When the apostles met together with Jesus (Greek “when they met together”) may be taken to include only the apostles. However, the Good News Translation understands they to indicate not only the apostles but Jesus as well, and this is supported by the observation that immediately following their gathering together the apostles ask Jesus a question. In most languages one must be quite explicit about the participants, as in the Good News Translation the apostles … Jesus.

Although Lord may merely mean “sir,” in the present context the meaning Lord is to be preferred (see also 1.22). By the question which the apostles asked Jesus (Lord, will you at this time give the Kingdom back to [the nation of] Israel?), they indicate that they are still conditioned by the Jewish expectation of a national kingdom to be set up on earth.

In many languages Lord requires some indication of those who acknowledge his lordship, for example, “our Lord” or “you who command us.”

The phrase at this time is a very general statement of time contemporary with another event. In other languages one may require “in these days,” “now,” or even “very shortly,” since the restoration had obviously not begun. It is for this reason that some languages require an expression for the immediate future rather than for the present.

The English expression give the Kingdom back is quite impossible in most languages. In fact, in most languages one cannot “give a rule” to anyone. This is essentially a causative in most instances and must usually be translated as “cause the Israel people to rule again.” Some have interpreted this merely as “to be self-governing” or “to be free,” but what is asked about is not independence from Rome but a dominant role in governing. If a goal for “to rule” is required, then one may use some such expression as “to cause the Israel people to rule other nations again.” In other words, the restoration of the period of David and Solomon.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .