To gain favor with is the same verb which appears in 24.27.

Inasmuch as the crime which Paul was accused of committing took place in Jerusalem, it was quite natural for Festus to ask Paul if he were willing to go there and be put on trial. Before me is emphatic in the Greek sentence structure. Be tried on these charges before me may be rendered as “have me judge these charges against you” or “have me judge if what they say against you is true.”

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 .

According to 9.4 only Paul fell down, while here it is stated all of us fell to the ground. It is explicitly stated here that Saul (Paul) was spoken to in the Hebrew language, while in 9.4 and 22.7 only the use of the word Saul implies this fact.

“It is hard for you to kick against the stick” must be understood in the sense of “you hurt yourself by kicking against the stick.” The kind of stick referred to was a sharp-pointed stick used by a person goading an ox or a donkey while working. What appears as a metaphor in Greek is rendered here as a kind of simile, since it would be difficult for the average person to understand what is really involved in an ox kicking against its owner’s stick and how this might apply to an individual.

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 .

It hit the ship may need to be somewhat altered in some languages since winds cannot be spoken of as “hitting anything”; therefore, “the wind blew against the ship” or “the wind caused the ship to shake” (as a means of describing the suddenness with which the wind came upon the ship).

In an effort to bring the ship back into the harbor, the place called Safe Harbors, the sailors apparently tried to head the ship into the wind. Since they found this to be impossible, they had to let the ship be carried along by the wind.

In the Greek sentence there is a phrase which may be understood either in the sense of “into the wind” or “by the wind.” At first glance it may seem as if the Good News Translation has translated this phrase twice, but that is not the case. This phrase is rendered in the Good News Translation by into the wind, while by the wind is the means whereby the Good News Translation has made explicit what it was that carried (the ship) along.

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 .

A snake came out must sometimes be specified as “a snake came out of the bundle of sticks.”

Fastened itself to must be understood in the sense of “bit and kept hanging onto.”

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 .

My brothers translates the expression “men brothers.” Since in this phrase the word “men” is used in a general sense and does not exclude women, it is best left untranslated (see also fellow Jews, literally “men Jews,” 2.14; men of Israel, literally “men Israelites,” 2.22; and brothers, literally “men brothers,” 2.29).

An expression such as my brothers may cause considerable difficulty in languages in which a term for “brother” is not generalized. In these instances one can often generalize a term for “relative, kinsman,” or “companion.” This must, of course, be a term which can include women.

The scripture refers to a passage or a text of Scripture rather than to the entire Old Testament.

Had to (literally “it was necessary” or “it had to be”) is used here, as in many other passages of the New Testament, to denote something necessary in the purpose of God. The tense of the verb indicates that this necessity had already been accomplished at the time that Peter speaks, that is, it was brought about by the actions of Judas.

In order to specify that the scripture consisted of some passages of the Old Testament, one can often use a term such as “holy writings” or “writings of God” without, of course, implying that God himself actually wrote the documents.

Come true (see also New English Bible and Phillips) is rendered by most translations as “be fulfilled.” The root idea of the verb is that of filling something, but it is here used in the extended sense of “give full meaning to” or “make come true.” The primary meanings of the Scripture passages to which Peter has reference (see v. 20 below) are to be found in their original Old Testament setting. But because the character and actions of Judas are similar to those reflected in these passages from the Psalms, Peter can say that these Scriptures apply to Judas. This is quite typical of the manner in which the first Christians interpreted the Old Testament; they read it in light of the things which had taken place in connection with the life and ministry of Jesus.

What is really difficult about this verse is the association of ideas in an order which is not easy to communicate in other languages. At the same time, one should attempt to preserve the focus of concern, namely, the fact that Scriptures had to come true. This can often be done by introducing first a general statement, to be followed by an explanation which provides the remaining data in a more extended form. For example, the first clause can be rendered as “what is written in the holy Scriptures had to happen” or “it was necessary that the words in the Scriptures should prove to be true.” Then one can refer to the contents of the rest of the verse in such a manner as to preserve as much as possible of the historical order, for example, “The Holy Spirit caused David to speak about Judas. He told ahead of time what Judas would do, this Judas who guided the men who came to arrest Jesus.”

The secondary agent, that is, speaking through David, is often best reproduced as a causative statement, for example, “caused David to speak.”

Predicted is merely “said in advance what was going to happen” or “what Judas would do.”

A term for guide is normally quite easy, for example, “man who showed the way to” or “person who guided the men to Jesus.”

Arrested refers to a rather formal procedure, relatively well-known in most societies. But if there is no definite expression for “arrest,” one can always use “tied him up and led him away.”

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 .

The statement which introduces the direct discourse should indicate clearly that David is speaking about Jesus. In some languages the proper name must be introduced. I saw is translated by some translations “I foresaw”; but it is best to take the form of the verb in the sense of “to see (in front of oneself)” rather than “to see beforehand.”

The term for Lord must, of course, be the regular expression used in speaking of Jesus as Lord, for this is the contextual setting of this New Testament usage.

There is a problem in some languages in the shift of figurative usage in before me and by my right side, for people argue that he cannot be in two places at the same time. However, since by my right side refers primarily to a position taken by one who wishes to help and sustain another, it is entirely appropriate that this be rendered as “with me.” This makes it possible to preserve the sense of location without introducing seemingly contradictory expressions.

The clause so that I will not be troubled may be shifted into the active form as “so that people will not trouble me” or “so that people will not be able to trouble me” (some languages require the indication of potentiality in such a result clause projected into the future).

In most languages one can speak of an organ such as the heart (though the equivalent may be “liver,” “kidneys,” or “stomach”) as being “glad.” In fact, there may be a regular idiom for such an emotion, for example, “my heart is warm,” “my heart dances,” or “my heart is cool”; but in some languages only a “person can be glad in his heart.” Under such circumstances, the translation needs to be appropriately adapted.

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 .

The introductory clause as the man held on to Peter and John forms an excellent transition from the preceding paragraph, since it introduces all the principal participants and shows the continuing relation between the lame man, Peter, and John.

Though the Greek text introduces the concept of amazement by an adjective at the end of verse 11, it may be more satisfactory to change the order, as has been done in the Good News Translation, to indicate clearly the temporal sequence and the implied cause and effect.

The phrase ran to them may in some languages be better rendered as “ran to where they were.”

Solomon’s Porch was a type of roofed colonnade or portico. It is usually conjectured that it was the colonnade that ran the length of the east side of the outer court, but identification cannot be made with certainty. It is mentioned again in 5.12 and also in John 10.23.

The expression Solomon’s Porch may require a certain degree of elaboration if it is to be fully comprehended, for example, “a porch which was known as Solomon’s” or “a porch called by the people Solomon’s Porch.”

In some relatively primitive areas there is no construction which immediately parallels this type of colonnade. One can sometimes use a more general term such as “a long shelter” or “a roofed-over shelter.” In many areas such a shelter is constructed for special festivities and therefore the name of this type of even temporary construction can probably be employed as the closest natural equivalent. If the differences are too great then some type of marginal note is necessary.

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 .

The importance of the command for the disciples no longer to speak or to teach in the name of Jesus is that it now gives the legal basis for the further persecution recorded in the next chapter.

The contents of verse 18 are a conclusion to what has been recommended in verse 17 (hence the transitional particle so) and a transition to the following paragraph.

Inasmuch as the pronoun them in this context refers specifically to Peter and John, it is perhaps necessary to specify these individuals. Otherwise some may understand this to include the man who was healed. From the standpoint of the discourse structure, this is a somewhat awkward situation in that the lame man has been dropped from the episode without specific mention of what happened to him.

Many languages require the substance of what was told to Peter and John to be expressed in direct discourse, for example, “told them, In no way are you to speak or teach using the name of Jesus.”

Though the term name certainly figures prominently in this type of context, it may be necessary in some instances to translate as “you must under no circumstances speak or teach about Jesus.”

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 .