In a number of languages it is difficult to translate the relationship of the various events mentioned in this verse, if they are kept in their present order and employ a conjunction such as before. However, with some shift of order it is possible to translate quite accurately and idiomatically—for example, “but I told them that it was the practice of the Romans first to have an accused man meet face to face those who accuse him and so have a chance of defending himself against what he has been accused of. I told him it was not the practice of Romans to hand over a man accused of a crime unless this had been done.” By breaking up this verse into two different sentences, one can often reproduce the meaning far more satisfactorily.

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 .