In this case now translates a Greek expression which means “now” or “as far as the present situation is concerned.” It is the same phrase which is translated “now” in 4.29; and it appears in 17.30; 20.32; 27.22. A related expression appears in 24.25.

Do not take any action against is equivalent to “do nothing against” or “do nothing to harm.”

The clause if this plan and work of theirs is a man-made thing is often not easy to translate, since man-made can only be expressed by making people the subject of the clause, for example, “if only people have made these plans and do the work” or “if it is only a man who is commanding this plan and their work.”

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 .