SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 5:15

5:15a

As a result: This phrase introduces the result of the apostles doing signs and wonders (5:12), the people of Jerusalem speaking highly of believers (5:13), and probably also a result of more and more people becoming believers (5:14). Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Therefore
-or-
And so

the sick: This refers to people who very sick and so probably could not work or do much at all. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

sick people (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the people with sickness/illnesses

into the streets: These sick people were probably placed at the sides of the road rather than in the middle. For example:

to the streets
-or-
to the edges of the streets

streets: The Greek word refers to the major roads in the city rather than the narrow lanes. For example:

major/big streets

5:15b

laid them: The Greek is more literally “put.” It does not describe whether the sick people were then sitting or lying down. For example:

placed (Good News Translation)
-or-
put them (NET Bible)

cots: The Greek has the meaning of “little/minimum bed.” Here it refers to the fewest things required to still be called a bed. It would not have all the things usually used to make a bed. In English this might be just the mattress. For example:

mattresses

mats: This word refers to the kind of mat used for sleeping on.

General Comment on 5:15b

In some language groups people sleep on mats, not on full beds. If that is true in your language group, you may want to just use one word or phrase for the words “beds and mats.” For example:

sleeping⌋ mats

But if people in your language group are familiar with beds, you may still want to include both words.

5:15c

so that: This phrase introduces the purpose for people bringing those who were sick into the streets.

at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as at least is a combination of two words that can be translated “even if” or “if only.” It implies that even if only Peter’s shadow crossed over a sick person as he walked by, God would heal that person. For example:

so that even if only Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by, ⌊they would be healed
-or-
so that even if only Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by, ⌊God would heal them

Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fall refers to Peter’s shadow appearing on the person as Peter walked by. Many languages will use a different word than fall. For example:

when Pita was going around and his shadow went on top of them
-or-
when Peter will/would walk past, his shade would cover them
-or-
Petero’s shadow, when he went past them, would heal some people from them
-or-
if Pedro were to pass by, even if they were only shaded by his shadow

might fall: Here the word might refers to the possibility of Peter’s shadow falling on them. Consider how to translate that meaning.

as he passed by: This refers to times when Peter was walking along. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

as he came by (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
as he went by (New Living Translation (2004))

© 2001, 2021 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

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