This verse begins with the participle “and saying” (see King James Version “crying out, and saying”). This represents Hebraic usage, but it is redundant for the English reader, and therefore practically all modern translations omit it.

Human begins like you translates an adjective which means “of similar feelings” or “of the same nature.” In the context the word is employed to show that the apostles are merely human in the same way other men are. It is thus parallel to the previous statement we are just men.

In some languages it may be useful to reverse the order suggested in the Good News Translation just men, human beings like you. One may have, for example, “we are just like you; we also are men.” This, however, may seem relatively strange in some languages, and therefore a more vivid contrast may be necessary—for example, “we are men like you; we are not gods.” Only in this way can the contrast between their previously given names and their actual humanity be specifically indicated.

As in other contexts, it may be necessary to specify the content of the Good News—for example, “the Good News about Jesus.”

These worthless things is a term used in the Septuagint to refer to idols, and it may have that specific meaning in the present context (see Jerusalem Bible “empty idols”). Although the definite article “the” does not appear in the Greek text, the translation should be to the living God rather than “to a living God” (Revised Standard Version), which might imply that there were several living gods, something which could never be true in Jewish or Christian thinking.

The expression to turn you away from … to … implies considerable ellipsis, and it may be necessary to fill out the implied events and relationships—for example, “to turn you away from worshipping these worthless objects and to cause you to worship the living God” or “to cause you no longer to worship in this way which has no value, but to cause you to worship the living God.”

The attributive living may be rendered as a qualifying clause, “God who lives” or “God who is alive.”

The terms heaven, earth, sea represent the three divisions of the universe as recognized by ancient peoples. In many languages it is necessary to distinguish between “heaven” as “the abode of God” and “the sky.” It is this latter meaning which is implied in this context.

Some languages are not able to employ a general expression such as all that is in them. Rather, they must specify whether these objects are persons, animals, or plants. If in a particular language it is necessary to be more specific, one can then say “persons, animals, and plants,” since this would include the totality of creation. From the biblical viewpoint celestial beings were also included, but it is not necessary to be that specific, particularly in view of the very general way in which the creation is referred to.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .