In this context the term officer is more or less equivalent to “captain” in a modern army, while commander would be equivalent to “colonel.” In languages in which no such distinctions are made, one can always say “soldier” and “one who commands the soldiers.”

What are you doing? is rendered by most translations as “What are you going to do?” The question itself may indicate either action in progress or contemplated action.

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 .