Paragraph 24:19–24
24:19a
What things?: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as What things? is a plural form of the question word “What?” Jesus used the question to ask Cleopas which events he was referring to in 24:18. In some languages it is necessary to make this question more explicit. For example:
What things ⌊have happened⌋?
-or-
Which events ⌊are you(plur) talking about⌋?
In other languages, a short question is natural, but a different word or phrase may be used. For example:
Which?
-or-
What happened? (God’s Word)
Translate the question in a natural way in your language.
He asked: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He asked is literally “and he said to them.” It begins this verse. Translate it in a natural way and place it where it is natural in your language.
24:19b
The events involving Jesus of Nazareth: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as The events involving Jesus of Nazareth is more literally “the things about Jesus of Nazareth.” In some languages it may be natural to translate this answer as a complete sentence. For example:
⌊We
(dual/excl) are talking⌋ about the things/events ⌊that happened to⌋ Jesus from Nazareth.
Jesus of Nazareth: The phrase Jesus of Nazareth means “Jesus who is from the town of Nazareth.” The phrase of Nazareth (literally “the Nazarene”) distinguished him from other men who were also named Jesus. He was the man named Jesus who was from Nazareth. The phrase Jesus of Nazareth also occurred in 18:37. You should translate it in a similar way here.
they answered: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they answered is literally, “and they said to him.” It occurs at the beginning of 24:19b. Place it where it is natural in your language.
This phrase introduces what the two disciples said in 24:19c–24. It does not imply that both disciples spoke at the same time in unison. It probably implies that each disciple said some of the statements. It also implies that the two disciples agreed in what they told Jesus. Use a phrase that implies this in your language.
24:19c
This man was a prophet, powerful in speech and action: This statement implies that Jesus was powerful in speech and action because he was a prophet from God. God gave him authority to speak for him and to do things by his power. The things that Jesus said and did affected people powerfully. For example, he healed sick people, made blind people see, calmed a storm, and raised a child from death. He commanded demons to leave people and the demons obeyed. He spoke with such wisdom that none of his enemies was able to prove him wrong.
Some ways to translate this statement are:
By what he did and said he showed that he was a powerful prophet (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
He was a prophet of God…He had great power to teach and he had great power also to do miracles.
-or-
⌊God sent⌋ him as a prophet. He used the authority God gave him to do powerful ⌊good⌋ works and speak ⌊God’s⌋ message/words
a prophet: A prophet is a man who speaks on behalf of God. He tells people what God reveals to him. The disciples implied that Jesus was a prophet like the prophets in the Old Testament. Some other ways to translate prophet in this context are:
a spokesman for God
-or-
God’s message-speaker
-or-
a person who spoke with God’s authority
The word prophet also occurred in 20:6, where it referred to John the Baptist. See how you translated it there. For more information, see prophet in the Glossary.
speech and action: In Greek this phrase is literally “deed and word.” Use the order that is natural in your language.
24:19d
before God and all the people: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as before God and all the people means “in the opinion of God and all the people.” In this verse it indicates that God and all the people believed that Jesus was a prophet who was powerful in his deeds and words. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
in the estimation/opinion of God and all the people
-or-
from God’s viewpoint and the viewpoint of the people
In some languages it may be more natural to translate this meaning with a clause or verb phrase. This clause may be either active or passive. For example:
who pleased God and all the people (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
who was approved/respected by God and all the people
In some languages it may necessary to use one phrase to describe God’s viewpoint and a different phrase to describe the viewpoint of the people. For example:
God approved him, and the people respected/accepted him.
In some languages it may be necessary to change the order of 24:19c and 24:19d. See the General Comment on 24:19c–d for an example.
before…all the people: The phrase all the people refers here to the Jewish people. The disciples used it to indicate that many Jewish people thought that Jesus was a mighty prophet. The disciples did not mean that literally all the Jewish people thought that. The statement refers to the people in general. It indicates that many of the Jewish people admitted that Jesus had great authority. Another way to translate this is:
in the judgment/minds of the people
General Comment on 24:19c–d
In some languages it may be necessary to reverse the order of 24:19c and 24:19d. For example:
19dBoth God and people esteemed him 19cas a prophet powerful in both deed and word.
-or-
19dconsidered by God and by all the people 19cto be powerful in everything he said and did. (Good News Translation)
Notice that the first example uses an active verb, and the second example uses a passive verb.
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