For some languages there is an additional problem of discourse in relaying the orders of the Roman authorities. One may therefore translate: “So the jailer said to Paul, The officials have ordered me, Let those men go.” However, it is better to employ some indirect discourse, if at all possible, so as not to produce two levels of direct discourse. This may be done either as in the Good News Translation or as “So the jailer told Paul that the officials had sent an order saying, Let those men go.”

A literal translation into English of the words spoken by the jailer to Paul may be misleading—for example, “the officials have sent an order for you to be released.” In Greek this was no problem, since the plural form of “you” was used. To represent this meaning for the English reader, the Good News Translation has translated for you and Silas. Most translators seem to understand the expression go in peace in one of three ways: (1) “go quietly away,” that is, leave without making any further disturbance; (2) “go unmolested” (An American Translation*), that is, you may leave without any further punishment; (3) “blessings on your journey” (New English Bible), or “and all good things go with you” (Barclay), that is, the Roman officials wish the Jewish prisoners a safe and happy journey, which in the context seems rather strange. The appropriate interpretation of the Greek expression in peace is to be found in the manner in which Paul speaks of being sent away “secretly” (v. 37).

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 .