2:33a
Exalted, then, to the right hand of God: There are three ways to interpret the Greek grammar that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to:
(1) It means by. It indicates that the right hand of God exalted Jesus. For example:
Now raised to the heights by God’s right hand (New Jerusalem Bible)
(New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, God’s Word)
(2) It means to. It indicates that God took Jesus from the grave and raised him to sit at his right hand. For example:
He has been raised to the right side of God (Good News Translation)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, New Century Version)
(3) It means at. It indicates that Jesus was already at God’s right hand when God exalted him. For example:
Being…exalted at the right hand of God (Revised Standard Version)
(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because “by God’s right hand” is a common expression in the Old Testament and because there is no other place in the New Testament where this type of Greek construction clearly indicates the meaning “to.”
Exalted: This verb means “to give a high position to” or “honor greatly.” God honored Jesus when he took Jesus up to heaven and put him in the first/highest place of authority under his (God’s) own.
The clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
⌊God⌋ has raised Jesus
-or-
⌊God⌋ has greatly honored
2:33b
He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit: In English, the word received implies someone else willingly gave what was received, and the word “take” does not imply that someone else willingly gave it. It is implied here that God willingly gave the Holy Spirit.
In some languages the same word is used for both “receive” and “take.” In some of those languages a literal translation would indicate that God did not give it willingly. If that is true in your language, you may want to use a different word than received. For example:
he was given the promised Holy Spirit by the Father
-or-
the Father gave the promised Holy Spirit to him
Jesus received the Holy Spirit when he was baptized by John. That occurred for his earthly ministry. Here Jesus received the Holy Spirit to give it to believers. In some languages a literal translation would indicate or imply that this was the first time that Jesus received the Holy Spirit. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:
the Father gave the right for Jesus to give the promised Holy Spirit ⌊to his people⌋ ⌊and he did so⌋
-or-
God empowered Jesus to send the promised Holy Spirit ⌊to his followers⌋ ⌊and he did so⌋
He: The pronoun He refers to Jesus.
the Father: This refers to God. In some languages it is necessary or more natural to include the word “God.” For example:
⌊God⌋ the Father
In some languages kinship words must indicate whose relationship it is. For example:
God ⌊his⌋ Father
the promised Holy Spirit: The word promised refers to God earlier promising to send the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ followers.
Holy Spirit: See how you translated this phrase in 1:2 or 2:4.
2:33c
has poured out: The phrase poured out is a figure of speech. Like a whole container of water is poured out, the Holy Spirit is given in full measure to God’s people. In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Translate the meaning of the figure of speech in the text. For example:
has given ⌊in full⌋
-or-
has given ⌊to us⌋ ⌊and caused us to do⌋
• Translate literally and explain the meaning of the figure of speech in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
The phrase “poured out” is a figure of speech. Like a whole container of water is poured out, the Holy Spirit is given in full measure to God’s people.
what you now see and hear: This phrase refers to Jesus’ followers speaking the various languages of the people there. Here is another way to translate this phrase:
these many languages that you see and hear ⌊the people speak⌋
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