19:16a–b
the man with the evil spirit: This phrase in Greek is literally “the man in whom the evil spirit was.” This phrase indicates that the evil spirit controlled the man. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
The man who had the evil spirit in him (Good News Translation)
-or-
the man possessed by the evil spirit (God’s Word)
jumped on them and overpowered them all: The evil spirit caused the man to attack the sons of Sceva and overpower them. In some languages it is more natural to include this implied information. For example:
⌊was made to⌋ attack them and overpower them ⌊by the evil spirit⌋
-or-
⌊which/who caused him to⌋ attack them and overpower them
19:16c
The attack was so violent: The Greek words are literally “he was strong against them.” The words probably imply violence as well as strength here. For example:
handled them so violently (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
attacked them with such violence (New Living Translation (2004))
they ran out of the house: This phrase in Greek is literally “to flee from that house.” The sons of Sceva fled from the man with the evil spirit. Other ways to translate this clause are:
They ran away from his house (Good News Translation)
-or-
they fled from that house (New Jerusalem Bible)
naked: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as naked may refer to:
(1) all clothes removed,
(2) only the outer layer of clothes removed. Such a person would still be wearing his underclothes.
If possible translate in a way that allows either interpretation. For example:
stripped of clothing (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
with their clothes torn off their backs (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
wounded: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wounded refers to being wounded. It can imply cuts, bleeding, broken bones, or bruising. For example:
badly mauled (New Jerusalem Bible)
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