1:2a

until the day He was taken up to heaven: The word until introduces when “all that Jesus began to do and to teach” ended. The phrase the day refers to Jesus’ last day on earth, which makes it clear that Luke had written about what Jesus did and taught during all of his time on earth. Some languages need to translate until in a different way. For example:

1bI wrote about all that Jesus did and taught 2a⌊on earth⌋. I even wrote about the day he was taken up to heaven.
-or-

1bI wrote about all that Jesus did and taught 2a⌊on earth⌋, including the day he was taken up to heaven.

He was taken up to heaven: This clause is passive. Here are some ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

when he was taken up (Revised Standard Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

⌊God⌋ took him up to heaven

heaven: Here this word refers to the place where God lives and from which he rules. In some languages the same word is used for “heaven” and “sky.” If that is true in your language, you may need to make it clear that this refers to the place where God lives. For example:

the place of God
-or-
the place where God lives

1:2b

after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen: Jesus went to heaven after he gave instructions. In some languages it is more natural to put the events in the order they happened or explain when this event happened. For example:

He gave instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen, ⌊and then he was taken up to heaven⌋.
-or-

⌊Before he went to heaven⌋ he gave instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

giving instructions…to the apostles: The phrase giving instructions refers to commanding people to do things. Here Jesus told them to do certain things. For example, Jesus commanded them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

commanding the apostles
-or-
instructing the apostles
-or-
telling the apostles his instructions

apostles: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as apostles means “those who are sent.” It refers to the people whom someone sends with authority to accomplish a mission or a particular task. At the time Luke was writing about, Judas Iscariot had killed himself, so there were only eleven apostles here.

Here are some ways to translate apostles:

• Translate the meaning of the Greek word apostles. For example:

people sent ⌊to speak/act for him⌋
-or-

⌊special⌋ messengers
-or-
representatives
-or-
men with authority from Jesus

• Indicate the role or function of apostles. For example:

chief leaders ⌊of Jesus’ work⌋
-or-
people who are in charge ⌊of Jesus’ work⌋

through the Holy Spirit: The word through indicates that the Holy Spirit was the means of instructing the apostles or that Jesus used the power of the Holy Spirit to instruct the apostles. It is probably used in the same way as later when Jesus was in heaven and instructed the apostles through the Holy Spirit. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

by the Holy Spirit (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
by the power of the Holy Spirit (Good News Translation)
-or-
with the help of the Holy Spirit (Contemporary English Version)

Holy Spirit: This phrase refers to the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is God, together with God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is Spirit in the sense that he is a living being who does not have a physical body. He is Holy in the sense that he is divine. He is perfect in every way and is completely pure and sinless. Because of these qualities, he is worthy of awe.

Here are some ways to translate Holy Spirit:

Spirit/Breath of God
-or-
Holy/Sacred Spirit

Do not imply that the Holy Spirit is like the ghost of a dead person or that God has died.

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