16:30a
Then he brought them out: The jailer brought Paul and Silas out of the inner cell. It is not clear if he brought them completely outside the prison.
In some languages it is necessary or more natural to indicate where he brought them to. If that is true in your language, refer to the inner cell. For example:
He then brought them out ⌊of the inner cell⌋
brought them out: The jailer politely brought them out. He did not force them. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
led them out (Good News Translation)
-or-
escorted them out (New Jerusalem Bible)
16:30b
Sirs: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Sirs is a respectful and humble way to begin to speak to people that the jailer felt were greater than him. The Greek word is often translated “lord” or “master,” which may be appropriate in your language here.
what must I do: The word must indicates that the jailer wanted to know what he is required to do. Other ways to translate this clause are:
what is necessary that I do
-or-
what am I required to do
to be saved: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. The verse does not say who the jailer expects to save him, but he probably is thinking of the god that Paul and Silas served. For example:
⌊for your god⌋ to save me
saved: It is not clear how much the jailer knew about the Christian way to be saved. He probably expected to do something to be accepted by Paul and Silas’s god. He may have also been worried about being rescued from the anger of their god. Translate this word in that way.
In some languages the usual translation of saved clearly refers to Christian salvation, such as: “save from the punishment of sins.” If that is true in your language, translate more generally, referring to a god accepting him.
Do not translate in a way that implies he already knew the Christian way to be saved.
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