24:48–49

In 24:48–49 Jesus told his followers what they must do. Then he told them what he would do. Then he focused again on what his followers must do. Each part of the verse begins by referring to Jesus or his followers in an emphatic way. They (24:48) will be his witnesses. He (24:49a) will send the Holy Spirit to them. But they (24:49b) must stay in the city and wait to receive the Holy Spirit. This emphasis indicates the change of focus. Indicate this change of focus in a natural way in your language.

24:48

You are witnesses of these things: This clause indicates that Jesus wanted his followers to tell other people about his suffering, death, and resurrection. It also indicates that they are his witnesses to proclaim his message about repentance for forgiveness of sins (24:46–47).

Some other ways to translate the clause are:

You have seen these things happen, and you must tell others.
-or-
…you must tell everything that has happened. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-

⌊I appoint/send⌋ you as my witnesses to tell others about these things.

The word You is emphatic in the clause. Some other ways to translate the emphasis in English are:

You yourselves are witnesses of all these things.
-or-
You have witnessed these things yourselves, and you must tell others about them.

witnesses: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as witnesses refers to people who tell others what they have seen and heard. It does not refer only to someone who gives legal testimony in a court case. Jesus’ followers must tell what they saw of his death and resurrection They must also tell others the message that they heard him explain to them.

these things: The phrase these things refers to Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. Jesus explained to them that his death and resurrection fulfilled the Scriptures. They saw those events and heard him explain them. Jesus wanted them to tell others about what they saw and to also explain those events, as he had explained the events to them. Refer to these things in a natural way in your language.

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