Paragraph 1:23–26

1:23a

So they proposed two men: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So is literally “and.” The Greek word indicates that the story continues. But Peter stopped talking and the people responded. So the Berean Standard Bible and the Good News Translation add the word So.

they proposed two men: The pronoun they probably refers to the entire group of believers (similar to what happened in 6:5–6). But since it is unclear to whom it refers here, some English versions avoid using the pronoun. For example:

Having nominated two candidates (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Two names were put forward: (Revised English Bible)

proposed: This word is literally “put/placed.” It indicates that the group suggested these two men to replace Judas. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

put…before (New Century Version)
-or-
nominated (New Jerusalem Bible)

1:23b

Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus): People called Joseph by the name Barsabbas for a reason that the Greek does not say. It could mean “Son of Sabbas.” It could also mean “Son of the Sabbath,” indicating that he was born on a Sabbath day. Write the name as Barsabbas. Justus was his Roman name. Many men were named Joseph at that time, so Luke probably wrote these other two names so that people would know which Joseph he meant. This man was not Jesus’ mother’s husband.

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