According to his usual habit is rendered in some languages as a verb expression, usually with a form of the verb indicating habitual action—for example, “Paul habitually went to the synagogue and therefore on this occasion he went to the synagogue (in Thessalonica).”

Three Sabbath days translates an unusual expression which most scholars understand in the sense represented by the Good News Translation. The Revised Standard Version and Zürcher Bibel, however, take the expression to mean “for three weeks.” The verb translated argued (so most translations) may also mean “discussed” (see An American Translation*). It is doubtful if from the Scriptures can be understood in the sense of “quoting texts of Scripture” (New English Bible; see Moffatt, Phillips). What Paul evidently did was to read passages of scripture and to explain these in light of their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The relationship of argued to from the Scriptures may be indicated by “he argued with the people by referring to the Scriptures” or “he discussed with the people by reading from the Scriptures.”

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 .