The Greek uses two different verbs which the Good News Translation has rendered know and know about, though it is possible that they had essentially the same meaning and were not intended to be differentiated. However, most translations make a distinction. If one wishes to distinguish between the two verbs for know, it is possible in some languages to employ a translation such as “I know who Jesus is and I have heard about Paul” or “I am acquainted with Jesus and I know who Paul is.”

The Good News Translation rendering but you—who are you? is designated to represent the strong emphasis in the Greek text. In other languages this may be expressed as “but who do you think you are?” or “but who in all the world are you?”

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 .