20:19a–b

20:19 in Greek continues the sentence that began at 20:18b with “You know how.” You may want to repeat those words here. Also see the note at 20:18b–21b.

with great humility and with tears, especially in the trials that came upon me through the plots of the Jews: This phrase in Greek says literally: “with all humility and tears and trials.” There are several ways to interpret the two Greek words often translated “and”:

(1) They both mean “and.” They indicate that Paul served the Lord in three ways. For example:

with all humility and with tears and with trials (New American Standard Bible)

(Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, King James Version, NET Bible)

(2) The first Greek word means “and” but the second one means something else. For example:

With all humility and many tears…during the hard times that came to me (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version)

(3) The second Greek word means “and” but the first one means something else. For example:

in all humility, with all the sorrows and trials that came to me (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because this author can find no justification for interpretations (2) or (3).

20:19a

I served the Lord: This refers to Paul doing things that honored the Lord. It would include praying, telling others about him, teaching, and helping others. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I did my work as the Lord’s servant (Good News Translation)
-or-
I did the things/deeds that the Lord told me to do

See how you translated the word served in Matthew 6:24, Ephesians 6:7, Philippians 2:22, or 1 Thessalonians 1:9.

the Lord: Here, this phrase probably refers to Jesus. Some languages must indicate who this phrase refers to. If that is true in your language, add his name to your translation. For example:

the Lord ⌊Jesus⌋

Lord: This word means “the one in authority over others” or “master.” Jesus rules over all things. See how you translated this word in 1:6 or 19:20.

with great humility: Paul was humble when he served the Lord. Some languages use an idiom to indicate the meaning of humility. For example:

my liver was very low
-or-
I held myself underneath others
-or-
I put myself low
-or-
I did not raise myself above others

with tears: To serve the Lord with tears means that the way Paul served the Lord was characterized by weeping for people. That is, he often wept while he did the Lord’s work. He probably wept because he was sad about the difficulties the believers had or about when they were weak or sinned. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

many tears (Good News Translation)
-or-
with all the sorrows (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
I often cried

20:19b

especially in the trials that came upon me through the plots of the Jews: The Greek words are literally “and (with) trials, the/those happening to me by the plots of the Jews.” The Jews plotted to harm Paul, but he served God even in those difficulties. He probably used those circumstances to serve God more. Other ways to translate this are:

and with trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
during the hard times that came to me because of the plots of some Jews (Good News Translation)
-or-
during the difficult times I went through when the Jews plotted against me (God’s Word)

the Jews: In this verse and in most contexts in Acts, the phrase the Jews refers only to those Jews who opposed Paul and his work. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

some Jews (Good News Translation)
-or-
the Jews ⌊who oppose me⌋

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