Although the word rendered save may also mean “appoint,” all translators understand it in this sense in the present passage. It is also used in the sense of “save” or “rescue” in 7.10, 34; 12.10; 23.27. The words addressed to Paul reflect those spoken to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1.7-8). In some languages the concept of “being saved from” is expressed as “I will save you from the people of Israel, and the Gentiles will not harm you” or “I will cause you not to be harmed by the people of Israel and by the Gentiles.” In this circumstance a term such as “harm” must be a relatively strong expression.

People of Israel is literally “people,” but here as elsewhere the term is used with the specific meaning of the people of Israel.

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 .