Exegesis:

kai tinōn legontōn peri tou hierou ‘and when some people said about the temple….’ No direct connexion with what precedes as to time and place is stated, nor is it indicated to whom tinōn refers.

hoti lithois kalois kai anathēmasin kekosmētai .’.. that it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive offerings.’ lithois kalois refers to materials used when the buildings were erected anathēmasin to later decorative additions.

anathēma ‘votive offerings,’ refers to special gifts from individuals.

kosmeō (cf. 11.25) here ‘to decorate,’ ‘to adorn.’

Translation:

As some spoke … he said, or co-ordinated, ‘Some spoke…. Then he/Jesus said,’ addressing himself to those present in general, probably.

How it was adorned with noble stones … gives the contents of what they said about the temple. Making explicit the implied direct discourse one may say, therefore, something like, ‘saying (or, and they said), “Look, it is adorned with noble stones…!” .’ An alternative solution is to shift from a clause to a noun with qualifying clause or phrase, e.g. ‘and (of) its decoration with costly stones…’ (cf. An American Translation), ‘and (about) the fine stones with which it was adorned (cf. New English Bible), or, which made it beautiful.’

Offerings, or, ‘gifts for God’ (Sranan Tongo), ‘beautiful things people had given to honour God.’

Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.