5:31a
God exalted Him to His right hand: There are three ways to interpret the Greek grammar that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to:
(1) It means by. God exalted Jesus using his right hand. For example:
By his own right hand God has now raised him up (New Jerusalem Bible)
(New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, God’s Word)
(2) It means at. Jesus was already at God’s right hand when God exalted him. For example:
God exalted him at his right hand (Revised Standard Version)
(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition)
(3) It means to. God took Jesus from the grave and raised him to sit at his right hand. For example:
God raised him to his right side (Good News Translation)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, New Century Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because “by God’s right hand” is a common expression in the Old Testament. Also there is no other place in the New Testament where this type of Greek construction clearly indicates the meaning “to,” movement to a new location. The same choice is made at 2:33.
exalted Him: Here the word exalted means “gave a high position to.” God took Jesus up to heaven and put him in the first/highest place of authority under his (God’s) own. Here are some other ways to translate this:
put him in the place of honor (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
made him great
-or-
lifted him up
Prince: The Greek word means “primary leader” or “the leader who began the group he leads.” Here are some other ways to translate this:
top leader
-or-
founding leader
Savior: This word refers to someone who rescues people from danger. Jesus as Savior indicates that he rescues believers from the danger of God’s judgment against sinners.
Here are some ways to translate Savior:
rescuer
-or-
the person who saves ⌊us/you⌋
-or-
the person who saves/rescues ⌊from sin/death⌋
5:31b
in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel: This is a purpose clause. God exalted Jesus to Prince and Savior for the purpose of giving repentance and forgiveness to Israel. Here are some other ways to translate this:
to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
to give the people of Israel the opportunity to repent and have their sins forgiven (Good News Translation)
This purpose has been fulfilled. Jesus has offered repentance and forgiveness to Israel. Some people of Israel have repented and been forgiven. In some languages it is more natural to translate this fulfilled purpose clause as a result clause. For example:
and so he has granted/offered repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel
in order to grant: This Greek phrase is more literally “to give.” See the examples above.
repentance: When a person repents he does these three things:
(a) He feels sorry and sad about his past wrongdoings.
(b) He turns his back on his former ways of doing wrong.
(c) He turns to God, depending on him to help him live in a new and different way which pleases God.
Here are other ways to translate this word:
turning from sin
-or-
to change the way they think and act (God’s Word)
-or-
turn to him
-or-
change their hearts and lives (New Century Version)
-or-
abandon their evil behavior
-or-
regret their sins and change their livers
forgiveness of sins: Here this phrase means that God chooses not to punish a person for the evil things that he has done and thought. God cancels his guilt and treats him as though he had never done those evil things. See how you translated this phrase in 2:38.
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