Since verse 27 is presumed to be an explanation of the meaning of verses 25b and 26, it can rightly begin with the transitional phrase for indeed. The conjunction for indicates the causal relationship, and indeed emphasizes the reality of what has just been announced in the previous verse. In some languages this is equivalent to “because in just this way” or “because that is just how it happened.”

As may be readily noted, the order of elements in the Greek sentence is rather radically altered in the Good News Translation structure. However, this modified order of semantic units makes possible a much more readily transferable set of relationships.

Peter interprets every aspect of Psalm 2.1-2 to apply explicitly to Jesus: Herod (see Luke 23.6-12) represents the kings of the earth, Pontius Pilate stands for the rulers, the Gentiles are most likely the Roman soldiers, and the people are the people of Israel.

In a number of languages all participants in such a meeting together must be related in a so-called “subject position,” for example, “Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, met together.”

Note that the expression in this city is merely locative and its position may be altered depending upon the treatment of the receptor language.

The multiple concepts expressed in met together … against may require two different verbs, for example, “met together and plotted against.” In English the preposition “against” implies more than mere positional relationship, and therefore in such a context some event word of “plotting,” “planning,” or “antagonism” needs to be introduced.

For your holy Servant see 3.14. Whom you made Messiah properly translates the expression “whom you anointed” (see New English Bible “whom thou didst anoint as Messiah”; and Barclay “whom you anointed as Messiah”).

The appositional expression your holy Servant is parallel to the clause whom you made Messiah. In some languages these may be treated as parallel relative clauses “who is your holy Servant” and “whom you made Messiah.”

It is not always easy to qualify Servant by the attributive holy, particularly if the latter is expressed as some kind of event, with an implied relationship, for example, “one who is dedicated to.” Therefore, one may be obliged to have “who is dedicated to you and who serves you.” Under these circumstances the final clause may need to be expressed as a closely associated but separate clause, such as “this is the one you caused to be the Messiah” or “you designated as Messiah.”

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 .