On the term brothers (literally “men brothers”) see 1.16. This is exactly the same formula of address that Paul uses in speaking to the Jews in 22.1.

The God of glory is an expression which occurs elsewhere only in Psalm 29.3 (Septuagint 28.3), but it is doubtful that either Stephen or Luke had this in mind. Some take the phrase to mean simply “the glorious God,” while others see another meaning in the word glory, on the basis of 1 Corinthians 2.8 and James 2.1; that is, “the God who reveals himself in glory.” Not only is the exegesis of the God of glory difficult, but the rendering of such a phrase in other languages is equally complicated. In many languages glory is related to the concept of “shining” or “brightness.” Thus the God of glory may be rendered as “the God who shines” or, as in one language, “God the light-owner,” indicating that he possesses special light. In other languages glory is associated with “majesty” or “regal appearance” and therefore is rendered as “the majestic God” or “the God with great majesty.” A term for “majesty” in some languages is very closely related to words for “conspicuousness,” with the accompanying denotation of “attractiveness.”

According to Genesis 12.1 the command for Abraham to leave his family and country and go to a land that God would show him was given in Haran after he and his father Terah had moved there from Ur of the Chaldees.

In a number of languages it may be useful to terminate verse 2 with a complete sentence, beginning verse 3 then as a new sentence and reintroducing God as the subject of speaking.

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 .