19:12a

so that: Here this conjunction introduces a result. In some languages a different conjunction would be used. For example:

and so

even: This word indicates that the miracles of healing by handkerchief or apron were more extraordinary than what Luke was thinking of in 19:11.

handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊people⌋ took handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him to the sick

handkerchiefs: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as handkerchiefs can also refer to pieces of cloth used for wiping away sweat. These pieces of cloth could also be tied around the head to prevent sweat from going into the eyes.

aprons: This word refers to cloths tied in the front. Some workmen wore them to protect their clothing from spills, dirt, or other things.

that had touched him: This phrase in Greek is literally “taken from his skin.” It indicates that Paul wore or used these handkerchiefs and aprons. Then people took them to heal the sick. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

that had touched his skin (English Standard Version)
-or-
he had used (Good News Translation)
-or-
that had touched Paul’s body (Contemporary English Version)

were taken to the sick: It is implied that the handkerchiefs and aprons were placed on the sick people. In some languages a literal translation would not imply that. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it in your translation. For example:

were taken to the sick ⌊and placed on them⌋

19:12b

the diseases: This clause in Greek is literally “to be taken away the illnesses from them.” It indicates that the sick people became well.

This clause is passive. Some languages must translate it as an active or intransitive clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ cured their illnesses
-or-
diseases left them (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
their illnesses ended ⌊and they became well⌋
-or-
they became well

19:12c

and evil spirits left them: Some of the sick people also had evil spirits troubling them. The miracles of the handkerchiefs and aprons also caused the evil spirits to leave and stop troubling them. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the evil spirits came out of them (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the evil spirits ⌊stopped troubling them and⌋ left

© 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.