SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 24

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 22:14

Paragraph 22:14–16

22:14a

The God of our fathers: The phrase our fathers refers to previous generations. Ananias worshiped the same God as his and Paul’s fathers and grandfathers and further ancestors did. For example:

The God of our ancestors (Good News Translation)

Some languages must avoid the word “of” for the correct meaning. For example:

The God whom our ancestors ⌊worshiped/followed/obeyed⌋

See how you translated this phrase in 3:13 or 5:30.

has appointed you: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as appointed refers to selecting someone to do something. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

chosen you (New International Version)
-or-
has already chosen you (NET Bible)

See how you translated this word (“appointed”) in 3:20.

22:14b–d

These three events (to know, to see, and to hear) happened three days earlier in the original story (9:9). Some languages must indicate that they happened in the past or the future. If that is true in your language, indicate that they happened in the past.

to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear His voice: This follows the Greek with using and twice. This is natural in some languages. In English and other languages it is more natural to use and only once in a list. For example:

to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear words from his mouth

22:14b

to know His will: Here the word will refers to what someone wants to happen. Later verses reveal that the Lord wanted Paul to tell the Gentiles that Jesus was the Christ. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

to know what he wants ⌊to happen⌋
-or-
to know his plans ⌊for mankind⌋

If possible, do not explain what God’s will is here, because later, when the crowd clearly heard that Paul would tell the Gentiles about Jesus (22:21), they started rioting again (22:22–23).

22:14c

the Righteous One: This phrase is one of the titles that Jews at the time of Jesus used for the Christ. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the One who is Righteous
-or-
the Upright One (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the Completely Righteous Person

In some languages it may not be clear that this phrase refers to Jesus. If that is true in your language, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

This refers to Jesus.

22:14d

to hear His voice: The phrase hear His voice indicates that Paul heard Jesus actually speak. Jesus spoke directly to Paul. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

to hear his own voice (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
to hear him speaking with his own voice (Good News Translation)
-or-
to hear him speak (Revised English Bible)

His: This pronoun refers to “the Righteous One” in 22:14c.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 23:16

Paragraph 23:16–18

23:16a–b

But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul: As a result of hearing of the plot, Paul’s nephew went to Paul to tell him. In some languages it is more natural to clearly indicate that connection. For example:

But the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot; so he went to the fort and told Paul. (Good News Translation)

the son of Paul’s sister: If your language has a specific word for “the son of a sister,” you should use it here.

Paul’s sister: It is not known whether Paul’s sister was older or younger than Paul.

plot: This word refers to the plans of the forty men in 23:12–15. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as plot here can also mean “secret attack.” The conspirators plan a secret attack. They would gather somewhere between the barracks and the meeting place of the Sanhedrin. They would act like normal people until Paul was near, then they would attack him. Both meanings are correct here.

23:16a

But: Some English versions see contrast here. Some languages would see contrast here between what the conspirators plan and what Paul’s nephew does. But some languages would not see contrast here. For example:

Now (Revised Standard Version)

(Here the word “Now” indicates a new part of the story and is not a time word.)

23:16b

he went into the barracks: The Greek words are literally “and having come and having entered into the barracks.” It implies that Paul’s nephew had to ask the guards at the door to allow him to enter the barracks. For example:

he went and gained entrance to the barracks (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
going to the barracks, obtained entry, (Revised English Bible)
-or-
he went to the barracks and ⌊the soldiers let⌋ him go in

The Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions are not concerned with this implied information and omit “and having entered” as redundant.

barracks: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as barracks means “a place where soldiers lived.” Here it refers to the stone fortress next to the temple. See how you translated this word in 23:10.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 24:13

24:13

Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me: Paul claims here that the Jewish leaders could not bring witnesses who could truthfully verify what they said Paul did. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
They cannot prove the things they are saying against me now. (New Century Version)
-or-
Nor can they give you proof of the accusations they now bring against me. (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 25:18

25:18a–b

they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected: This clause indicates that the Jewish leaders accused Paul of crimes, but they were not the crimes that Festus expected them to accuse him of. Other ways to translate this clause are:

they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
they did not charge him with any of the evil deeds I had suspected (NET Bible)
-or-
the accusations made against him weren’t any of the crimes I expected (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
they accused him of ⌊many things but⌋ nothing that I expected

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 26:23

26:23a–b

26:23 describes what Paul testified about. It is also what the prophets of the Old Testament and Moses said. Some English versions use a colon (:) at the end of 26:22 to indicate that. Other English versions use a long dash (—). Other English versions begin a new sentence here and add some words to indicate the connection. For example:

They said that the Messiah would suffer… (God’s Word)

that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead: The Greek words can be translated literally as “that the Christ would suffer that (he is) the first by resurrection of the dead.” Paul believed that Jesus was the Christ and that he suffered and was the first person that God resurrected from death and took to heaven. But the Jews disagreed. For example:

I told them how the Messiah would suffer and be the first to be raised from death, (Contemporary English Version)

26:23a

the Christ would suffer: In God’s plan, the Christ suffered while on earth. God told the prophets beforehand that he would suffer. For example:

the Christ must suffer (Revised Standard Version)

26:23b implies that the suffering here includes death. In some languages this implied information must be explicit for the correct meaning. For example:

the Messiah would have to endure suffering and die

the Christ: The word Christ means “the anointed one.” The Jews used it to refer to the special person that God had 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 King Agrippa that Jesus was the Christ/Messiah. See how you translated this phrase in 18:28.

suffer: Here the word suffer refers to enduring pain and death.

26:23b

and as the first to rise from the dead: This phrase in Greek is literally “if first out of a resurrection of the dead.” It indicates that since God resurrected Jesus from death first, Jesus was now able to proclaim good news (26:23c). Other ways to translate this phrase are:

and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
and that, on the basis of being the first person to be resurrected from death,

26:23c

light: This word is a metaphor. It refers to the good news about what Jesus did for all people. As a metaphor, light also implies guidance. The good news about Jesus will guide people to live right.

In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If so, you may want to:

• Translate the metaphor as a simile. For example:

⌊his gospel which is like a⌋ light

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

The word “light” refers to the good news about what Jesus did for all people. This “light” guides people to God.

• Explain the metaphor in your translation. For example:

the light of salvation (Good News Translation)

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

that he will save people ⌊and bring them to God⌋

You may then want to indicate the literal word here in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Literally “light.”

to our people: This phrase refers to the Jews. For example:

to the Jews (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 27:23

27:23

For: Here the Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces an explanation of why Paul was certain about what would happen. Most English versions translate this Greek conjunction as “For” here.

an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood beside me: People at that time believed in many gods. Paul indicated that an angel from one particular god appeared to him. Paul said that he belonged to and served that god. Other ways to translate this clause are:

there appeared beside me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
an angel of God stood beside me. This is the God to whom I belong and whom I serve
-or-
I belong to a certain God and serve him. An angel of that God appeared beside me.

angel: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as angel means “messenger.” It refers here to a spirit being who serves God. See how you translated this word in 5:19 or 23:8.

whose I am and whom I serve: These two clauses further describe God. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Paul believed in other gods and he only belonged to this one and served only him. If that is true in your language, translate these clauses so that they tell more about God. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

I am his and I serve him.

whose I am: This clause indicates that God was lord, leader, or owner over Paul. Paul belonged to God and had a relationship with him. Other ways to translate this clause are:

to whom I belong (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
who is my owner
-or-
who is my Lord
-or-
who rules over me

serve: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as serve refers to doing religious duties. This includes praying, worshiping, and doing what God told someone to do. Paul served God by praying, worshiping him, working as an apostle, helping others, and in other ways. Other ways to translate this word are:

do the work of
-or-
obey/follow

See how you translated this Greek word (Berean Standard Bible: “worship”) in 24:14.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 28:11

Section 28:11–16

Paul and others traveled from Malta to Rome

In this section, Paul, Luke, other Christians traveling with Paul, and the soldiers sailed on a ship that landed at Syracuse, Rhegium and finally Puteoli. They probably then walked to Rome, which was about 210 kilometers (130 miles) away. This is usually a five-day walk. Or they may have traveled by wagon or cart. Believers met them part way at the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When they arrived in Rome, the official in charge of foreign prisoners allowed Paul to live in a place he could rent himself rather than putting him in prison. But a soldier still guarded him.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Paul Goes to Rome (New Century Version)
-or-
We(excl) went to Rome

Paragraph 28:11–16

28:11a

After three months: This refers to three months after the shipwreck. If you moved this time phrase up to 28:10, you should not repeat it here.

we set sail: This refers to leaving the place where the ship was tied and begin traveling on the sea. See how you translated this clause in 27:2 (“put out to sea”).

The context implies that they sailed from Malta. In some languages it is clearer to include that implied information in your translation. For example:

we set sail ⌊from Malta⌋

we: This pronoun probably refers to Paul, Luke, Aristarchus, the centurion, the other soldiers, and the other prisoners.

28:11b

an Alexandrian ship: The ship’s home port was Alexandria, a city in Egypt. See how you translated this phrase in 27:6.

28:11c

that had wintered: The winter season is cold and has many storms. The verb wintered refers to waiting at a safe place until the time of storms passed. See how you translated these words in 27:12.

in the island: The ship stayed at a safe harbor on the island. It was probably Valletta, the main port of Malta, rather than the beach of the shipwreck. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

at the island
-or-
in ⌊the port of⌋ the island

28:11d

It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead: The Greek words are literally “marked by the sons of Zeus.” It refers to stories that were told about two brothers named Castor and Pollux who were thought to be the twin sons of the god named Zeus and a woman named Leda. Some people believed that Castor and Pollux were gods themselves and helped sailors. So the owner of this ship had carved either a picture or a symbol of these brothers on the front of his ship to give it their protection. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

which had the Twin Brothers for its figurehead (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
The ship had the gods Castor and Pollux carved on its front. (God’s Word)
-or-
On the front of the ship was the sign of the twin gods. (New Century Version)

General Comment on 28:10a–11d

The time phrase “After three months” in 28:11a also refers to the events of 28:10b–c. Some languages must have this time phrase before all the events it refers to. To indicate that, you will need to reorder 28:10a–11d and combine the verse numbers 10–11. For example:

10–11The people on the island gave us many honors. When we were ready to leave, three months later, they gave us the things we needed. (New Century Version)

Paul Goes to Rome

We got on a ship from Alexandria that had stayed on the island during the winter. On the front of the ship was the sign of the twin gods.

Note the section heading in the middle of the combined verses.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2:3

2:3a

They saw tongues like flames of fire: This clause indicates that they did not see real fire, but saw something that looked like tongues like flames of fire. The tongue-like things looked like fire. It probably implies a single flame. In some languages it is more natural to describe the tongue-like fire things differently. For example:

They saw things that seemed to be flames of fire
-or-
They saw things that looked like flames from a lamp

2:3b indicates that the believers first saw them in a cluster or group. In some languages it is more natural to indicate that here. For example:

They saw ⌊a group of⌋ things that seemed to be tongues of fire

2:3b

that separated and came to rest on each of them: The cluster of the tongues of fire split apart and each one went in a different direction. They went and rested on each believer. Some languages will need to say where on the body that the flames rested. If that is true in your language, the most likely place is the head. For example:

these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
which separated off and settled above the head of each one of them (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

came to rest: This phrase indicates that the tongue-like fire things stopped moving over each believer. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

settled (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
stood over (New Century Version)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021