Both by the change in content and by the particles by which Luke introduces this verse, and now, he indicates the beginning of a new section in Paul’s address to the elders of Ephesus.

Most scholars take the phrase “bound by the spirit” to mean either in obedience to the Holy Spirit or else “compelled by the Holy Spirit.” However, it is possible, purely on the basis of the words themselves, to understand Paul as speaking of his own inner spirit. One may also translate this as in the Jerusalem Bible: “you see me a prisoner already in spirit” (see also New English Bible footnote “under an inner compulsion”). But in light of the immediate context (see v. 23) and in view of the way that Luke elsewhere speaks of the Holy Spirit’s leadership (see 16.6 and the alternative rendering of 19.21), it seems evident that Luke understood “spirit” in this passage to mean the Holy Spirit.

The noun phrase in obedience to the Holy Spirit is often rendered as a verbal expression: “in order that I may obey the Holy Spirit” or “because I obey the Holy Spirit.”

Not knowing what will happen to me may be translated as “I do not know what people will do to me.” In many languages it is much more normal to speak of people doing something to someone else rather than of something happening to a person.

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 .