Paragraph 16:37–40
16:37a
the officers: The Greek word is literally “them.” Here it refers to the rod-holders of 16:35a. The pronoun “them” may clearly refer to the rod-holders in your language.
16:37b
They beat us publicly: The judges did not beat Paul and Silas personally but had the rod-holders do it. In some languages it is necessary or more natural to indicate that they ordered the beating. For example:
They had us beaten publicly
-or-
They ordered you(plur) to beat us in public
without a trial: The Roman law required a trial before punishing a Roman citizen. The magistrates did not check to see if Paul and Silas were Roman citizens before they ordered the rod-holders to beat them. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
without hearing the matter in court
-or-
without first having a proper court session
-or-
without first sitting as judges about the problem and hearing both sides
16:37c
even though we are Roman citizens: Roman law required judges to have a proper court trial before punishing Roman citizens. In some languages a literal translation would not clearly imply this. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain the implied information in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Roman law required judges to have a proper court trial before punishing Roman citizens.
• Include the implied information in your translation. For example:
even though we are Roman citizens ⌊and have the right to a trial beforehand⌋
-or-
even though we are Roman citizens ⌊and deserved a judge to listen to our story before punishing us⌋
even though: These words indicate that it was true that Paul and the others were Roman citizens, and despite that being true, the leaders of Philippi had Paul and them beat without trial.
we are Roman citizens: The word citizens indicates that the Roman government considered Paul and Silas to belong to Rome. They had rights as Romans. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
we are Romans by right
-or-
we have Roman citizenship
-or-
we are legally people of Rome
-or-
we legally belong to Rome
-or-
our names are on the list of Roman people
General Comment on 16:37b–c
The phrase “even though we are Roman citizens” is emphasized in the Greek. If possible emphasize it in your translation. One way may be to move it before the other information in this sentence. For example:
Even though we are Roman citizens, they beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison.
-or-
We are Roman citizens. And yet they beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison.
16:37d
And now do they want to send us away secretly?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that Paul believes that the magistrates want Paul and Silas to go away quietly. Translate this clause with that meaning. Some ways are:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
And now they want to send us away secretly? (Good News Translation)
-or-
And how is it that they want to get rid of us quietly?
• As a statement. For example:
Now they want to make us go away quietly. (New Century Version)
-or-
Now they think they can secretly send us away!
secretly: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as secretly refers to doing something without others knowing. For example:
quietly (New International Version)
16:37e
Absolutely not!: The Greek phrase here is two words that can be translated as: “No indeed!” For example:
Not at all! (Good News Translation)
Let them come themselves and escort us out: The Greek words are a command to the magistrates (them). They were not there. English does not have a command for “them” but uses the word Let instead. Many languages have a command for “them.” The Good News Translation uses “must” for the same meaning:
The Roman officials themselves must come here and let us out (Good News Translation)
escort us out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as escort…out refers to leading or bringing someone out of something. For example:
take us out (Revised Standard Version)
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