SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 26

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 19:29

19:29a

Soon the whole city was in disarray: This clause in Greek is literally “And the city was filled with confusion/uproar.” It indicates that more and more people were shouting and unsure what the problem was. It also indicates that the people were upset or troubled. Other ways to translate this clause are:

The city was filled with the confusion and uproar
-or-

⌊That caused⌋ a disturbance to spread all through the city
-or-
All/Most of the people in the city became troubled and angry
-or-

⌊That caused⌋ most people throughout the city to become disturbed

19:29b

Only some people in the crowd grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus, but the whole crowd rushed to the theater.

rushed together: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as together refers to a group of people having the same idea or purpose. For example:

rushed as one man (New International Version)

the theatre: This word refers to a large outdoor structure where thousands of people could hear the person speaking before them. It was usually half of a circle in shape. Below is the amphitheater of Ephesus as it looks today.

It was a place where people gathered for public meetings or to watch people perform dramas. The amphitheater in Ephesus is a half-circle and more than twenty thousand people could sit in it.

In some languages people are not familiar with this kind of structure. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:

the city meeting place
-or-
the place where the people of the city gathered ⌊for large meetings⌋

• Use the word for amphitheater from the common language in your area. If people are not familiar with this word, you may want to explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:

This word refers to a large outdoor structure where thousands of people could hear the person speaking before them.

19:29c

dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as dragging with them indicates that the people grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus and took them with them to the theater. Other ways to translate this clause are:

The mob grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus…and rushed with them to the theater. (Good News Translation)
-or-
they grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus and brought them along
-or-

Gaius and Aristarchus, who were from Macedonia, the people seized them and took them

19:29d

Paul’s traveling companions: Gaius and Aristarchus traveled with Paul from Macedonia to Ephesus.

from Macedonia: The Greek word is literally “Macedonians.” It indicates that Gaius and Aristarchus normally lived in the province of Macedonia. It may imply that Macedonia was their native province.

General Comment on 19:29d

19:29d is additional information about Gaius and Aristarchus. In some languages it is more natural to have this information in a separate sentence. For example:

29b–cThe people seized Gaius and Aristarchus and rushed as one man into the theater. 29dThese two men were from Macedonia and had traveled with Paul.
-or-

29d
Two men from Macedonia, Gaius and Aristarchus, had traveled with Paul from their home province. 29b–cThe people seized them and rushed as one man into the theater.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:20

20:20a

If you start 20:20a with a new sentence, you may want to repeat “You know that” here. See note at 20:18b–21b.

I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you: Paul spoke everything that was helpful to the believers at Ephesus. He did not withhold anything. He was not afraid of what someone might do to stop him from preaching and teaching. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I did not hold back anything that would be of help to you (Good News Translation)
-or-
I spoke everything that was helpful

declaring: The Greek word here is interpreted in two ways:

(1) It means to report here. Paul reported what God has told him. For example:

declaring (Berean Standard Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It means to preach here. Paul preached the gospel to the people of Ephesus and some of the people who believed were the elders that Paul was speaking to here. For example:

preach (New International Version)

(New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation. Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the BDAG, Louw and Nida, and Kittel lexicons support it. Other ways to translate this word here are:

proclaiming (NET Bible)
-or-
telling (God’s Word)
-or-
reported ⌊what God has told me⌋
-or-
reported ⌊God’s message⌋

See how you translated this word in 15:4 (“reported”).

20:20c

publicly and from house to house: Paul spoke God’s message and taught the believers in large meetings that anyone could attend. He also did those things at smaller gatherings in believer’s homes. Other ways to translate this are:

in public or…in your homes (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
in open/public meetings and in your own homes

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:14

21:14a

When he would not be dissuaded, we fell silent: The Greek words are literally “and not persuading him, we became quiet.” Paul’s fellow travelers and the local believers could not convince Paul to avoid going to Jerusalem. So they quit trying and became quiet. Other ways to translate these words are:

when he would not be persuaded, we ceased (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
We could not persuade him to stay away from Jerusalem. So we stopped begging him (New Century Version)

he would not be dissuaded: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

We could not persuade him (New Century Version)

21:14b

The Lord’s will be done: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be done is literally “occur.” They prayed that whatever God’s plan was, that it would happen that way. For example:

May the Lord’s will/plans happen.
-or-
May what God wants be fulfilled.
-or-
We pray that everything will happen just as the Lord wants it.

will: Here the word will refers to what the Lord wants to happen.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 22.7

22:7a

I fell to the ground: Paul fell to the ground because the bright light shone on him. He did not fall because he tripped on something.

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

I threw myself to the ground
-or-
I collapsed to the ground
-or-
I at once went-down-on-my-face on the ground

heard a voice say to me: This clause indicates that Paul heard someone speak but did not see him. In some languages, it will be more natural to refer to “someone” rather than a voice. For example:

heard someone say to me

22:7b

Saul, Saul: When God or Jesus wants to speak to someone, he often speaks his name twice. It indicates he wants to say something important. It may also show concern for that person. It does not imply that he was angry. Consider how to indicate that meaning in your language. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

Saul, listen!
-or-
Hey Saul

Saul: This is the Hebrew version of the Greek name Paul. Luke called the apostle Paul Saul until 13:9. 22:4–16 retell the story in 9:1–30, so the name Saul is used again.

why do you persecute Me?: This question demands that Paul think about who he was persecuting. In 22:8 Jesus identifies himself. From this experience, Paul realized that Jesus was the Christ and persecuting his followers was wrong, so he asked, “What should I do?”

This is a rhetorical question. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate or imply that Jesus did not know why Paul persecuted Jesus and his followers. If that is true in your language, you should translate the correct meaning. Some ways are:

You are persecuting me!
-or-
Stop persecuting me. Explain yourself!

persecute Me: The word persecute refers to hurting people or to causing them to suffer because you disagree with them. Other ways to translate this word are:

oppress me
-or-
cause me hardship/suffering

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 23:9

23:9a

great clamor: Here this phrase refers to the loud noise caused by many people arguing very loudly at the same time.

23:9b

some scribes from the party of the Pharisees: Many scribes were members of the Pharisee group. Some of these scribes stood up and spoke.

scribes: The scribes were scholars who studied, taught, and interpreted the law of Moses, as well as related Jewish laws and traditions. Most scribes were Pharisees, but not all Pharisees were scribes Some ways to translate this term are:

experts in the Law of Moses
-or-
teachers of religious law (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
expert teachers on Moses’ law
-or-
teachers of religion

See how you translated this phrase in 4:5 or 6:12.

23:9c

contended sharply: This phrase indicates that the scribes contended even more strongly and loudly than they had earlier (23:7). The Greek grammar probably indicates that they argued in this way for some time. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

started arguing loudly
-or-
began to argue forcefully (New Living Translation (2004))

23:9d

(New American Standard Bible) saying: The Greek word which the New American Standard Bible translates literally as saying indicates here that main point of what the teachers of the law argued was: “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” For example:

saying, “We find nothing wrong… (New American Standard Bible)

The New American Standard Bible places the word saying before the spoken words. Place it where it would be most natural in your language.

We find nothing wrong with this man: This clause indicates that these scribes decided/judged that Paul had done nothing wrong for which someone should punish him. Other ways to translate this clause are:

We cannot find a thing wrong with this man! (Good News Translation)
-or-
We find no fault with this man (Revised English Bible)
-or-
This person is not guilty
-or-
We(excl) have not found any evil in this man

23:9e

What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?:
This is probably a rhetorical question. The teachers of the law wanted to support Paul because he believed that God would resurrect people, as they did. Translate it with that meaning. Some ways are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Suppose a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel? (New Jerusalem Bible)

• As a statement. For example:

Perhaps a spirit or an angel really did speak to him. (Good News Translation)

a spirit or an angel: See how you translated spirit and angel in 23:8.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 24:6

24:6a

even: Here this word means “also.” Tertullus implies that Paul was a worse person than being a leader of a sect, because here he claimed Paul tried to desecrate the Jewish temple. Other ways to translate this word are:

also (God’s Word)
-or-
Furthermore (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and worse than that,
-or-
And that’s not all

tried to desecrate the temple: The word desecrate refers to making the temple unfit for religious uses. Doing this is very offensive to those who follow that religion. Tertullus referred to what some Jews from Asia yelled in Acts 21:27–29. They claimed that Paul tried to bring a non-Jewish person into the area only allowed for Jews. If that had happened, all religious services would have stopped until the temple was ritually cleansed. The clause implies that he did not succeed in desecrating the temple. Other ways to translate this clause are:

tried to defile the Temple (Good News Translation)
-or-
attempted to profane the Temple (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
tried to disgrace the temple (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
was trying to make the Temple unclean (New Century Version)

the temple: This refers to the temple in Jerusalem. It was the main place where Jews worshiped God. In some languages this must be made clear. For example:

the temple ⌊in Jerusalem⌋
-or-
the ⌊Jewish⌋ temple

If Paul had brought Gentiles into the temple courts reserved for the Jews, the Jews would have considered that he had desecrated the temple as well.

24:6b

so we seized him: This clause in Greek is literally “whom we seized.” This clause is a result of 24:6a, so the Berean Standard Bible adds so here. Use whatever is natural for that meaning. For example:

but we seized him (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
attempted to profane the Temple. We placed him under arrest. (New Jerusalem Bible)

seized: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as seized refers to grabbing someone. It can also mean “arrest.” For example:

arrested (Good News Translation)

24:6c–8a

There is a textual issue here:

(1) The earliest Greek manuscripts do not have 24:6c–8a.

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

(2) Some later Greek manuscripts have 24:6c–8a, which reads:

and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander, Lysias, came and with the use of much force snatched him from our hands and ordered his accusers to come before you

(King James Version, New American Standard Bible (in brackets))

It is recommended that you follow option (1), because the UBS Handbook Greek NT recommends it.

Many English versions put 24:6c–8a in a footnote. You should include 24:6c–8a as a footnote. An example footnote is:

Only some of the later Greek manuscripts include 24:6c–8a, which reads: and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander, Lysias, came and with the use of much force snatched him from our hands and ordered his accusers to come before you.

If the common language version in your area includes this verse in their translation, you may want to include it in brackets, as the New American Standard Bible does.

If you put 24:6c–8a in a footnote, here are several ways to number the verses:

• Put the number 7 after the number 6 in 24:6. Put the footnote marker before 24:8. For example:

6–7…so we seized him. * 8By…

• Do not include the number 7. Put the footnote marker before 24:8. For example:

6…so we seized him. * 8By…

• Indicate a span of verses 6 to 8. For example:

6–8…so we seized him. * By…

You probably want to follow how the common language version in your area did this.

[and we would have judged him according to our law]: The Jewish leaders wanted to take Paul to court and try him under Jewish law.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 25:11

25:11a

If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death: The Greek clauses are literally “If I do wrong and have done (something) worthy of death.” They refer generally to wrongdoing and breaking laws that require the death penalty as punishment. Other ways to translate these clauses are:

If…I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything for which I deserve to die (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
if I were a criminal and had committed some crime which deserved the death penalty (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

If, however:
This phrase in Greek can be translated literally as “Then if, on one hand.” The Greek conjunctions here and at 25:11c indicate that either situation is possible. The conjunctions say nothing about which situation is more likely. For example:

If then (Revised Standard Version)

If: Paul knew that he had committed no crime. But he used the word If to present two options for Festus to think about.

25:11b

I do not refuse to die: This clause refers to not seeking to avoid the punishment of death. If Festus truly found Paul guilty, Paul would not try to run away or avoid being killed. He would face the punishment and accept it. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I do not seek to escape death (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I do not ask to escape it (Good News Translation)
-or-
I do not ask to be saved from death (New Century Version)
-or-
I do not ask you to prevent people from executing/killing me ⌊as punishment⌋

25:11c

But if: This phrase in Greek can be translated literally as “if, on the other hand.” This introduces the other possible condition/circumstance. 25:11a–b is the first possible condition/circumstance.

if: Paul knew that the charges were not true. But he used the word if to introduce the second option for Festus to think about.

there is no truth to their accusations against me: Other ways to translate this clause are:

the charges which these Jews brought against me are not true
-or-
those charges are not true, namely those charges which the Jews accuse me ⌊of doing⌋
-or-
that which these Jews accuse me about is not true

In some languages it is more natural to avoid the relative clause with the active verb that some English versions, such as the New International Version, use. For example:

there is nothing to their charges against me (English Standard Version)
-or-
their accusations are untrue (God’s Word)
-or-
not one of their charges against me is true (NET Bible)
-or-
I am innocent (New Living Translation (2004))

25:11d

no one has the right to hand me over to them: This clause in Greek is literally “no one can give me to them as a favor.” Festus wanted to do a favor to the Jews, so Paul used that same idea here regarding Festus putting Paul under their control. For example:

then no one can give me to them (New Century Version)
-or-
no one is able to deliver me to them as a favor
-or-
no one can make a present of me to them

But the Berean Standard Bible, many other English versions, and many scholars translate the Greek word as “hand over” here. For example:

no one can hand me over to them as a favor (God’s Word)
-or-
no man may deliver me unto them (King James Version)
-or-
no one has the right to give me over to them

25:11e

I appeal to Caesar!: This clause in Greek is literally “I call to Caesar on my behalf.” Paul probably thought that Festus would be swayed too much by the Jewish leaders, so he asked here that the trial be moved to Rome. In Rome, Caesar or his representative would decide the case against Paul. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I appeal my case to Caesar!
-or-
I now ask to be tried by Caesar himself.
-or-
I want Caesar to hear my case! (New Century Version)

In a Roman court the accused person could appeal before the Roman judge decided.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 26:16

26:16a

But: The Greek conjunction is usually translated as But. There is contrast from what Paul was doing to what he would be doing.

get up and stand on your feet: Paul was probably lying face down on the ground. Here Jesus commanded him to stand and remain standing. For example:

rise and stand upon your feet
-or-
arise and ⌊remain⌋ standing

In some languages only one verb is needed. For example:

get to your feet! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Stand up! (New Century Version)

26:16b

For I have appeared to you to appoint: The Greek words here are literally “for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint.” The Greek conjunction For introduces the reason for the command to stand. Paul can now stand and see the risen Jesus, who has now appeared to him. For example:

16aI command you to stand 16bbecause I have appeared to you to appoint

The phrase “for this purpose” introduces to appoint. For example:

for I have appeared to you for this reason: to appoint (New Jerusalem Bible)

Since the English word “to” indicates purpose, some English versions, such as the Berean Standard Bible, do not translate the phrase “for this purpose.” For example:

I have appeared to you to appoint (Good News Translation)

I have appeared to you: Here the word appeared refers to not being there one moment and then being there the next moment. Jesus suddenly appeared before Paul. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I have shown myself to you (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
I have come/appeared before you

to appoint you as a servant: This phrase indicates that Jesus chose to make Paul a servant. Paul would do what God or Jesus told him to do. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

to appoint you to serve (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I have chosen you to be my servant (Contemporary English Version)

26:16c

and as a witness of what you have seen from Me:
This phrase indicates that Jesus also chose to make Paul a witness of seeing Jesus. Paul would tell others about seeing Jesus alive on the Damascus road, as he was telling King Agrippa here. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

You are to tell others what you have seen of me today (Good News Translation)
-or-
and ⌊to appoint you⌋ to testify that you saw me ⌊today⌋

and what I will show you: This is the second thing that Paul would be a witness of. There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as show:

(1) The word means appear. Jesus would appear to Paul at other times and tell him things he needed to know. Examples of this are 18:9 and 23:11. For example:

and to those in which I will appear to you (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version (2011), New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, King James Version)

(2) The word means show. Jesus would show things to Paul but not necessarily appear to Paul. For example:

and what I will show you in the future (Good News Translation)

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

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because that is the normal meaning of the Greek word.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021