andres adelphoi in Acts 13

Acts 13:13–52 has Paul and Barnabas (rather than Barnabas and Saul, as in 12:25–13:12) heading to Pisidian Antioch. The round journey which began from and will end with Syrian Antioch for some reason heads 150km through the mountains from Perga to this other Antioch as the mission of 1:8 continues. Some suggest it's because Paul was having some eye issues and needed to head to higher ground for medical reasons, but that seems a bit too random. But as we see when they arrive there, a Jewish community lives there who has not yet heard about Jesus.

Image created in Accordance Bible Software

The synagogue is evidently comprised of Jews and God-fearers, and it's their identity as God's people, whether as children of Abraham or as those who have seen the light, that Paul focuses on his speech.

Structurally, it's the phrase "andres" following which gives shape to the five units of this section. The phrase occurs four times, once before the speech and at three key times during it. The final section is a compilation of eleven verses of varying responses. Here's the NIV11 with the relevant Greek:

1. Acts 13.15 “Brothers (ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί) , if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
2. Acts 13.16 “Fellow Israelites (ἄνδρες Ἰσραηλῖται) and you Gentiles who worship God (οἱ φοβούμενοι τὸν θεόν), listen to me!"
3. Acts 13.26 “Fellow (Ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί) children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles (οἱ ἐν ὑμῖν φοβούμενοι τὸν θεόν), it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent."
4. Acts 13.38 “Therefore, my friends (ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί), I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you."

To explain, ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί literally means "male brothers", or "male brothers and sisters". Of course, that is ludicrous; the word ἄνδρες (male) as used here evidently means something closer to the third translation offered in the NIV: "fellow". Perhaps ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί would be better translated "Hey guys!"

The five units of this section would then be:

1. Acts 13:13–15 Hey guys, if you have something to say, please say it.
2. Acts 13:16–25 Hey guys—you God-fearers too—listen to how the story of Israel anticipates Jesus!
3. Acts 13:26–37 Hey guys—children of Abraham and any of you who fears God—this is the message of salvation!
4. Acts 13:38–41 Hey guys, hear the message of forgiveness in Jesus.
5. Acts 13:42–52 The wide variety of responses people make to the gospel.

It's probably not as reverent a translation, but it is certainly consistent, and Aussie idiomatic (as at 2019AD!). It's a great speech by Paul (via Luke), and there's a great contrast between the unifying gospel as preached to the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch and the diverse response to it afterward.