SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 13

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 18:28

18:28a

For: The word For introduces an explanation of how Apollos was able to help the believers in Achaia. He probably also helped them by teaching them and encouraging them to live as a believer should (1 Corinthians 3:6), but the main point here is that he refuted the Jews, which helped the believers. For example:

by (New Jerusalem Bible)

he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate: This clause in Greek is literally “he was powerfully refuting the Jews in public.” The Greek tense on the verb probably indicates that Apollos refuted them on more than one occasion. For example:

he ⌊repeatedly⌋ refuted the Jews vigorously in public
-or-
he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate ⌊a number of times⌋

But your translation should not indicate or imply that at other times the Jews refuted him.

powerfully: This word refers to doing something with force and energy. For example:

powerfully (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the energetic way (New Jerusalem Bible)

refuted: This word refers to clearly proving something false in debate. Apollos clearly proved that the arguments of the Jews that Jesus was not the Christ were untrue. He did this mainly by clearly proving that Jesus was the Christ because he fulfilled the Scriptures about the Christ. Other ways to translate this word are:

defeated…in…debates (Good News Translation)
-or-
showing…that the Jews were wrong (God’s Word)

in public: This phrase indicates that Apollos and the Jews talked in a place where others could watch and listen. They did not talk in private. For example:

before others
-or-
with others ⌊watching and⌋ listening

18:28b

proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ: Apollos told the Jews about examples of Jesus life and words that fulfilled the prophecies in Scripture about the Christ. Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies about his first coming. Other ways to translate this clause are:

showing by the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah (New Living Translation (2004))

Scriptures: See how you translated this word in 18:24.

Jesus is the Christ: The Greek is literally “the Christ was Jesus.” It goes from what these Jews knew (prophecies about the Christ) to what they did not know, that Jesus is that person. In some languages it is more natural to go from known to unknown, as the Greek does.

the Christ: The word Christ means “the anointed one.” The Jews used it to refer to the special person God promised to send to save them from their enemies. The Hebrew word with the same meaning is written “Messiah” in English. Here Paul was trying to convince the Jews that Jesus was the Christ/Messiah. See how you translated this word in 2:31 or 18:5.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 19:32

Paragraph 19:32–34

19:32a

Meanwhile: This verse starts with a Greek phrase that indicates that the story continues. Here it indicates that Luke began to write about the crowd again. For example:

At that time,
-or-
Well, as for those people there at that meeting-place,

The New International Version and some English versions allow the context to imply that the story continues and do not translate the Greek phrase.

the assembly was in turmoil. Some were shouting one thing and some another: The Greek words are literally “Some were shouting one thing, some another because the assembly was in confusion.” The assembly being confused was a reason for people shouting various things. For example:

some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion (New Revised Standard Version)

But there were other reasons for people shouting various things. So some English versions indicate the connection more generally. The New International Version does so with the colon (:).

the assembly was in turmoil: In some languages the translation must refer to the people of the assembly being in turmoil. For example:

The people who had gathered were in turmoil

Some were shouting one thing and some another: The words were shouting and thing are implied in the second clause. They are not repeated in the Greek or the Berean Standard Bible. This is an acceptable way of writing in Greek and English. In some languages some or all of the words must be repeated. For example:

Some were shouting one thing, some ⌊were shouting⌋ another ⌊thing⌋
-or-
some people were shouting one thing, others were shouting something else (Good News Translation)

19:32b

and: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as and introduces 19:32b. It introduces a second reason why people were shouting various things.

most of them did not even know why they were there: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they were there is literally “they had assembled.” For example:

they had gathered together (New Jerusalem Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:23

20:23a

I only know: The Greek word is literally “except.” Paul did not know exactly what would happen, but he did know that the Holy Spirit had warned him that he would be put in prison and have troubles.

in town after town: This phrase in Greek is literally “along/through city.” It is an idiom that means “in various cities along the way.” The Holy Spirit spoke to Paul about this matter in a number of cities as he traveled to Jerusalem, but not in all of the cities he went to. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

in every city (New International Version)
-or-
from city to city
-or-
in various cities

warns: The Greek word is literally “proclaim earnestly.” The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek word as “testifying” in 20:21a. For example:

declares
-or-
testifies
-or-
makes it clear

See how you translated the word in 20:21.

20:23b

that chains and afflictions await me: In some languages direct speech is more natural here. For example:

‘Chains and afflictions will face you.’

chains: The Greek word is literally “things-that-tie.” It refers to ropes or chains or prison that keep someone from going where he wants. The English versions translate the Greek word as chains here. Other ways to translate this word are:

I will certainly be bound/tied-up there
-or-
I will be imprisoned

afflictions: The Greek word translated as afflictions refers to all kinds of troubles or suffering.

await me: This phrase in Greek is literally await me. It indicates that imprisonment and hardships would happen to Paul some time soon. Paul would probably reach Jerusalem in about a month or two. These things would happen to him there. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

in the future I will be imprisoned and experience/have hardships
-or-
soon people will put me in prison and will cause me to suffer

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:17

Division 21:17–28:31

Paul’s trials and journey to Rome

This division is the history about the years when Paul went to Jerusalem and was arrested, tried, and sent to Rome. It mentions other people only as they interacted in some way with Paul.

Section 21:17–26

Paul began to participate in a Jewish ritual

In this section, Paul reported to the Jerusalem church leaders what God had done through him. Luke mentions the apostle James, perhaps as the chief leader of the church. Then the leaders asked Paul to participate in a Jewish ritual of purification with four Jewish believers in Jesus. They wanted to show that Paul did not teach Jewish believers to abandon the law. He agreed to do that. He told the Jewish authorities at the temple what he planned to do.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Paul’s first days in Jerusalem
-or-
Paul at Jerusalem (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
The church leaders asked Paul to do something

Paragraph 21:17–19

21:17

we: The pronoun we began to be used in 20:5. It probably refers to Paul, Luke, and the others who traveled with them, perhaps five to twelve men in total.

the brothers: Here the word brothers refers to believers in Jesus, both men and women. The word indicates a close relationship because all believers become children of God. If people in your area will think that the word brothers refers to literal brothers, you may want to explain it in your translation. Some examples are:

our brothers ⌊and sisters⌋ ⌊in Christ⌋
-or-
the believers (Good News Translation)
-or-
the brothers, ⌊the disciples of Jesus⌋

See how you translated this word in 1:16 or 21:7.

welcomed: Here this word refers to welcoming Paul and the others. It implies that they accepted them as fellow believers. For example:

received (New International Version)
-or-
welcomed us ⌊and accepted us into their fellowship/group⌋

joyfully: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as joyfully means “gladly.” The believers in Jerusalem were very happy to see Paul and the others.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 22:10

Paragraph 22:10–11

22:10a

‘What should I do, Lord?’: In the Greek and the Berean Standard Bible, the term of address is last. In some languages, it is more natural to have the term of address first. For example:

Lord, what shall I do?

‘What should I do…?’: Here Paul asked Jesus to tell him what he should do. Other ways to translate this clause are:

What shall I do?
-or-
What do you want me to do?
-or-
Tell me what I should do.

22:10b

‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me: The Berean Standard Bible placed the phrase He told me after the spoken words. Place it where it would be most natural in your language.

22:10c

you will be told: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊someone⌋ will tell you

all that you have been appointed to do: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

all that ⌊I⌋ have appointed to do

In 26:16, Paul made it clear that Jesus appointed him.

appointed: The Greek word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as appointed indicates that someone has decided what someone under his authority must do. Jesus had planned what work that Saul would do. Other ways to translate this word are:

assigned (New International Version)
-or-
determined (Good News Translation)
-or-
arranged (God’s Word)
-or-
planned (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 23:12

Section 23:12–22

Some Jews plotted to kill Paul

In this section, more than 40 Jews plotted together to kill Paul. They even took an oath that they would not eat or drink until they had killed him. Then they asked the chief priests and Jewish elders to help them with their plans.

But a nephew of Paul heard what they had plotted. He reported it first to Paul, and then to the Roman commander.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The Plot to Kill Paul (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Some Jews make a plan to kill Paul

Paragraph 23:12–15

23:12a

When daylight came: The Greek words are literally “And having become day.” It refers to the day after the night of 23:11. For example:

When it was day (Revised Standard Version)

the Jews:
23:13 makes it clear that not all Jews plotted to kill Paul. It probably refers to a group of Jewish men who were not part of the Sanhedrin. For example:

some Jews (Good News Translation)

formed a conspiracy: This phrase refers to meeting together secretly to plan to do something that was unlawful or evil. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

held a secret meeting (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
gathered for evil purposes

23:12b

bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bound themselves with an oath means “speaking a curse on themselves should they fail to do as promised.” These Jews promised to kill Paul. The curse and the promise showed that they were completely committed to do as promised.

The verse does not tell us the words of the curse, but they probably asked God to kill them if they did not do as promised. Or they have asked God to exclude them from worship forever if they failed. The Jews had many kinds of curses. The verse does not say which kind of curse they used. Some ways to translate this phrase are:

• Use a word or phrase that refers generally to oaths or curses for not doing as promised. For example:

bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul (King James Version)
-or-
They asked God to curse them if they ate or drank anything before they had killed Paul (God’s Word)
-or-
promised, with an oath of bad consequences to themselves ⌊should they not fulfill it,⌋ to not eat or drink until they killed Paul

• Use direct speech that can refer generally to bad consequences if they do not do as promised. For example:

promised to not eat or drink before they killed Paul, saying “I/We will do this or else ⌊die trying⌋!”
-or-
promised to not eat or drink before they killed Paul, saying “I/We will do this or else ⌊may God kill us⌋!”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 24:9

24:9a

The Jews concurred: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as concurred originally referred to soldiers joining an attack. Here the word refers to the Jewish leaders agreeing with what Tertullus said. Other ways to translate this clause are:

The Jews also joined in the verbal attack (NET Bible)
-or-
The Jews supported him (New Jerusalem Bible)

The Jews: Here the word Jews refers to the Jewish leaders who were with Tertullus. In some languages it is more natural to clearly refer to the leaders. For example:

The Jewish ⌊leaders⌋

24:9b

asserting that these charges were true: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as asserting indicates that Luke, the writer, did not agree with what they were asserting. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

claiming that these things were true (NET Bible)
-or-
alleging that the facts were as he stated (Revised English Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 25:14

25:14a

Since they were staying: There are several ways to translate the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Since:

(1) It means while. For example:

During their stay (New Living Translation (2004))

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

(2) It indicates the situation that prompted Felix to speak of Paul (grounds). For example:

Since they were staying (God’s Word)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, God’s Word)

(3) It means after. For example:

After they had been there (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because BDAG chooses that interpretation.

several days: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as several days indicates that King Agrippa and Bernice spent more days with Festus after they greeted him and welcomed him to Judea. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Their visit lasted several days (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
They prolonged their stay for some days (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
They stayed there for some time (New Century Version)

25:14b

Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as laid out refers to explaining something with the hope of the other person advising him on the matter. Agrippa was a Jew and knew much about the Jews and their thoughts, customs, and such things. Festus wanted his advice about what to write about Paul and why the Jews asked that he be killed. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Festus explained Paul’s situation to the king (Good News Translation)
-or-
seeking advice, Festus told the king about Paul, what the Jews accused him of doing, and what Paul said in defense
-or-
Festus explained Paul’s case to the king to get his opinion (NET Bible)

25:14c

There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison: This clause in Greek is literally “There is a certain man having been left by Felix, a prisoner.” The words a certain man probably indicates that Festus did not expect King Agrippa to know who Paul was. Other ways to translate this clause are:

There is a prisoner here…whose case was left for me by Felix. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
A certain man remains a prisoner ⌊here⌋, whom Felix did nothing about before he left.
-or-
Felix left a man here in prison. (Contemporary English Version)

Felix: This is the former Roman governor of Judea (23:24, 24:27). In some languages readers will need reminding who this is. For example:

⌊the previous governor,⌋ Felix

But since King Agrippa would know who Felix was, Festus would not need to explain who he was. So it may be better to add a footnote to explain instead of adding the explanation in the text. An example footnote is:

Felix was the previous governor of Judea (23:24, 24:27).

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021