Paragraph 26:4–8
26:4a
This verse in Greek starts with two words that indicate that Paul began the main part of his talk. Some languages have a word or phrase to introduce the main or most important part of the talk. If that is true in your language, consider whether to use it here.
all the Jews: Probably most or nearly all of the Jews knew about Paul. Paul exaggerated here to indicate it would be easy to find someone who knew about him. In some languages, it is more natural to avoid the exaggeration. For example:
Very many Jews
-or-
Nearly all Jews ⌊in Jerusalem and Judea⌋
Jews: Paul was also a Jew. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly imply that Paul was not a Jew. If so, include the implied information. For example:
⌊my fellow⌋ Jews
know how I have lived: This phrase refers to the manner in which Paul lived. He was probably obedient and a good student. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
My manner of life (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
how I have lived (Good News Translation)
-or-
what kind of life I have lived (Contemporary English Version)
youth: This word probably refers to the age of five or six. Paul’s parents probably took him to Jerusalem to begin school there. Use a word for a youth of that age here.
26:4b
from the earliest days of my youth, among my own people and in Jerusalem: This phrase explains the time and place for the phrase “how I have lived from the earliest days of my youth.” Paul made it clear that he was referring to his time in the Roman province of Cilicia, where he was born, and Jerusalem. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
a life spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
at first in my own country and then in Jerusalem (Good News Translation)
-or-
from the beginning in my own country and later in Jerusalem (New Century Version)
from the earliest days of my youth, among my own people: This phrase probably refers to the time from his birth in Tarsus in the Roman province of Cilicia until he moved to Jerusalem.
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