SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 27:17

27:17a

hoisting it up: This refers to lifting it out of the water and onto the deck of the ship. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

pulled it aboard (Good News Translation)
-or-
brought it onto the ship

27:17b

the crew used ropes to undergird the ship: The Greek clause probably indicates that the sailors dropped a loop of rope at the front of the ship and let the water push it back to the middle of the ship. This would allow them to encircle the ship with rope around its middle. They would do this several times and then tighten it to help hold the ship together during the high waves. If the purpose of undergirding the ship in this way is not clear, you may want to include some of this information as in some of the following translations:

then fastened some ropes tight around the ship (Good News Translation)
-or-
they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the sailors wrapped ropes around the ship to hold it together (Contemporary English Version)

the crew: This verse in Greek does not say who did this action, but it probably refers to the sailors. So, the Berean Standard Bible adds the phrase the crew. Other ways to translate the Greek phrase are:

they (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the sailors (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the men (New International Version)

27:17c

run aground on: This refers to the ship hitting the ground under shallow water. Other ways to translate this Greek phrase are:

hit (God’s Word)
-or-
land on

the sandbars of Syrtis: The name Syrtis refers to a place near the coast of Libya where sandbars were. So the Berean Standard Bible and some other versions add sandbars of to explain why it was an important place to sailors. They knew about Syrtis and were afraid of it. For example:

the Syrtis banks (New Jerusalem Bible)

sandbars: This refers to a lot of sand just under the surface of the water. The ship could hit a “sandbar” and stop suddenly. This could damage the ship. Waves pounding on it as it was stuck in the sand could also damage the ship. Other ways to translate this word are:

sandbanks (Good News Translation)
-or-
shallows (New American Standard Bible)

27:17d

they lowered the sea anchor: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sea anchor can be translated literally as “gear” or “things.” There are three ways to interpret it:

(1) It refers to a sea anchor. For example:

they floated out the sea–anchor (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) It refers to the main sail. For example:

they lowered the sail (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, King James Version, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(3) Do not interpret the word. For example:

they lowered the gear (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because they traveled very slowly to Malta. To travel that slowly in a gale requires something to slow the ship in deep water. Only a sea anchor can accomplish that. Also they would want the front (or possibly the back) of the boat to point toward the waves, and so sailors put out a sea anchor from the front or back of the ship to accomplish that. Interpretation (1) assumes that the sailors had already gathered and tied the sails so they did not catch the wind and possibly break the mast.

sea anchor: This refers to something that drags in the water to slow the ship. At that time for ships that sailed the Mediterranean Sea, it was probably a large piece of wood tied to a long rope with a weight at one end of the piece of wood and an empty barrel at the other end. The weight caused the wood to sink and the barrel prevented it from sinking too far. The other end of the rope was probably tied to the rear of the ship. The wood would drag through the water and slow the ship. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

drift anchor
-or-
the anchor that drags through the water
-or-
the device that slows the ship ⌊in a storm⌋

and were driven along: This phrase refers to the wind to pushing the ship in the direction of the wind. The clause were driven is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

let ⌊the wind⌋ drive the ship along
-or-
so ⌊the wind⌋ blew the ship ⌊in the direction it was blowing⌋
-or-
so ⌊the wind⌋ pushed the ship ⌊in the direction of the wind⌋

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 28:5

28:5

Paul shook the creature off into the fire: The snake’s fangs pierced Paul’s hand, so he needed to shake it loose. For example:

Paul shook the snake loose so that it fell into the fire

creature: The Greek word is literally “animal” as in 28:4a. You may want to translate the Greek word in the same way as you did in 28:4a, or call it “snake” here as the New International Version does.

and suffered no ill effects: The snake was poisonous, but God prevented its venom from harming Paul. Other ways to translate this clause are:

without being harmed at all (Good News Translation)
-or-
and was not hurt (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 1:12

Section 1:12–26

The believers chose Matthias to replace Judas

In this section, the believers were waiting for the Holy Spirit to come. They regularly prayed together. One day Peter said that they needed to choose a replacement for Judas. So they selected two men who had been with Jesus throughout his entire ministry. Then they asked God to help them know which of the two men he would choose. The method they used was to cast lots. (See 1:26 for this.) The lots indicated that God chose Matthias.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas (New International Version)
-or-
Judas’ Successor (Good News Translation)
-or-
Judas is replaced (New Jerusalem Bible)

Paragraph 1:12–14

1:12a

the Mount of Olives: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Mount of Olives are literally “the mountain/hill being-called of-olives.” People called it that because it had olive trees growing on it. It is about 85 meters (280 feet) above the city of Jerusalem, as it was at that time. Use the correct word for that size of a hill. It is next to the east side of the city.

If olive trees are not known in your area, you may want to:

• Use the word that means Olives from the major language. If this word is not well known, you may want to add a descriptive phrase. For example:

Olive Hill ⌊where those fruit trees are⌋
-or-
Hill of ⌊the⌋ olive ⌊trees⌋

• Use the word that means Olives from the major language. Describe the word in a footnote. For example:

The olive tree has a small (about 2.5 centimeters, or one inch), oval fruit with a smooth skin and a hard seed inside. The olive was an essential food in ancient times. It was pressed into oil that was used in cooking and in some rituals. The oil was also used as fuel for lamps and in medicine and cosmetics.

• Use a general word for fruit. For example:

Hill of fruit trees

See how you translated this phrase in Matthew 21:1, Mark 11:1, or Luke 19:29.

Olives: This kind of tree has a small (about 2.5 centimeters, or one inch), oval fruit with a smooth skin and a hard seed inside. The olive was an essential food in ancient times. It was pressed into oil that was used in cooking and in some rituals. The oil was also used as fuel for lamps and in medicine and cosmetics.

1:12b

a Sabbath day’s journey away: The phrase a Sabbath day’s journey refers to a distance of about one kilometer. It is the distance that Jewish laws allowed people to walk on a Sabbath, a Jewish rest day. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away (English Standard Version)
-or-
a short distance away, no more than a Sabbath walk (New Jerusalem Bible)

The word Sabbath here does not indicate that Jesus went to heaven on the Sabbath. So, you do not need to include Sabbath in your translation here. For example:

a half-hour walk from the city
-or-
a walk of a kilometer from the city
-or-
which is about half a mile away from the city (Good News Translation)

You may then want to explain the literal phrase in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

Literally “being a Sabbath’s journey.” It is the distance that Jewish laws allowed people to walk on a Sabbath, a Jewish rest day.

Sabbath: The word Sabbath is the name of the seventh and last day of the week for the Jews. The Sabbath was the special day of the week when the Jews rested and worshiped God. The Law of Moses said that the Jews must not do any work on that day (Deuteronomy 5:12–15).

Here are some ways to translate Sabbath:

the ⌊Jewish⌋ day of rest and worship
-or-
the day for resting and worshiping
-or-
the day to rest and worship God

If the word Sabbath is already known in your area, you may write it according to the sounds of your language. You may also want to include a phrase to explain the meaning. For example:

the Sabat, ⌊the Jews’ worship and rest day⌋

The term you choose should not make people think the Sabbath is on Sunday, the day when Christians worship. The Sabbath for the Jews began at sundown on Friday and ended at sundown on Saturday. You may want to include a footnote to give more information. For example:

“Sabbath” is the name for the seventh day of the Jews’ week. God told them to rest from work and worship him every week on that day.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2:18

2:18a

Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days: The word Even emphasizes the fact that God will pour his Spirit on his menservants and maidservants. Also, the Greek and the Berean Standard Bible place the phrases Even on My menservants and maidservants in the front position in the clause. That emphasizes those phrases. Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

Indeed, it is on my menservants and maidservants, that I will pour my Spirit in those days.
-or-
In those days, I will pour out my Spirit on my menservants and maidservants; yes, I will do that to all of them.

on My menservants and maidservants: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as on My menservants and maidservants is literally “on my male-slaves and on my female-slaves.” The word “slave” refers to people who belong to and obey someone. The difference between “slave” and “servant” is not important here. Many English versions use the word “servants” here. For example:

on my servants, both men and women (New International Version)
-or-
on my servants—men and women alike (New Living Translation (2004))

I will pour out My Spirit: You should translate this clause as you did in 2:17a.

in those days: This phrase refers to “the last days” of 2:17.

2:18b

and they will prophesy: God’s servants (2:18a) will prophesy as a result of God’s Spirit working in them. For example:

and ⌊so⌋ they will prophesy

prophesy: You should translate prophesy like you did in 2:17b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 3:4

3:4a–b

Peter looked directly at him, as did John: Peter and John responded to the man’s request by looking directly at him. This action showed that they wanted to talk to him. It does not mean they stared at him in disapproval.

In some languages a literal translation would have a wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

Peter looked at him, as did John
-or-
Peter turned to speak to him, and John turned too

The grammar here indicates that Peter is more important to the story than John. It is Peter who talked to the man, healed him, and spoke to the crowd.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 4:10

4:10a

then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: The word then connects 4:10 to the “if” in 4:9. If you did not use “if” there, you may want to introduce 4:10 with “therefore” to indicate the connection to 4:9. See the first two examples at 4:9a–b.

let this be known: The Greek phrase here is an indirect command. But some languages cannot use an indirect command here and must translate it as a direct command. For example:

know this (New International Version)

this: The word this refers to what Peter was about to say.

all of you and to all the people of Israel: The members of the Jewish Council were also people of Israel, so you may need to add “other” before people. For example:

you and all the ⌊other⌋ people of Israel

4:10b–d_

It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…that this man stands before you healed: In the Greek and in the Berean Standard Bible the phrase by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is emphasized by being first in the sentence. In some languages it is more natural to have the by phrase after the main clause. For example:

This man stands before you healed by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth

4:10b

by the name of: The phrase by the name of means “by the authority of.” Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

through the power of the name of (Good News Translation)
-or-
because of the power of (God’s Word)

Christ: The word Christ is used here as a title. It is not one of Jesus’ names. The Jews used this title to refer to the special person whom God had appointed and promised to send as king and savior. See how you translated this term in 2:31.

of Nazareth: Peter identified Jesus by naming his hometown, Nazareth. He was born in Bethlehem but grew up in Nazareth and still lived there when he began his ministry. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

from Nazareth (New Century Version)

4:10c_

whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead: The Berean Standard Bible adds the word but, because the second whom also refers to Jesus. In some languages the word “and” would be more natural. For example:

whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead

These two clauses tell the reader more about Jesus. They do not separate Jesus from other men named Jesus. For the correct meaning in some languages, translators must avoid the word whom. For example:

You crucified Jesus Christ of Nazareth and/but God raised him from the dead. It is in name of Jesus that this man stands…

whom you crucified: Roman soldiers had crucified Jesus, but Peter blamed the Jewish leaders of killing him, because they demanded that Pilate have him killed. They were responsible for Jesus being killed.

crucified: The word crucified refers to killing someone by nailing or tying him to a cross made of wood, then setting the cross upright and waiting until the person died. This was a Roman way to cause criminals to die a slow and painful death. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

killed/executed on a cross
-or-
nailed/tied to a cross ⌊to kill him⌋

killed by nailing to a plank/wood of death
-or-
killed on crossed beam(s) of death

whom God raised from the dead: The phrase from the dead indicates that Jesus was among the dead people but then God raised him and caused him to be alive again.

God: This word refers here to the eternal spirit who created everything. See how you translated this word in 1:3.

4:10d

that this man stands before you healed: The phrase this man stands before you indicates that the man was standing with Peter and John in front of the Sanhedrin. It describes the man as standing there. Then Peter indicates that he is healed. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

this man standing before you; he is well/healthy
-or-
this man who stands before you was/is healed

healed: The Greek adjective that the Berean Standard Bible translates as healed indicates that the man was completely healthy and well. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

well (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
with a healthy body (God’s Word)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 5:5

5:5a

Ananias fell down and died: This probably indicates that Ananias died while standing then his body fell to the ground. Here are some other ways to translate this:

he fell down dead (Good News Translation)
-or-
he dropped dead (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he suddenly died and his body fell to the ground

5:5b

great fear came over all who heard what had happened: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as came over indicates that these people became very fearful. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

great fear seized all who heard what had happened (New International Version)
-or-
all who heard about it were terrified (Good News Translation)

all who heard what had happened: The Greek is more literally “all the ones hearing.” There are two ways to interpret to whom this refers:

(1) It refers to those who heard the whole story of Ananias with Peter (5:2b–5a). It includes people who were there and other people who heard soon after. For example:

all who heard of it (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New International Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) It refers to hearing Ananias fall down dead (5:5a). It includes only the people who were there. For example:

everyone present (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible)

Interpretation (2) is possible, but it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because most scholars support it as well.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 5:37

5:37a

After him: The Greek is more literally “after this(masculine).” The word “this(masculine)” probably refers to Theudas (5:36). The phrase then refers to some time after Theudas died. For example:

After this man (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
After that man (God’s Word)

Judas the Galilean: This Judas was a different man than Judas Iscariot. If you think that readers of your translation will confuse the two men, you may want to explain in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This man was a different man than Judas Iscariot.

the Galilean: This indicates that this Judas lived in the land of Galilee. Here are some other ways to translate this:

of Galilee (King James Version)
-or-
from Galilee (God’s Word)
-or-
a Galilee man

appeared: This is the same word as the word that the Berean Standard Bible translated as “rose up” in 5:36a. See how you translated this word there.

in the days of the census: Here the phrase in the days of means that this Judas rebelled during the time that the Romans were going around and taking this census. Roman officials took this census in Judea in AD 6. It was done about ten years after the one that Luke wrote about in Luke 2:1–2. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

during the time of the census (Good News Translation)
-or-
at the time of the census (Revised English Bible)

The Romans probably took the census over some weeks or months.

census: This word refers to when the Roman government registered all people in a province. They usually did this to determine how much tax had to be collected from that province. See how you translated the similar Greek word in Luke 2:2 that the Berean Standard Bible also translates as “census.”

5:37b

drew away people after him: This Judas persuaded some people to rebel against the Roman rule over the Jews. Here are some other ways to translate this:

caused people to follow him in revolt (LEB)
-or-
led some people to oppose the ⌊Roman⌋ government ⌊over the Jews⌋

people:
The Greek article usually translated as “the” is not present, often implying “some,” as it does here. Here are some other ways to translate this Greek word:

people (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
some of the people (Revised Standard Version)

5:37c

He too perished: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as perished means “die in a violent or untimely way.” The Romans probably killed him. Here are some other ways to translate this:

He too was killed (New International Version)
-or-
he also died a violent death

too: Here this word indicates that the situation of Judas the Galilean was similar of Theudas. Both were killed for rebelling. Here is another way to translate this:

also (Revised Standard Version)

all his followers were scattered: The clause is passive. Some languages must translate it as an active clause. For example:

⌊soldiers⌋ scattered all his followers

all his followers: See how you translated this phrase in 5:36c.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021