Since in one way or another magic is a universal phenomenon, it is not difficult to find some expression which is adequate to translate practiced magic. In some instances it is necessary to describe certain kinds of magic since there are so many varieties and no general term to cover them all. One may, for example, use a phrase such as “hurt (or healed) people by using dark words” or “caused harm by using secret objects.”

It is essential to indicate that their books are those which refer to magical practice—for example, “the books which told them how to do this.”

In the presence of everyone may be rendered as “while all the people were watching” or “while everyone was looking on.”

Fifty thousand dollars is literally “fifty thousand (pieces) of silver.” The reference is to some silver coin, though the commentators are not in agreement as to which one Luke had in mind. The point is that the amount of money was very large, and so the Good News Translation has rendered this as fifty thousand dollars, probably the closest dynamic equivalent.

In translating fifty thousand dollars into some other language there are a number of possibilities. One may, for example, use a somewhat general term: “fifty thousand valuable silver coins.” This would carefully represent the Greek text, and since the particular size of coin is not stipulated, devaluations would not render the text meaningless, as has so often happened in various parts of the world where strictly local currencies were stipulated. It is perfectly legitimate to introduce the term “valuable” since any silver coin in ancient time had considerable more buying power than the equivalent sized coin would have today. One can also translate the fifty thousand dollars into some local currency (provided it is relatively stable); but in making all such adjustments in quantities, it is important to use rounded-off figures rather than attempt some precise or detailed calculations.

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 .