As a result of what the apostles were doing translates one Greek word meaning “so that.” However, it is most likely that verses 12b-14 are to be understood as a parenthetical statement, and that “so that” in this verse refers back to the first part of verse 12. A number of commentators understand the connection in this fashion and some translators have made this relationship explicit (see Jerusalem Bible, An American Translation*, Moffatt). On the other hand, there are some who think that the result clause should be connected with the description of the high regard in which the Christians were held (as mentioned in v. 13).

In some languages the transitional clause (the first clause in the Good News Translation rendering) can be rendered as “because of all that was happening” or “because of the miracles which the apostles were doing” (making the reference specifically to v. 12a).

If there is any distinction made between the words beds and mats, it is that the second of these terms refers to a poor man’s bed or mattress. Luke does not state explicitly that the people over whom Peter’s shadow passed were healed, but he writes in such a fashion as to make this clearly implicit in the text. Nor does he make clear who carried out the sick persons, though it is thought by a number of commentators that the non-Christian community is intended.

If the agent of carried out must be specified, then one can employ a phrase such as “the people there” or even “many people,” with the resulting active rendering “the people there carried members of their family who were sick out in the streets….” It is to be assumed that those who carried people out in the streets would be at least members of the same household.

The expression his shadow might fall on some of them can be rendered in some languages as “his shadow might touch some of them” or “his shadow might pass over them.”

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 .