The literal expression “opening (the Scriptures)” should be taken to mean “explaining,” “interpreting,” or “expounding” them. However, in some languages one cannot use the phrase “explain the Scriptures.” One can only “explain what the Scriptures say,” in other words, the content of the writings, not the writings themselves. An expression for explaining may be simply “say what it means” or “make it clear.”

Proving from them (that is, the Scriptures) is taken by some in the sense of “quoting passages to prove” (see Barclay, Moffatt). In rendering the phrase proving from them it may be necessary to employ rather extensive restructuring—for example, “reading the words of the Scriptures and showing to the people that it was necessary therefore that…” or “showing to the people that the words of the Scriptures meant that….”

The concept of obligation or necessity suggested by the clause that the Messiah had to suffer, and rise from death is difficult to express in some languages since the usual expression for necessity would indicate that Jesus was compelled by Roman authorities to suffer death. This is true, but it is not what is meant by this first portion of verse 3. What Paul is saying is that the Scriptures showed that the Messiah would suffer and then rise from death, and it was the fulfillment of that prophecy which was important. Therefore in many languages one must simply translate “he showed from the Scriptures that the Messiah would suffer and be raised from death.”

Announce may be rendered as “tell you about for the first time” or “whom I am just now telling you about.”

Since the second half of verse 3 is in direct discourse, it is often important to introduce Paul as the speaker. It is evident that in the present context “the Christ” is to be taken in the sense of a title rather than with the meaning of a proper name. Accordingly, the Good News Translation has translated the Messiah (so New English Bible, Moffatt, Barclay), rendered in some languages as “God’s specially commissioned one” or “the one whom God chose to send.”

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 .