SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 22:16

22:16a

And now what are you waiting for?: This is a rhetorical question. It encourages Paul to do something right away. That deed is explained in 22:16b. It is not a rebuke. Translate this clause with that meaning. Some ways are:

As a rhetorical question. For example:

And now what more are you waiting for?

As a statement. For example:

And now, do not wait any longer.

22:16b

Get up: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Get up refers to rising from the floor, a bed. or a chair. So Ananias commanded him to stand. For example:

Rise (Revised Standard Version)

be baptized: This clause is a passive command. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

Have ⌊someone⌋ baptize you
-or-
Ask/Tell ⌊someone⌋ to baptize you

baptized: Here this word refers to the Christian ritual that uses water. See how you translated this word in 1:5 or 19:5.

wash your sins away: The phrase wash your sins away is a figure of speech. It means “have your sins forgiven.” If possible, translate with a word that connects well with the rite of baptism. Other ways to translate this clause are:

have your sins washed away
-or-
let ⌊God⌋ wash away your sins
-or-
be cleansed/purified from your sins
-or-
let ⌊God⌋ cleanse you from sinning, like washing dirt away

sins: This word refers to anything that people do that God does not want them to do. This includes doing or thinking anything evil. It also includes not doing something that God wants people to do.

calling on His name: Here this phrase probably refers to asking for help from Jesus. The person would probably ask him to forgive his sins and help him to obey. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

as you call on his name (God’s Word)
-or-
by praying to him (Good News Translation)

His name: Here, by using the name Paul referred to that person and all that he is. In some languages it is more natural to refer to the person. For example:

him

His: As in 22:15, Paul referred here to Jesus, whom he called “the Righteous One” in 22:14, but did not name him. Paul wanted to tell his whole story to the Jewish crowd but he was concerned that they might riot again. So he avoided naming Jesus here. You should not name Jesus here.

General Comment on 22:16b

The context implies that Paul did as Ananias said. In some languages it is more natural to indicate that in your translation. For example:

calling on his name.’ ⌊So I got up and was baptized.

© 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.

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