23:30a
I was informed that there was a plot: This clause in Greek is literally “a plot was revealed to me.” This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
⌊someone⌋ revealed a plot to me
Some languages must use direct speech here. For example:
⌊someone⌋ told me, “There is a plot to kill this man.”
-or-
⌊someone⌋ told me, “Some people/Jews have plotted to kill this man.”
plot: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as plot means “a plan to secretly act.”
23:30b
I sent: The Greek word uses the past tense here because when Felix read the letter, the commander had already sent Paul. The commander wrote what would be easiest for Felix to understand. But when the commander wrote this letter, he had not yet sent Paul. Consider how to translate naturally here. For example:
I have sent (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
I decided to send (Good News Translation)
-or-
I am sending (Revised English Bible)
23:30c
I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you:
The commander’s order is in indirect speech. In some languages it must be direct speech. For example:
I also ordered/told his accusers, “Present your case against him to Felix.”
instructed: Here this word means “commanded.” The commander had the authority to tell the Jewish leaders that they must go to Felix and present their case against Paul there.
accusers: This word refers to people who accuse someone of doing something wrong.
to present their case against him before you: The Greek words are literally “to tell these (things) against him to you.” It indicates that the Jewish leaders must accuse Paul before Felix. For example:
to tell you what they have against him (New Century Version)
General Comment on 23:30c
This is the end of the letter. However you began to indicate in 23:26 that this was a letter, it should end at the end of 23:30c. Some ways to do that are:
I have said to the ones here who have a case against him that before you is where they should bring it up. That’s all.”
-or-
I also instructed his accusers to go present-charges-against-(him) to you. That is all.” That’s what he wrote.
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