3:13a

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers: These two phrases describe God. In your translation, you should make it clear that these two phrases refer to only one God. For example:

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, ⌊that is,⌋ the God of our fathers
-or-
God who was worshiped by our ancestors, who was worshiped by Abraham, Ishak and Yakub

of: Here this word indicates that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob followed, obeyed, and worshiped the one true God and only him. They belonged to him. In some languages a different word or phrase must be used for the correct meaning. For example:

The God to whom belong Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
-or-
The God whom Abraham, Isaac and Jacob followed/obeyed/worshiped

the God of our fathers: The phrase our fathers refers to the ancestors of Peter and the crowd of Jews. Abraham, his son Isaac and grandson Jacob are the most important ancestors of the people of Israel. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the God of our ancestors (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the God of our forefathers (NET Bible)

3:13b

has glorified: This phrase indicates that God had given greatness, power, splendor, and majesty to Jesus. He honored Jesus in that way. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

has given divine glory to (Good News Translation)
-or-
has already caused Jesus to be high/great in heaven
-or-
has given a great name to

This phrase probably refers to when God caused Jesus to live again and glorified him in heaven. Some languages must describe how God glorified Jesus. For example:

has caused Jesus to have greatness, power, splendor, and majesty

His servant Jesus: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as servant can also mean “slave.” But the difference between “slave” and “servant” is not important here. Jesus is God’s servant because he always obeyed God and did what pleased him. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

his worker Jesus
-or-
Jesus who served him in this world

His servant is one of the Old Testament titles for the Christ. So some English versions capitalize the word servant. For example:

his Servant Jesus (Good News Translation)

3:13c

You handed Him over: The phrase handed…over means “put a person into the control of someone else.” It often refers to giving someone to his enemy. The Jews gave Jesus to Pilate so that he would order Roman soldiers to kill Jesus. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

You put him in the hands of ⌊Pilate⌋ in order that he be killed
-or-
You gave him to ⌊Pilate⌋ to be killed
-or-
You handed him over ⌊to Pilate⌋ to be killed ⌊by his/Roman soldiers⌋
-or-
You handed him over ⌊to Pilate⌋ for ⌊his soldiers⌋ to kill

3:13d

and rejected Him before Pilate: The word rejected indicates that the Jews told Pilate that they disowned Jesus. They wanted nothing to do with him or the claims that he made about himself. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

and you disowned him before Pilate (New International Version)
-or-
You did not receive/accept him there in the presence of Governor Pilatus

Pilate: Pilate was the Roman governor over the Jews about AD 26–36. Jesus preached about AD 26–30. Pilate’s actions related to Jesus’ story are told in Matthew 27:2–66, Mark 15:1–45, Luke 3:1, 13:1, 23:1–52, and John 18:28–19:38.

In some languages people are not familiar with who Pilate is. Or it is more natural to use his title. For example:

Governor Pilate

3:13e

even though he had decided to release Him: The Greek is literally “having decided to release that (person).” The Berean Standard Bible adds the phrase even though because the Jews disagreed with their governor, Pilate. Pilate decided that Jesus was not guilty of any crime punishable by death. But the Jews believed that Jesus falsely claimed to be the Christ so they wanted Pilate to kill him. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

though he had decided to let him go (New International Version)
-or-
even after Pilate had decided to set him free (Good News Translation)

to release Him: Pilate decided that Jesus had not done anything wrong, so he wanted to let him go free. See the examples above.

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