Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Acts 3:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 3:16:

  • Uma: “[It is] power from the name of that Yesus that made strong the feet of that lame person there. So, this person you see and know, became well because of his faith in Yesus. From faith in Yesus, that why he has become healed, as you can see.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Na, it is the power of Isa hep that has given strength to this man who was crippled,’ Petros said. ‘You see him and you recognize him. The reason he is healed is because we (excl.) trust in Isa. Yes, it is our (excl.) trust in Isa hep that has healed this man in the sight/presence of you all.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the thing which cured this person who could not walk was the power of the name of Jesus. This person whom you all know whom you see right now, because of our faith in Jesus, this person was healed before you because we (excl.) trust the power of the name of Jesus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The power of Jesus’ name and our (excl.) trust in him is what-made-this man -strong whom you see and know. Jesus also is the-one-who-strengthened his mind/thoughts to trust in him, therefore his lameness was absolutely removed as you all are seeing.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well now, as for this lame person you can see whom you know indeed, he was made well through the supernatural-power of Jesus. Yes indeed, through the strength of our (excl.) believing/obeying and trusting in that Jesus, he made this person completely well here in your presence.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “This man who was lame you see and know. God healed him because we believe in the name of Jesus. Because we believe in Jesus, he healed this man perfectly before you.”
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “With the authority of Jesus this man whom you know has been healed, because he believed in him. He believed in Jesus and that’s why he has been healed as you see.”
  • Coatlán Mixe: “This Jesus is the one in whose authority we spoke, believing in him. He is the one who has healed (made strong) this man whom you know. Because he believed in Jesus, that is what has healed him very well as you all are able to see.” (Source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 7:26)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 7:26:

  • Uma: “‘The next day he also saw two men fighting, both Israel people. So, because he wanted to make them at peace, that’s why he said to them: ‘Why are you fighting, you who are relatives?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The next morning, he saw two people of Isra’il having a fist fight. He wanted to reconcile them. ‘Friends,’ he said, ‘you are equally of the tribe of Isra’il. Why do you beat/inflict-pain-on one another?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the next day Moses returned, and he saw two Jews who were fighting. He wanted to settle the problem between the two, and he said, ‘Brothers, don’t fight because you are brethren.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When it was the next day (lit. again light), he came-upon two descendants of Israel who were fighting, and he tried to stop-them -fighting saying, ‘Companions, how-come you are hurting-one-another? You are brothers after-all!'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Next day, he saw two of his own people who were fighting. He approached them to stop (them), so that they would settle-their-differences. He said, ‘Expl.! Don’t fight for you are of one blood.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Lalana Chinantec: “It was on a previous day that that happened that Moses went again to see his companions. He met two of his companions who were there fighting. Moses wanted them no longer to fight. He told his companions, ‘You’re of the same type, why are you mistreating your companion?’ That’s what Moses said.”
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “The next day Moses found two Israelites fighting. He wanted to stop them. He said to them, ‘Listen. You are brothers. Why are you fighting?'” (Source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 2:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 2:5:

  • Uma: “At that time also, there were in Yerusalem many Yahudi from towns all over the world. Those people were all ones who submitted to Lord God.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “At that time there were in Awrusalam Yahudi from the-many-countries in the world. They were very religious people.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And there were Jews there in Jerusalem who had come from every country here on top of the earth, and they were faithful in carrying out the commands of God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There were Jews who were serving God who were staying in Jerusalem. They were from all the nations in this world.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, at that time, there were in Jerusalem Jews who came from many different lands here under the heavens. As for those people, they were indeed devout-worshippers of God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “At the same time, there in Jerusalem, there were some godly Jews who came-from the different nations of the whole world.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Mairasi: “At that time Yehudi people, from the various villages and languages of this whole who honored Above-One, lived in Yerusalem.” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Bariai: “And in that day, some people of Iuda who respected God were living in the areas of all tribes on earth, and they went to Ierusalem for the feast and so were visitors.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Kupsabiny: “There were some Jews in Jerusalem who had dedicated themselves to God. They came from different parts of the world.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Desano: “In those days there were many people in the city of Jerusalem from all parts of the world. They had the same belief in God that the Jews did.”
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “At that time Jews who believed very much went to the town of Jerusalem. They had come from all other nations.”
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “A number of people of the race of Israel who obeyed what was established in God’s law had come from all over the world and were in the city of Jerusalem that day.” (Source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation

    • August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 3:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 3:17:

  • Uma: “‘Relatives! You yourselves with our leaders are the ones that killed Yesus. But I know, that which you did, you did because you [of course] did not know its meaning.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘My brothers,’ Petros said, ‘I know that what you and your leaders did to Isa, you did/happened-to-do because you were ignorant.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And now, Brethren, I know that you and those over us (incl.), you did this bad thing to Jesus because you did not know who he was.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘You companions, I admittedly know that when you had-Jesus -killed, you did not know that he was the one God sent. Even your leaders, they also did not know.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well now, brethren, I know that you didn’t comprehend, neither did our leaders, who Jesus really is, that’s why you did this evil.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Lalana Chinantec: “Companions, I know that you didn’t realize what you were doing. The same is true of your rulers also.”
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “And now I know that you killed him because you didn’t know what you were doing as also your authorities did not know what they did.” (Source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 7:55)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 7:55:

  • Uma: “From there, Stefanus was controlled by the Holy Spirit, and he gazed up to the sky. He saw the power of God, and he also saw Yesus standing at the right side of God.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But Estepan was controlled by the Holy Spirit; he looked up to the sky and he saw the brightness/glory of God and Isa standing on God’s right-hand side.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Stephen was thoroughly inspired of the Holy Spirit, and he looked up to heaven and he saw the powerful shining of God. And he saw also there Jesus who was standing at the right side of God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But Esteban, he was full of the power of the Holy Spirit. He looked-upward to heaven, and he saw the brightness of God and Jesus standing at his right-side.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But as for Esteban, through the strength of the Espiritu Santo indwelling him, he looked up to heaven, and he saw the far-from-ordinary glory of God. He also saw Jesus standing at the right side of God the Father.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “But in Stephen’s heart the Holy Spirit was ruling. When Stephen looked up to heaven he saw the light of God. He saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 2:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 2:16:

  • Uma: “What has happened here, is the fulfillment of what the Lord God foretold ahead-of-time long ago, with the lips of Nabi Yoel, like this its sound:” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But this that you see now,’ he said, ‘has been foretold by Nabi Joel and now it is fulfilled. He said,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “This is what was prophesied long ago by the one inspired by God, Joel, because he said,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “What was-done to us (excl.) a short-while-ago, that was what Joel prophesied long ago saying,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “On the contrary, this which has happened today is the fulfilling of the written word of the prophet Joel, saying,” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “What you are seeing is what the prophet Joel wrote about in former times.”
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “This is happening as the prophet Joel who talked about God’s Word said in time past.”
  • Tepeuxila Cuicatec: “This is what spoke the prophet Joel who spoke of that which is to come.” (Source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 3:20)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 3:20:

  • Uma: “So relatives, repent from your sins and submit to the Lord God, so that he may forgive your sins. From there, the Lord God will strengthen your hearts and he will order Yesus to come to us. Because he is the one whom God decided upon from-the-start to become our Redeemer King.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then times of encouraging your livers will be coming/arriving from God, and he will send back into the world Isa, he is Almasi the one chosen to rule over you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And he will send here to us Jesus, who is the one he chose to rule over us.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because if you do that, God will cause-to-arrive a time of calming and strengthening of the mind/thoughts, and furthermore he will again send Jesus the Messiah whom he appointed previously to rule over us.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Provided you will do this, God will give you far-from-ordinary happiness and peace/protection of your mind/inner-being. And also, the day will come when he will again cause Jesu-Cristo to descend, that Savior whom God ordained to reign over us.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Chuj: “God will send again Jesus the second time because God has given remaining Christ’s office to be your savior.
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “Then he will send again Jesus, the one who is Christ, who was set apart for you since former times.
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “Then God will send Jesus Christ again. God chose him in order to save you from your sins.”
  • Rincón Zapotec: “God will send again Jesus, the Christ whom he designated since before to be your ruler.”
  • Tataltepec Chatino: “Then God will give orders to Jesus to come back again, Jesus whom God chose to be your boss.” (Source for this and three above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 11:26)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 11:26:

  • Uma: “When he had found him, he took him along to Antiokhia. Barnabas and Saulus stayed in Antiokhia for a year, always gathering with the believers in the Lord Yesus there, and they taught many people. It was at Antiokhia that the followers of Yesus were first named Kristen people.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When he had found him, he brought him back to Antiyok. The two of them stayed one year there with the ones trusting in Isa in Antiyok and they preached to very many people. It was there in that Antiyok where the disciples of Isa were first called people of Almasi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for one year the two of them were there together with the believers in Antioch, and they taught many people. And there in Antioch the followers were first titled Christians.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When he found him, they returned to Antiok. They spent-one-year there attending-the-congregation, and many also were the ones they were teaching. The disciples of Jesus in Antiok were the first who were called Cristiano.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Having found him, he caused him to accompany when he returned to Antioquia. And they reached one year there, fellowshipping with and teaching that crowd of believers. Many indeed were those they taught. As for the believers there in Antioquia, they were the first ones to be called Cristiano, which means, united/tied-together with Cristo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “Barnabas and Saul one-yeared there among the believers. They taught many. People called the believers Christians. So then they were called Christians first in the town of Antioch.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)