Full translates a Greek verb tense that indicates it was at that very moment that Peter became filled with the Holy Spirit. This passage and others (see 2.14-21 and Luke 12.12) intimate that in Luke’s thought the gift of the Holy Spirit was in a certain sense granted on specific occasions to carry out a particular task.

The filling of the Holy Spirit and the response of Peter may be regarded in many languages as two parallel but closely related events more or less equivalent to cause and effect, for example, “The Holy Spirit filled Peter’s heart and therefore he answered them….”

In some languages it is extremely difficult to speak of being full of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit “may possess completely,” the Holy Spirit “may come into and command,” but merely to be full of the Holy Spirit is not too meaningful. Moreover, even terms for filling sometimes distinguish between fullness as of a bucket, and fullness as of a sponge which is completely saturated with something. It is the latter term which is sometimes used for the filling of the Holy Spirit.

A vocative expression such as leaders of the people and elders presents certain problems in some languages, since one cannot use this type of direct address. Rather than seeming polite (as it is in the Greek text) it would be offensive, since one would seem to be calling to, or summoning, individuals. Therefore, such an expression must be made the goal of the preceding verb, for example, “answered the leaders of the people and elders.” In other instances these individuals must be identified by a second person plural pronoun, “you who are the leaders of the people and elders.”

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 .