Paragraph 5:40–42

5:40a

These words are at the end of 5:39 in the UBS Handbook Greek New Testament. Some English versions have it there, but some have it here, as the Berean Standard Bible does. You should follow where it is in the major language version in your area.

At this, they yielded to Gamaliel: The Greek clause is more literally “and they were persuaded by him.” It puts the focus on the Jewish leaders. For example:

They were convinced by him (New Revised Standard Version)

The Greek clause is passive. Some languages must translate with an active clause. If possible keep the focus on the Jewish leaders (“them”). For example:

As for them, he convinced them
-or-
He convinced them (NET Bible)

they yielded to Gamaliel: This probably connects to 5:33 (“they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death”). Gamaliel did not convince them to leave the apostles alone (5:38), at least not completely, neither here nor in later chapters. Some languages must say what Gamaliel convinced them of. For example:

they yielded to Gamaliel ⌊and did not kill them⌋

5:40b

They called the apostles in: This refers to the Jewish leaders telling someone (perhaps a servant or a temple guard), who then went and brought the apostles back into the room.

had them flogged: The Greek is more literally “beat/flogged them.” But the Jewish leaders most likely commanded the temple guards to flog the apostles rather than do that themselves. Some languages can follow the Greek and have the correct meaning. For example:

flogged them (TLV)
-or-
beat them (God’s Word)

The Berean Standard Bible and many English versions add the word had to indicate that the leaders did not flog the apostles themselves. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

commanded that they be flogged and they were
-or-
commanded that they be flogged and ⌊someone⌋ did

flogged: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as flogged can refer to beating someone with the hand or fist, with a rod, or whipping with a whip. Here it was probably whipping with a whip. The whip was probably thin strips of animal skin, which could cut into the skin of the person being whipped, depending on how hard the person with the whip swung it. Translate in a way that indicates or implies a whip. For example:

whipped

The person whipping them probably whipped them each more than once. It is not known how many times each apostle was whipped, but it would have been less than forty times each. Some languages must say that each apostle was whipped more than once. For example:

repeatedly-whipped

5:40c

to speak in the name of Jesus: Here this phrase means “to speak representing Jesus and speak on his behalf.” Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

not to speak on behalf of Jesus
-or-
not to speak in the authority of Jesus

5:40d

released them: This indicates that the leaders allowed the apostles to leave the meeting room of the Sanhedrin. It implies that the apostles were free to go where they wanted to.

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