Paragraph 20:22–24
20:22a–b
And now: Here the word now introduces a change from talking about the past to talking about the future. Here it is not a time word. Introduce this new topic in a way that is natural in your language.
The Greek phrase has a word after And now that means “look.” It is used to get the attention of the listeners. For example:
And now, behold, (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
And so, listen,
-or-
Well now,
Many English versions do not translate the word “look” and allow the phrase And now to indicate getting attention. Many languages have a word or phrase that is used to get attention. If that is true in your language, you may want to use it here.
compelled by the Spirit: The Greek words are literally “being bound/tied by the Spirit.” This is a figure of speech. It indicates that he was like a prisoner of the Holy Spirit. The only thing he could do was to obey. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
constrained by the Spirit (English Standard Version)
-or-
as a captive to the Spirit (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
in obedience to the Holy Spirit (Good News Translation)
-or-
I must obey the Holy Spirit (New Century Version)
the Spirit: This phrase refers to the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is Spirit in the sense that he is a living being who does not have a physical body. Sometimes, as here, people refer to him only as the Spirit. See how you translated this phrase in 2:4 or 11:28.
In some languages a literal translation would not clearly refer to the Holy Spirit. If that is true in your language, you may want to translate this phrase as “the Holy Spirit.” For example:
the Spirit/Breath of God
-or-
the Holy/Sacred Spirit
See how you translated the phrase “the Holy Spirit” in 1:2 or 19:6.
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