Due to the particularly emphatic form of the Greek expression, the Good News Translation text introduces an emphatic use of yes and the form even on … both … and. This is formally different from the Greek, but it is a very effective and close equivalent.

In some languages the term for slaves carries such unfortunate connotations that one can scarcely use it, especially in this type of context in which God speaks of his slaves. Hence, one may use the equivalent of “servant,” “those who work for me,” “those who do what I say,” or “those who obey me.”

In those days, of course, refers to in the last days of the preceding verse.

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 .