing good works in their life. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/fruit]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/righteous]])
### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### Rhetorical Questions
Paul uses rhetorical questions in this chapter. It appears the intent of these rhetorical questions is to make the readers see their sin so they will trust in Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/guilt]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]])
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### Death
Paul uses "death" to refer to many different things in this chapter: physical death, spiritual death, sin reigning in the heart of man, and the end of something. He contrasts sin and death with the new life provided by Christ and the new way Christians are supposed to live after they are saved. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/death]])
## Links:
* __[Romans 06:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../05/intro.md) | [>>](../07/intro.md)__

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# Romans 07 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
#### "Or do you not know"
Paul uses this phrase to discuss a new topic and connects what follows with the previous teaching.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### "We have been released from the law"
Paul explains that the law of Moses is no longer in effect. While this is true, the timeless principles behind the law reflect the character of God. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]])
### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### Marriage
Scripture commonly uses marriage as a metaphor. Here Paul uses it to describe how the church relates to the law of Moses and now to Christ. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### Flesh
This is a complex issue. "Flesh" is possibly a metaphor for our sinful nature. Paul is not teaching that our physical bodies are sinful. Paul appears to be teaching that as long as Christians are alive ("in the flesh"), we will continue to sin. But our new nature will be fighting against our old nature. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/flesh]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]])
## Links:
* __[Romans 07:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../06/intro.md) | [>>](../08/intro.md)__

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# Romans 08 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
The first verse of this chapter is a transitional sentence. Paul concludes his teaching of Chapter 7 and leads into the words of Chapter 8.
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with verse 36. Paul quotes these words from the Old Testament.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Indwelling of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is said to live inside a person or inside their heart. If the Spirit is present, this signifies that a person is saved. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/save]])
#### "These are sons of God"
Jesus is the Son of God in a unique way. God also adopts Christians to be his children. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sonofgod]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/adoption]])
#### Predestination
Twice in verses 29-30 Paul uses the word "predestined." Some take this to indicate that God has, from before the foundation of the world, chosen his own people to be eternally saved. Christians have different views on what the Bible teaches on this subject. So translators need to take extra care when translating this chapter, especially with regards to elements of causation. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/predestine]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/save]])
### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### Metaphor
Paul poetically presents his teaching in verses 38 and 39 in the form of an extended metaphor. He explains that nothing can separate a person from the love of God in Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### No condemnation
This phrase must be translated carefully to avoid doctrinal confusion. People are still guilty of their sin. God disapproves of sinful acts, even those that believers in Jesus commit. God still punishes the sins of believers, but Jesus has paid the punishment for their sin. This is what Paul expresses here. The word "condemn" has several possible meanings. Here Paul emphasizes that people who believe in Jesus are no longer punished eternally for their sin by being "condemned to hell." (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/guilt]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/condemn]])
#### Flesh
This is a complex issue. "Flesh" is possibly a metaphor for our sinful nature. Paul is not teaching that our physical bodies are sinful. Paul appears to be teaching that as long as Christians are alive ("in the flesh"), we will continue to sin. But our new nature will be fighting against our old nature. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/flesh]])
## Links:
* __[Romans 08:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../07/intro.md) | [>>](../09/intro.md)__

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# Romans 09 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
In this chapter, Paul changes what he is teaching about. In Chapters 9-11, he focuses on the nation of Israel.
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verses 25-29 and 33 of this chapter. Paul quotes all of these words from the Old Testament.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Flesh
Paul uses the word "flesh" in this chapter only to refer to Israelites, people physically descending from Abraham through Jacob, whom God named Israel. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/flesh]])
In other chapters, Paul uses the word "brother" to mean fellow Christians. However, in this chapter, he uses "my brothers" to mean his kinsmen the Israelites.
Paul refers to those who believe in Jesus as "children of God" and "children of the promise."
#### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### Stone of stumbling
Paul explains that while some Gentiles accepted Jesus as their savior by believing in him, most Jews were trying to earn their salvation and so rejected Jesus. Paul, quoting the Old Testament, describes Jesus as a stone that the Jews stumble over when walking. This "stone of stumbling" causes them to "fall." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### "It is not everyone in Israel who truly belongs to Israel"
Paul uses the word "Israel" in this verse with two different meanings. The first "Israel" means the physical descendants of Abraham through Jacob. The second "Israel" means those who are God's people through faith. The UDB reflects this.
## Links:
* __[Romans 09:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../08/intro.md) | [>>](../10/intro.md)__

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# Romans 10 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verses 18-20 of this chapter. These lines of poetry are from the Old Testament.
Some translations also set prose quotations from the Old Testament farther to the right than the rest of the text. The ULB does this with the quoted words in verse 8.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### God's righteousness
Paul teaches here that while many Jews earnestly tried to be righteous, they did not succeed. We cannot earn God's righteousness. God gives us Jesus's righteousness when we believe in him. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/righteous]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]])
### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### Rhetorical questions
Paul uses many rhetorical questions in this chapter. He does this to convince his readers that God does not save only the Hebrew people, so Christians must be ready to go and share the gospel with the whole world. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/save]])
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### "I will provoke you to jealousy by what is not a nation"
Paul uses this prophecy to explain that God will use the church to make the Hebrew people jealous. This is so they will seek God and believe the gospel. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/prophet]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/jealous]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]])
## Links:
* __[Romans 10:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../09/intro.md) | [>>](../11/intro.md)__

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# Romans 11 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verses 9-10, 26-27, and 34-35, which is from the Old Testament.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Grafting
Paul uses the image of "grafting" to refer to the place of the Gentiles and Jews in the plans of God. Making one plant to be permanently part of another plant is called "grafting." Paul uses the picture of God grafting the Gentiles as a wild branch into his saving plans. But God has not forgotten about the Jews, who are spoken of as the natural plant. God will also save Jews who believe in Jesus.
## Links:
* __[Romans 11:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../10/intro.md) | [>>](../12/intro.md)__

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# Romans 12 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verse 20, which is from the Old Testament.
Many scholars believe Paul uses the word "therefore" in [Romans 12:1](../../rom/12/01.md) to refer back to all of Chapters 1-11. Having carefully explained the Christian gospel, Paul now explains how Christians should live in light of these great truths. Chapters 12-16 focus on living out one's Christian faith. Paul uses many different commands in these chapters to give these practical instructions. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]])
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Christian living
Under the law of Moses, people were required to offer temple sacrifices of animals or grain. Now Christians are required to live their lives as a type of sacrifice to God. Physical sacrifices are no longer required. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]])
### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### Body of Christ
The body of Christ is an important metaphor or image used in Scripture to refer to the church. Each church member has a unique and important function. Christians need each other. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/body]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])
## Links:
* __[Romans 12:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../11/intro.md) | [>>](../13/intro.md)__

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# Romans 13 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
In the first part of this chapter, Paul teaches Christians to obey rulers who govern them. At that time, ungodly Roman rulers governed the land. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/godly]])
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Ungodly rulers
Some readers will find it difficult to understand what Paul teaches about obeying rulers, especially if they are in places where rulers persecute the church. Christians must obey their rulers as well as obey God, unless the rulers do not allow Christians to do something God explicitly commands them to do. There are times when a believer must submit to these rulers and suffer at their hands. Christians understand that this world is temporary and they will ultimately be with God forever. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/eternity]])
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
#### Flesh
This is a complex issue. "Flesh" is possibly a metaphor for our sinful nature. Paul is not teaching that our physical bodies are sinful. Paul appears to be teaching that as long as Christians are alive ("in the flesh"), we will continue to sin. But our new nature will be fighting against our old nature. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/flesh]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]])
## Links:
* __[Romans 13:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../12/intro.md) | [>>](../14/intro.md)__

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# Romans 14 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verse 11 of this chapter, which Paul quotes from the Old Testament.
### Special concepts in this chapter
#### Weak in faith
Paul teaches that Christians can have real faith and at the same time be "weak in faith" in a given situation. This describes Christians whose faith is immature, not strong, or misunderstood. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]])
#### Dietary restrictions
Many religions in the ancient Near East restricted what was eaten. Christians have freedom to eat what they want. But they need to use this freedom wisely, in a way that honors the Lord and does not cause others to sin. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]])
#### The judgment seat of God
The judgment seat of God or Christ represents a time when all people, including Christians, will be held accountable for the way they lived their lives.
## Links:
* __[Romans 14:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../13/intro.md) | [>>](../15/intro.md)__

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# Romans 15 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in verses 9-11 and 21 of this chapter. These lines of poetry are from the Old Testament.
Some translations also set prose quotations from the Old Testament farther to the right than the rest of the text. The ULB does this with the quoted words in verse 12.
In [Romans 15:14](../../rom/15/14.md), Paul begins to speak more personally. He shifts from teaching to telling of his personal plans.
### Important figures of speech in this chapter
#### Strong/Weak
These terms are used to refer to people who are mature and immature in their faith. Paul teaches that those who are strong in faith need to help those who are weak in faith. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]])
## Links:
* __[Romans 15:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../14/intro.md) | [>>](../16/intro.md)__

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# Romans 16 General Notes
### Structure and formatting
In this chapter, Paul gives personal greetings to some of the Christians in Rome. It was common to end a letter in the ancient Near East with this type of personal greeting.
### Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
Because of the personal nature of this chapter, much of the context is unknown. This will make translation more difficult. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]])
## Links:
* __[Romans 16:01 Notes](./01.md)__
__[<<](../15/intro.md) | __

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# Introduction to Romans
## Part 1: General Introduction
### Outline of the Book of Romans
1. Introduction (1:1-15)
1. Righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ (1:16-17)
1. All mankind is condemned because of sin (1:18-3:20)
1. Righteousness through Jesus Christ by faith in him (3:21-4:25)
1. The fruits of the Spirit (5:1-11)
1. Adam and Christ compared (5:12-21)
1. Becoming like Christ in this life (6:1-8:39)
1. God's plan for Israel (9:1-11:36)
1. Practical advice for living as Christians (12:1-15:13)
1. Conclusion and greetings (15:14-16:27)
### Who wrote the Book of Romans?
The Apostle Paul wrote the Book of Romans. Paul was from the city of Tarsus. He had been known as Saul in his early life. Before becoming a Christian, Paul was a Pharisee. He persecuted Christians. After he became a Christian, he traveled several times throughout the Roman Empire telling people about Jesus.
Paul probably wrote this letter while he was staying in the city of Corinth during his third trip through the Roman Empire.
### What is the Book of Romans about?
Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Rome. Paul wanted to get them ready to receive him when he visited them. He said his purpose was to "bring about the obedience of faith" (16:26).
In this letter Paul most fully described the gospel of Jesus Christ. He explained that both Jews and non-Jews have sinned, and God will forgive them and declare them righteous only if they believe in Jesus (chapters 1-11). Then he gave them practical advice for how believers should live (chapters 12-16),
### How should the title of this book be translated?
Translators may choose to call this book by its traditional title, "Romans." Or they may choose a clearer title, such as "Paul's Letter to the Church in Rome," or "A Letter to the Christians in Rome." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names]])
## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts
### What are the titles used to refer to Jesus?
In Romans, Paul described Jesus Christ by many titles and descriptions: Jesus Christ (1:1), the Seed of David (1:3), the Son of God (1:4), the Lord Jesus Christ (1:7), Christ Jesus (3:24), Propitiation (3:25), Jesus (3:26), Jesus our Lord (4:24), Lord of Hosts (9:29), a Stumbling Stone and Rock of Offence (9:33), the End of the Law (10:4), the Deliverer (11:26), Lord of the Dead and the Living (14:9), and the Root of Jesse (15:12).
### How should theological terms in Romans be translated?
Paul used many theological terms that are not used in the four gospels. As early Christians learned more about the meaning of Jesus Christ and his message, they needed words and expressions for new ideas. Some examples of these words are "justification" (5:1), "works of the law" (3:20), "reconcile" (5:10), "propitiation" (3:25), "sanctification" (6:19), and "the old man" (6:6).
The "key terms" dictionary can help translators understand many of these terms. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns]])
Terms such as those given above are difficult to explain. It is often hard or impossible for translators to find equivalent terms in their own languages. It can help to know that word equivalents of these terms are not necessary. Instead, translators can develop short expressions to communicate these ideas. For example, the term "gospel" can be translated as "the good news about Jesus Christ."
Translators should also remember that some of these terms have more than one meaning. The meaning will depend on how the author is using the word in that particular passage. For example, "righteousness" sometimes means that a person obeys God's law. At other times, "righteousness" means that Jesus Christ has perfectly obeyed God's law for us.
### What did Paul mean by "a remnant" of Israel (11:5)?
The idea of a "remnant" is important both in the Old Testament and for Paul. Most of the Israelites were either killed or scattered among other people when the Assyrians and then the Babylonians conquered their land. Only a relatively few Jews survived. They were known as "the remnant."
In 11:1-9, Paul spoke of another remnant, the Jews whom God saved because they believed in Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/remnant]])
## Part 3: Important Translation Issues
### What did Paul mean by the expressions “in Christ,” “in the Lord,” and others like them?
The phrase "in Christ" and similar phrases occur in 3:24; 6:11, 23; 8:1,2,39; 9:1; 12:5,17; 15:17; and 16:3,7,9,10. Paul used these phrases to express the idea of a very close union between Jesus Christ and believers--that believers belong to Christ. Belonging to Christ means the believer is saved and is made a friend with God.
These phrases also have specific meanings that depend on how Paul used them in a particular passage. Depending on the the context, the word “in” can mean “because of,” “by means of,” “that agrees with,” “in submission to,” “in the manner of,” or “in regard to.” For example, in 3:24 ("the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"), Paul referred to our being redeemed "because" of Jesus Christ. In 8:9 ("you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit"), Paul spoke of believers submitting "to" the Holy Spirit. In 9:1 ("I tell the truth in Christ"), Paul meant that he is telling the truth that "is in agreement with" Jesus Christ. The translator may represent those more immediate senses. But, if possible, it would be good for the translator to choose a word or phrase that represents both the immediate sense and the sense of “in union with.” (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/inchrist]])
### How are the ideas of "holy," "saints" or "holy ones," and "sanctify" represented in Romans in the ULB?
The scriptures use such words to indicate any one of various ideas. For this reason, it is often difficult for translators to represent them well in their versions. In translating into English, the ULB uses the following principles:
* Sometimes the meaning in a passage implies moral holiness. Especially important for understanding the gospel is the fact that God considers Christians to be sinless because they are united to Jesus Christ. Another related fact is that God is perfect and faultless. A third fact is that Christians are to conduct themselves in a blameless and faultless manner in life. In these cases, the ULB uses "holy," "holy God," "holy ones" or "holy people." (See: 1:7)
* Sometimes the meaning in a passage indicates a simple reference to Christians without implying any particular role filled by them. In cases where some other English versions have "saints" or "holy ones," the ULB uses "believers." (See: 8:27; 12:13; 15:25, 26, 31; 16:2, 15)
* Sometimes the meaning in a passage indicates the idea of someone or something set apart for God alone. In these cases, the ULB uses "set apart," "dedicated to," "consecrated," or "reserved for." (See: 15:16)
The UDB will often be helpful as translators think about how to represent these ideas in their own versions.
### What are the major issues in the text of the Book of Romans?
For the following verses, modern version of the Bible differ from older versions. The ULB includes the modern reading and puts the older reading in a footnote.
* "he [God] works all things together for good" (8:28). Some older translations read, "All things work together for good."
* "But if it is by grace, it is no longer by works. Otherwise grace would no longer be grace" (11:6). Some older translations read: "But if it is by works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."
The following verse is not in the best ancient copies of the Bible. Translators are advised not to include this verse. However, if in the translators' region there are older Bible versions that have this verse, the translators can include it. If it is translated, it should be put inside square brackets ([]) to indicate that it is probably not original to the Book of Romans.
* "May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" (16:24).
(See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-textvariants]])