Paragraph 16:35–36

16:35a

When daylight came: This phrase in Greek is literally “having become day.” This probably refers to the usual start of the business day for the magistrates. For example:

when it was day (Revised Standard Version)

officers: This refers to the people who beat Paul and Silas with rods in 16:22–23. Here they are given their official title in Greek: “rod-holders.” The Romans called these men “lictors” in their language, Latin. Lictors had authority to arrest people on behalf of the magistrates, to punish people when the magistrates told them to, and to do various ceremonial duties for the city.

Some languages have a word that combines those duties like the Latin word. However, some languages, like English, do not have a specific word that combines those duties. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use a general word for this kind of person and allow the context to indicate that it refers to the same people who beat Paul and Silas. For example:

guards (God’s Word)
-or-
magistrates (New International Version)
-or-
court officials

• Describe their duties in your translation. For example:

arresters
-or-
punishers
-or-
officials who arrest/punish people

• Use the Latin word. For example:

lictors (New Jerusalem Bible)

You may then want a footnote to explain what they did. An example footnote is:

Lictors had authority from the magistrates to arrest people, to punish people when the magistrates told them to, and to do various ceremonial duties for the city. This word refers to the people who beat Paul and Silas with rods in 16:22–23.

• Use the major language word. If people in your language group are not familiar with this word, you may then want a footnote to explain what they did. An example footnote is:

These Roman officers had authority from the magistrates to arrest people, to punish people when the magistrates told them to, and to do various ceremonial duties for the city. This word refers to the people who beat Paul and Silas with rods in 16:22–23.

16:35b

Release those men: The magistrates ordered the jailer to let Paul and Silas leave the prison. For example:

Let those men go (Good News Translation)

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