In Greek this verse is a free rendering of what is said in Deuteronomy 18.19 and Leviticus 23.29. Anyone here is literally “every soul.”

As noted in the previous verse, the implications of listen to here are essentially obedience or heeding, for example, “anyone who does not heed what the prophet says.” In a number of languages referring to an individual in terms of a particular potential activity may be rendered as a condition, such as “if a person does not heed….” Will be separated from God’s people and destroyed renders the Greek “will be destroyed out from the people.” The people referred to are God’s people; and the preposition “out from” indicates that those persons who are to be put to death will be separated from God’s people and then put to death.

In some languages this statement of excommunication in terms of separated from God’s people is quite difficult in the passive voice since it might imply that God himself had excommunicated the individual. This problem is dealt with in some languages by saying “he must leave God’s people” or “he will no longer be a part of God’s people.” This prevents the passage from being overly specific.

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 .