The Greek text of this verse is rather awkward, though the Good News Translation has translated it in such a way as to agree with most of the commentaries. In order to understand a problem in the next verse, it is necessary to point out something which the Good News Translation has done here. Provided everything … needed is literally “provided for (our) needs.” The first word in the Greek text of verse 35 is “all things,” and it has been taken by the Good News Translation and most other translations as related to the verb shown, that is, I have shown you in all things. According to this interpretation, Paul means that in every way possible, both by example and by teaching, he has shown them that by working hard in this way (they) must help the weak (v. 35). The translators of the New English Bible have evidently taken “all things” as the object of the verb “provided” or “earned” (v. 34), and so have translated: “these hands of mine earned enough for the needs of me and my companions.”

In most languages it is quite possible to say “I have worked with my hands,” but in other languages this seems to be a very strange and even meaningless combination, since as one works more than just the hands are involved. Therefore, it may be necessary to translate merely as “I have worked.” This combination of working and providing everything needed may be best expressed in some languages as “I have worked and earned enough money to buy what my companions and I have needed.” Otherwise, it might appear that Paul himself had personally made and grown all that was needed for this rather primitive community of people.

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 .