A Semitic idiom (“with an order we ordered you”) lies behind the translation we gave you strict orders; and the verb “order” is used in a technical sense in the papyri of a summons to court or a court injunction.

The phrase teach in the name of this man is difficult to render in some languages. One equivalent is “teach the people on the authority of this man” or “teach the people on the authority of Jesus” (since “this man” may be misleading). In other languages the closest equivalent is “teach what this man taught,” since this may be the only way in which the authority of the original teacher can be indicated clearly. In still other instances one may use “teach what this man said should be taught.”

But see what you have done translates the same particle as used in verse 25 above.

In some languages spread your teaching is an impossible combination, therefore an equivalent such as “cause people all over Jerusalem to hear your teaching” may be employed.

You want to make us responsible for his death is literally “you want to bring on us the blood of this man,” which is simply a Semitic way of saying exactly what the Good News Translation has said in English. This clause may be expressed in other languages as “you want to blame us because he died” or “you want to say, You caused him to die.”

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 .