23:51a
who had not consented to their decision or action: This clause indicates that Joseph did not agree with what the other council members decided and did against Jesus. In some languages it may be necessary to indicate which decision and action the clause refers to. For example:
he had not agreed to the other leaders’ plans and actions against Jesus (New Century Version)
In some languages it may be more natural to translate the words decision and action as verbs. For example:
he did not agree with what the other council members planned ⌊against Jesus⌋, and he did not join them in what they did ⌊to him⌋
-or-
he did not agree with the other council members in deciding ⌊that Jesus should die⌋ or in causing ⌊him to be killed⌋
decision: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as decision can refer to either a decision or a plan. In this context the Council decided that Jesus was guilty and that he should be executed. They planned to ask Pilate to execute/kill him. Joseph did not agree with this plan or decision. See the translation examples in the note above.
action: The word action refers here to what the Jewish leaders did against Jesus. They accused him to Pilate and asked Pilate to crucify him. In that way, they caused Jesus to be killed. Joseph did not agree that they should do that.
23:51b
He was from the Judean town of Arimathea: Arimathea was the name of Joseph’s home town. Scholars think it may be the same town as Ramah in the Old Testament. That town was about twenty miles northwest of Jerusalem. Luke called it a Jewish town because it probably was part of the district of Judea at the time Jesus died. Here is another way to translate this:
He was from the Jewish town of Arimathea (New Century Version)
23:51c
and was waiting for the kingdom of God: In this context the word waiting means “hopefully expecting.” Joseph expected and desired the kingdom of God. The phrase kingdom of God refers to God’s activity of ruling and caring for his people as their king. It does not refer to a land or territory that he rules over.
Some ways to translate was waiting for the kingdom of God are:
he was expecting God’s rule/reign
-or-
he hoped/waited for the time when God will rule
In some languages there may be an idiom to describe this. For example:
he set his heart on the time when God will protect/deliver his people as their king
-or-
he was looking forward to the time when God will rule all people (Translator’s Reference Translation)
Many Jewish people were expecting God to send his Messiah to establish God’s reign on earth. This context implies that Joseph also expected the Messiah. He may have believed that Jesus was the Messiah. In some languages it may be helpful to make this explicit. For example:
He was waiting for ⌊the Messiah/Christ to establish⌋ God’s chieftaincy/rule
-or-
He was…expecting God to send his anointed one and reveal his kingship
For more help on how to translate 23:51c, see the notes on 17:20a–b and kingdom of God in the Glossary.
General Comment on 23:50–51
In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of information in these two verses. It may be better to translate the background information about Joseph before saying how he disagreed with the Jewish council. For example:
50aOne of the council members was Joseph 51bfrom the town of Arimathea in Judea. 50bHe was a good and righteous man 51cwho was waiting ⌊expectantly⌋ for the kingdom of God ⌊to come⌋. 51aHe had not agreed with what the rest of the Council had decided to do or with what they had done.
Here is another way to reorder these verses:
50aThere was a man named Joseph 51bfrom Arimathea, a town in Judea. 50bHe was a good and honorable man, 51cwho was waiting for the coming of the Kingdom of God. 50aAlthough he was a member of the Council, 51ahe had not agreed with their decision and action. (Good News Translation)
Translate the information in a natural order in your language.
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