4:9a–b

If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed: Here the word If introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, it supports the second part (“then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel” (4:10a)).

In some languages, using an If-clause would have a different meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

consider this: we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed. 10Therefore
-or-
we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed. 10Therefore
-or-
Right now you are examining us(excl), because we helped this lame person, you want to know how we healed him
-or-
Do you want to hear and judge the talk of the man with the bad legs that we sent heart [gave compassion] to and fixed/healed?

4:9a

we are being examined: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

you are questioning us (New Jerusalem Bible)

we: The pronoun we is emphatic here. If you have a way in your language to emphasize we, consider using it here. Here are some ways in English:

we ourselves
-or-
it is we who

are being examined: This phrase indicates that the officials were questioning them, as a judge would in a court case. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

are being called to account (New International Version)
-or-
are on trial (New American Standard Bible)

The tense of the Greek verb indicates that the Jewish leaders were questioning them at that time. They started questioning them in 4:7.

today: You should put the time word, today, where it will be most natural for your translation.

about: Here this word introduces the basis for the questions from the leaders. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

concerning (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
because of (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
for (New International Version)

a kind service to a man who was lame: This phrase in Greek is more literally “a kindness of a handicapped man.” Notice that there is no verb in Greek.

This phrase refers to the time Peter and John healed the crippled beggar in 3:1–10. Here are some other ways to translate it:

• Add a passive verb. For example:

the good deed done to the lame man (Good News Translation)

• Add an active verb. For example:

the good we did for a crippled man (God’s Word)
-or-
how we helped a crippled man

a kind service: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a kind service can also be translated as “good deed.” This good deed refers to the miraculous healing that Peter and John did. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

good thing (New Century Version)
-or-
kind deed (Contemporary English Version)

a man who was lame: This phrase in Greek is more literally “a sick/feeble man.” The Greek refers to anything that causes someone to not be able to do normal things. It refers to the lame man (3:2) here. For example:

someone who is sick (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
a man with a health problem

But many English versions make it clear here that it refers to the lame man, like the Berean Standard Bible does, because it has been many verses since he was mentioned.

4:9b

to determine how he was healed: The Greek is literally “in which this-one has been healed.” It refers to how the lame man was healed. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

by what means this man has been healed (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
as to how this man has been made well (New American Standard Bible)

to determine: This verb is not in Greek (see above). The Berean Standard Bible has added the words to determine to introduce “how he was healed” in a more understandable way in English. If you choose to add a verb, here are some ways to translate this clause:

• Add a passive verb as the Berean Standard Bible. For example:

and are asked how this man has been healed (New Revised Standard Version)

• Add an active verb. For example:

you…are asking us how he was healed (New Jerusalem Bible)

he was healed: This clause is passive. Peter was probably thinking that God did the healing. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ healed this man
-or-

⌊God⌋ has made this man well

was healed: The Greek tense indicates that this man was healed before this time when Peter was speaking. For example:

has been healed (Revised Standard Version)

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