The content of this verse specifies what Paul understood was the message of the prophets and Moses. The belief that the Messiah must suffer is not found explicitly in any known Jewish source. However, Paul must have felt that this was in keeping with Jewish tradition and thought. In this type of context must suffer may be rendered as “must die,” “had to die,” or “was put to death.”

The light of salvation is the manner in which the Good News Translation has made explicit Paul’s phrase “a light.” This passage reflects the thought of Isaiah 9.2. In a number of languages it is difficult to speak of the light of salvation. In some instances the closest equivalent is “to announce to Jews and to Gentiles that they can be saved, and this is like light to them.”

To the Jews is literally “to the people,” a phrase used consistently in this sense.

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 .