SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 24:8

24:8a

[ordering his accusers to come before you]: The pronoun his refers to Paul. The Jewish leaders accused Paul of starting riots (24:5). But Lysias sent Paul to Felix and told the Jewish leaders to go there for court.

24:8b

By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth: Here Tertullus claimed that if Felix questioned Paul about the events, he would learn that the accusations against Paul were true. Other ways to translate this clause are:

If you question this man, you yourself will be able to learn from him (Good News Translation)
-or-
By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
When you cross-examine him, you’ll be able to find out from him (God’s Word)

24:8c

about all our charges against him: This phrase in Greek is literally “of what we accuse him.” For example:

about everything of which we accuse him (Revised Standard Version)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 25:13

Paragraph 25:13–16

25:13a

King Agrippa: This is the son of King Herod (Agrippa) mentioned in Acts 12.

Bernice: This is the daughter of King Herod Agrippa mentioned in Acts 12. At this time she lived with her brother, King Agrippa II. In some languages, people will not know who Bernice was. If so, you may want to:

• Explain it in your translation. For example:

⌊his sister⌋ Bernice

• Include a footnote to explain. An example footnote is:

Bernice was the ⌊younger⌋ sister of King Agrippa.

See how you spelled this name in Acts 12.

25:13b

to pay their respects to Festus: Here the phrase pay…respects refers to officially greeting a leader and beginning a relationship with him. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

to ⌊officially⌋ welcome Festus
-or-
a courtesy visit to Festus (Revised English Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 26:18

26:18a

to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light: There are two ways to interpret the connection of the two clauses here:

(1) Opening the eyes is the purpose of sending Paul (26:17b), and turning the people from darkness to light is the purpose of opening their eyes. For example:

to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light (Revised Standard Version)

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

(2) Both opening the eyes and turning the people from darkness to light are purposes for sending Paul. For example:

to open their eyes and turn them from the darkness to the light (Good News Translation)

(New International Version, Good News Translation, King James Version, God’s Word, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because there is no “and” in the Greek here.

to open their eyes: This is a metaphor. Someone who has not believed in God is like someone with closed eyes. Paul would explain God’s plan to save people through Jesus. Giving them that knowledge is like opening their eyes. Many languages can use the same metaphor for this meaning here. However, in some languages the meaning of a literal translation of the metaphor would not be clear. If so, you may want to:

• Explain all or part of the meaning in your translation. For example:

to open their eyes ⌊by knowing/hearing God’s plan to save people⌋
-or-
to remove their blindness ⌊concerning me⌋

• Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Someone who does not believe in God is like someone with closed eyes. Paul would explain God’s plan to save people though Jesus. Teaching them that is like opening their eyes.

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

to explain God’s plan to save people though me

You then may want to indicate the literal words in a footnote: An example footnote is:

Literally: “to open their eyes.”

so that they may turn from darkness to light: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that they may turn is literally “to turn.” There are two ways to interpret the Greek word:

(1) Paul was to turn them from darkness to light. This would be similar to bringing them out of prison in the second and third parts of Isaiah 42:7 (the first part refers to opening their eyes). For example:

turn them from the darkness to the light (Good News Translation)

(New International Version, Good News Translation, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, King James Version)

(2) The people themselves turn from darkness to light. They do this based on their new understanding about God’s plan to save them. For example, the Revised Standard Version says

that they may turn from darkness to light

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

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek phrase does not have the word that means so that (or “that” as in the Revised Standard Version example above). Interpretation (1) is also more similar to Isaiah 42:7.

turn from darkness to light: This is a metaphor. Living apart from God is like being in the dark. Following God is like being in the light, because God guides and teaches. Many languages can use the same metaphor for this meaning here. However, in some languages the meaning of a literal translation of the metaphor would not be clear. If so, you may want to:

• Explain all or part of the meaning in your translation. For example:

change from ⌊living in⌋ darkness to ⌊living in⌋ light
-or-
leave the darkness and enter the light ⌊of God⌋

• Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Living apart from God is like being in the dark. Following God is like being in the light, because God guides and teaches.

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

turn their backs on evil and their minds will be illumined
-or-
turn away from evil and allow God to guide them

You then may want to indicate the literal words in a footnote: An example footnote is:

Literally: “to turn from darkness to light.”

26:18b

and from the power of Satan to God: This is the second thing they are to turn from and the second thing they are to turn to. In some languages it is more natural to repeat the verb here. For example:

and ⌊turn⌋ from the power of Satan to God

This phrase refers to believing in God. In some languages it is more natural to indicate the implied information. For example:

and ⌊turn⌋ from the power of Satan to God ⌊and believe⌋
-or-
and ⌊turn⌋ from the power of Satan ⌊and believe in⌋ God

the power of Satan: This phrase in Greek can also be translated “the authority of Satan.” Satan is like a leader over those in the darkness. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the dominion of Satan (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Satan leading them

Satan: The word Satan is the Hebrew name of the leader of all the evil spirits. See how you translated this word in 5:3.

26:18c

26:18c–d describe two results for those who turn to God.

that they may receive forgiveness of sins: This clause in Greek is literally “so that they receive forgiveness of sins.” This is a result of turning to God. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

and receive…forgiveness of their sins (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and God will forgive them for sinning

they may receive forgiveness of sins: In English, the word receive implies someone else willingly gave what was received. The word “take” does not imply that someone else willingly gave it. It is implied here that God willingly gave the forgiveness.

Many languages have the same word for both “receive” and “take.” In some of those languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that the believers took the forgiveness without God giving it willingly. If that is true in your language, you may want to use a different word than receive. For example:

⌊God⌋ may give them forgiveness of sins
-or-

⌊God⌋ may forgive their sins

forgiveness of sins: This phrase refers to God not punishing the person for his sins. He also does not hold those sins against the person for punishment later. See how you translated this phrase in 5:31 or 13:38.

26:18d

and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me: This is the second thing that believers will receive. In some languages, it is more natural to repeat “receive” here. For example:

and ⌊receive⌋ an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me
-or-
and ⌊he may give to them⌋ a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me

an inheritance: The Greek word is literally “(a) portion.” All believers share in what God has promised for them. For example:

a share in the inheritance (New Jerusalem Bible)

those sanctified by faith in Me: The clause is passive. God has sanctified them by means of they believing in Jesus. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

those whom ⌊God⌋ has sanctified by faith/believing in me

sanctified: This refers to God making believers holy. He has changed them from being sinners to being holy. For example:

have been made holy (New Century Version)

by faith in Me: This phrase probably connects to “sanctified.” It indicates that when people believe in Jesus, God sanctifies them. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

by means of their believing in me
-or-
because of their belief in Me

faith in Me: The word faith means “a strong and sincere belief in something or someone.” Faith in Jesus includes:

(a) accepting His message as true,

(b) acting on the basis of His message,

(d) trusting in Him.

The word faith describes an event. In some languages a verb must be used. For example:

believing in me
-or-
believing that I ⌊am the Christ⌋

General Comment on 26:15b–18d

26:18d is the end of Paul’s telling King Agrippa what Jesus said to him. In some languages it is more natural to clearly indicate the end with an added sentence. For example:

18dand a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ ⌊That is what the Lord Jesus said to me.⌋
-or-

18dand a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” 19⌊Then Paul continued speaking to King Agrippa,⌋ “So then…

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 27:18

27:18a

We were tossed so violently: The Greek clause can be translated literally as “We being storm-tossed violently.” The wind and waves pushed the ship from side to side as well as up and down in the front and back. Other ways to translate this clause are:

As we were violently storm-tossed, (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
We were being pounded by the storm so violently (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
As the storm beat violently against us
-or-
The storm ⌊and waves⌋ tossed us ⌊and the ship⌋ around violently

27:18b

the men began to jettison the cargo: The Greek clause can be translated literally as “they began to do throwing out.” What they threw into the sea is not said. They did not throw equipment for sailing the ship until 27:19 and they did not throw the grain in the hold of the ship until 27:38. Each time they threw something overboard it was more important things to the ship owner, so this first time they would have thrown less important things. So it may have been:

(a) other things that the ship owner planned to sell in Rome,

(b) things that the ship owner was taking for other people,

Refer generally to these kinds of things in your translation. For example:

they began to throw various ⌊less important⌋ things off the ship
-or-
they started throwing cargo ⌊that was not essential⌋ into the sea

Throwing these things overboard made the ship lighter, so that the ship floated higher in the water so the waves would damage it less. Some of these things may have been on the top deck of the ship, and removing them would help prevent the ship from tipping over. In some languages the purpose for throwing these things overboard may not be clear. If so, you may want to explain it in your translation. For example:

they began to throw various things off the ship ⌊to make it lighter⌋
-or-
they started throwing cargo ⌊that was not essential⌋ into the sea ⌊to help prevent the waves damaging the ship⌋

the men: The word men probably refers to the sailors here. For example:

the crew (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 28:6

28:6a

The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead: The people of the island recognized that the snake was poisonous. They were expecting the poison to cause him to become swollen or suddenly die. For example:

They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. (Good News Translation)

were expecting: The Greek tense probably indicates the people waited some time expecting Paul to swell or die. For example:

waited, expecting (Revised Standard Version)

him to swell up: The snake bite would probably have caused his hand and possibly his arm to become swollen rather than the whole body. In some languages what became swollen must be explicitly said. For example:

his hand would swell-up
-or-
his ⌊hand⌋ ⌊and arm⌋ to swell

28:6b

after waiting a long time: The people knew about how long it would be before someone bitten by this kind of snake would swell up or die. So they waited longer than that time. It could have been some minutes or perhaps even an hour. These verses do not tell us the exact kind of snake it was. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

when they had waited a long time (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
after they waited longer than usual

seeing nothing unusual happen to him: This indicates that Paul remained healthy. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

without seeing anything out of the ordinary happen to him (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
watched him for a long time, but nothing bad happened to him (New Century Version)

28:6c

they changed their minds: This indicates the people no longer thought Paul was a murderer but instead thought he was a god. Other ways to translate this clause are:

their thinking changed
-or-
they began to think differently
-or-
they changed what they thought

said he was a god: The people of the island believed in many gods. Since Paul did not swell up and die, they began to think that he had power over nature and therefore was a god.

said: The Greek tense probably indicates that they continued saying this for some time. For example:

began to say (New Jerusalem Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 1:24

1:24a

And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart…”: The words in the quote are probably the words that the leader prayed. The people probably also prayed in a similar way but not with these exact words. In some languages the phrase they prayed indicates that every person said these exact words in unison. If that is true in your language, indicate that the leader said these words. For example:

Then ⌊when⌋ they prayed ⌊the leader⌋ said

Lord: The word Lord here probably refers to Jesus.

You know everyone’s heart: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as You know everyone’s heart is literally “heart knower of all.” It indicates that the Lord knows what all people think, feel, and believe. In some languages a different word or phrase is used for that meaning. For example:

you know everyone’s insides
-or-
you know everyone’s stomach/liver
-or-
you know what everyone really thinks, ⌊feels, and believes⌋

1:24b

Show us which of these two You have chosen: This is a command. However, it is a polite request here. They were not demanding that the Lord do this. In some languages a command does not indicate a polite request here. If that is true in your language, translate this clause as a polite request. For example:

Please show us which of these two you have chosen

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2:30

2:30a

But: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But is literally “therefore” (as in the Revised Standard Version). It introduces Peter’s conclusion (2:31b–d) based on what he said in 2:25–29. For example:

Therefore (King James Version)

The rest of 2:30a–31a is additional support for what Peter said in 2:31b–d. In some languages it is necessary or more natural to have the word “therefore” at the beginning of 2:31b. For example:

and he was a prophet…31aand foresaw the future, 31btherefore he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ
-or-
He was ⌊also⌋ a prophet…31aand foresaw the future. 31bFor all those reasons, he was speaking about the resurrection of the Christ

he was a prophet: The Greek text is literally “being a prophet.” In some languages this clause must be translated with the past tense, like the Berean Standard Bible.

prophet: A prophet is a person who speaks on behalf of God. God speaks to the prophet through words and visions. See how you translated prophet in 2:16.

2:30b

knew: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as knew is literally “knowing” (as in the Revised Standard Version). God told this promise to David personally. It indicates that 2:30b–c is the third reason that Peter concluded that David spoke of the resurrection of Christ (2:31b).

God had promised him on oath: This clause indicates that God promised to do something and then he guaranteed that he would do it with an oath. The words of the oath were not written. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

God made a promise to David and vowed that he would do so
-or-
God promised to him and strengthened it with an oath to do so

2:30c

He would place one of his descendants on his throne:
The pronoun He refers to God. The pronoun his refers to David. This clause tells what God had promised he would do for David.

The Greek is more literally “from the fruit of his loins to sit/seat on his throne.” The words He would place translates “to sit/seat.” The phrase “the fruit of his loins” refers to a descendant of David’s. In Peter’s time, David’s throne was gone, but his position of authority was now held by the Christ. Here are other ways to translate the Greek words here:

he would take one of his/David’s descendants and put him on his/David’s throne
-or-
he would make one of David’s descendants a king, just as David was (Good News Translation)

throne: This word refers to the official seat or chair of a king. Here is another way to translate this word:

leader’s place to rule

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 3:16

3:16a

By faith in the name of Jesus: The Greek is literally “upon faith in his name.” The Berean Standard Bible adds the phrase of Jesus to make it clear who the faith was in. This phrase refers to believing in who Jesus says he is and trusting him completely. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

on the basis of faith in His name (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Through faith in the name of Jesus (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Through believing in Jesus

Some languages must say whose faith is referred to here. It is not clear whose faith this is.

Some English versions refer to or imply the man’s faith. For example:

You see this man, and you know him. He put his faith in the name of Jesus (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
The name of Jesus, by awakening faith (Revised English Bible)

Some English versions refer to the faith of Peter and John. For example:

We believe in the one named Jesus. (God’s Word)

You may want to follow the major language translation in your area. Or, if you must choose one of the above, choose the faith of Peter and John.

3:16b–c

this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him…: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as It is Jesus’ name is literally “his name.” There are two ways to interpret how the Greek phrase connects to the rest of the words here:

(1) It is the subject of the verb made strong. For example:

his name…has made this man strong whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus… (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, NET Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) It is the subject of the verb phrase “give…complete healing” (healed).

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because this “his name” is the only possible candidate for the subject of the verb made strong.

3:16b

this man…has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name…: This Greek clause is literally “his name made this man strong” (see the previous note favoring interpretation (1)). The phrase “his name” refers to the name of Jesus. It indicates that the power of Jesus made the man strong. Here are some other ways to translate these words:

his name…has made this man strong (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
It was the power of his name that gave strength to this lame man. (Good News Translation)
-or-
it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man (New American Standard Bible)

made strong: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as made strong refers to taking something that does not function and making it function. Before the man’s legs did not work, but now they did. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

⌊fixed and⌋ made strong/functional
-or-
made…well (New Century Version)
-or-
made ⌊his feet/legs⌋ strong/well

whom you see and know: The phrase whom you see indicates that the people were at that very moment looking at the man. They knew that he previously was the crippled beggar.

3:16c

the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing: Here Peter indicated that faith caused the man to become completely well. Combined with 3:16a–b, he indicates that both faith and power were needed for this miraculous healing.

the faith that comes through Him: The pronoun Him refers to Jesus here. As in 3:16a, it is not clear whose faith this is, the man’s or Peter’s. Translate whose faith this is in a similar way as you did in 3:16a. Here are some other ways to translate these words:

the faith which is through Jesus (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
his faith, which is through Jesus
-or-
our faith, which is through Jesus

given him this complete healing: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as complete healing is literally “wholeness.” It indicates that the man was completely healthy in every part of his body. The pronoun him refers to the man here. Here are some other ways to translate these words:

given the man this perfect health (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
made this man completely well (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
restored this man to health (New Jerusalem Bible)

3:16d

in your presence: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in your presence is literally “before all of you.” The whole crowd could see that the man was well and strong. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

as you can all see (New International Version)
-or-
as you all are seeing

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021