They said to him may be made more specific in some languages as “the local Jewish leaders said to Paul” or “the local Jewish leaders responded.”

In this context our brothers is, of course, “fellow Jews.”

Of the two expressions come … with any news and or to say anything, the first refers to an official and the second to a private communication. The Revised Standard Version translates these as “reported or spoken,” and the Jerusalem Bible “with any report or story.”

Say anything bad about may be equivalent to “say that you have done anything bad,” “say bad words about your reputation,” or “put bad words upon your name.”

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 .