The word rendered Council (Greek “presbyterion”) is not the technical term used throughout Acts to refer to the Jewish Council, but in light of the way that Luke uses this word in Luke 22.66, the commentators agree that this is its meaning in the present passage. The parallel passages do not mention the Council, though they do refer to the High Priest (9.1) and chief priests (26.12). The High Priest and the whole Council can prove that I am telling the truth translates the Greek clause “as also the High Priest is bearing witness to me and the whole Council.” In Greek it is not uncommon for a compound subject to have a verb which agrees with the first subject, to which the second subject is joined by the connective “and.”

In the present context, “to bear witness” means “to give evidence in support of (what Paul is saying).” Moreover, since the High Priest and the whole Council are not there to give their testimony in behalf of Paul, it is evident that the verb means “they can give testimony.” In light of these observations, the Good News Translation has translated the verb phrase “are bearing me witness” as can prove that I am telling the truth. (See also Barclay “can provide evidence,” Moffatt and Jerusalem Bible “can testify,” and An American Translation* “will bear me witness.”) Can prove that I am telling the truth may be rendered in some languages as direct discourse—for example, “can tell you, This man Paul is telling the truth.”

Obviously, “the brothers in Damascus” are Jewish brothers (see Barclay “brother Jews”; New English Bible “fellow-Jews”).

I received from them letters may also be rendered as “they gave me letters,” and the Jewish brothers are “fellow Jews” or “those who are also Jews.”

There may be some slight ambiguity in the expression these people. Therefore, in some languages it may be necessary to say “the people of the Way” in order to make it perfectly clear that this is likewise a reference to those who are mentioned the first part of verse 4.

In a number of languages one does not “bring people back in chains” but “bring them back bound with chains.”

The passive expression to be punished may be rendered as “so that the officers would punish them” or “so that the Council would cause them to suffer.”

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 .