SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 28

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 15:33

15:33a

After spending some time there: The phrase some time probably refers to somewhere between a few days and a few weeks.

15:33b

they were sent off by the brothers: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

the brothers sent them off

sent off: The believers sent Judas and Silas back to Jerusalem. See how you translated this phrase in 15:30.

in peace: The Greek is literally “with peace.” The believers sent Judas and Silas saying something like “Go in peace” or “Peace be with you.” This was a common farewell. The believers wanted Judas and Silas to have a good trip and also that God would enable them to live peacefully.

In some languages an actual saying must be used to indicate the blessing. For example:

saying, “Peace be with you.”
-or-
saying, “May God grant you peace on your journey.”
-or-
saying, “May God enable you to live peacefully.”

15:33c

those who had sent them: This refers to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. This implies that Judas and Silas reported that the believers at Antioch received the information in the letter with joy.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 16:24

16:24a

On receiving this order: The orders were to guard him securely, so Luke used the phrase this order. It explains why the jailer put Paul and Silas in the inner cell. The inner cell was more secure than cells along the outer wall of the prison. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

following such instructions (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Hearing what ⌊the judges⌋ commanded

inner cell: The inner cell was a room that was not along the outer wall of the prison. It did not have a window to the outside. The door to this room probably could be locked to prevent prisoners from leaving. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

inner ⌊locked⌋ room
-or-
a room not near the outside ⌊of the prison⌋ ⌊that had a lock⌋

16:24b

fastened their feet in the stocks: The stocks are two large pieces of lumber with holes cut out of them through which a prisoner’s lower legs are placed. The two pieces of lumber are clamped together, enclosing the prisoner’s lower legs. The prisoner could not remove his legs because the holes were too small to pull his feet through.

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

• Describe the stocks. You may also want to include a picture. For example:

he put their legs in places for legs between two planks, then he locked the planks together
-or-
he put their legs between two pieces of wood with slots and tied it

• Describe the function of the stocks. You may also want to include a picture. For example:

he tied their legs to planks ⌊to prevent them from escaping⌋
-or-
put their legs inside holes in wood ⌊and locked it⌋

• Use the common language word. You may then want to explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Stocks are two large pieces of lumber with holes cut out of them through which a prisoner’s lower legs are placed. The two pieces of lumber are clamped together, enclosing the prisoner’s lower legs. The prisoner could not remove his legs because the holes were too small to pull his feet through.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 17:16

Section 17:16–34

Paul preached in Athens

In this section, Paul was in Athens. He became upset/distressed when he saw many idols and altars to pagan gods. So he talked about Jesus to many people in the synagogue and the marketplace. Some people who heard him speak invited him to address the city council members. He talked to them about the one true God and Jesus. Some of them became believers.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Paul preached in Athens, and a few city leaders believed
-or-
People in Athens hear the message
-or-
In Athens (New International Version)

Paragraph 17:16–18

17:16a–b

he was deeply disturbed in his spirit: This clause in Greek is literally “the spirit of him was irritated/angry.” Paul was upset when he saw the many idols in Athens. They worshiped many gods but not the true God. Other ways to translate this clause are:

his spirit was provoked within him (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
he was greatly upset (Good News Translation)
-or-
he was deeply troubled (New Living Translation (2004))

to see that the city was full of idols: The phrase full of idols indicates that there were very many idols in the city. Other ways to translate this clause are:

by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he saw that the city had statues of false gods everywhere (God’s Word)

idols: The idols are statues or other physical representations of a god. People bow down in front of the idol to worship that god. See how you translated this word in 15:20.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 18:14

Paragraph 18:14–17

18:14a

But just as Paul was about to speak: This phrase in Greek is literally “Paul, being about to open the mouth.” This refers to just before Paul would begin to speak. Other ways to translate this clause are:

But when Paul was about to open his mouth (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Before Paul could open his mouth (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Even before Paul could speak (Contemporary English Version)

to speak: Paul would have begun to defend his actions. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly imply a different reason to speak. If that is true in your language, indicate the implied information. For example:

to defend himself

18:14b–15b

Gallio is not happy with the Jews bringing such an accusation. Gallio’s words imply that he is unhappy, annoyed, or even exasperated with them. Consider how to indicate or imply that Gallio feels that way.

18:14b

If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews: The Greek words are literally “If it was some wrong or evil crime, O Jews.” The address O Jews occurs in the middle of the sentence. In some languages, it is more natural to have the address first. For example:

O Jews, if it was some wrong or evil crime

The matter

The Greek words imply that the Jews did not have a valid complaint. Consider how your language uses an if-clause to speak of an event that did not happen. For example:

If it had been a question of crime or grave misdemeanour,…you Jews (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Listen, you Jews. If this were a misdemeanour or a crime (New Jerusalem Bible)

a wrongdoing or vicious crime: The word a refers here to any kind of wrongdoing or vicious crime. It refers generally to a wrongdoing and to a vicious crime, but does not name which wrongdoing or vicious crime.

wrongdoing: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wrongdoing refers to harming someone on purpose. Other ways to translate this word are:

misdemeanor (New International Version)
-or-
wrong (Good News Translation)
-or-
crime (New Century Version)

vicious: The Greek word is literally “evil.” Other ways to translate this word are:

serious (New International Version)
-or-
wicked (King James Version)

crime: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as crime refers to prank or deed that deceives people. The context implies that such a prank or deed was prohibited by law. Other ways to translate this word are:

villainy (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
illegal deception

18:14c

it would be reasonable for me: This clause indicates that listening to the accusation would be according to right behavior or according to proper reasoning. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I should have reason (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
it would be in order for me (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
reason would demand that (God’s Word)

18:14d

to hear your complaint: This clause in Greek is literally “I would endure your (complaint).” It indicates that Gallio would have listened patiently to the accusation of the Jews and what they said to support their accusation. Other ways to translate this clause are:

to bear with you (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
endured listening to your complaint/accusations

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 19:18

19:18a–b

Many who had believed now came forward, confessing: The Greek words indicate that this event occurred over a period of time. Another way to translate these clauses are:

many of those who believed began to come and confess

19:18a

This verse in Greek begins with a word that probably means “and” here. It indicates that the event of 19:18 probably occurred after the event of 19:17 and in connection to the event in 19:15–16. For example:

also (Revised Standard Version)

Many who had believed: The Greek form of the word believed indicates a prior event. These people already believed in Jesus when the event with the seven sons of Sceva occurred. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

many of those who had become believers (Revised English Bible)
-or-
many of those who were already believers

now: The Berean Standard Bible adds this word. It helps to indicate that the believers started confessing after the event with the seven sons of Sceva.

19:18b

confessing and disclosing: The Greek words are literally confessing and disclosing. The word confessing indicates that they told other believers what they did. The word disclosing indicates that they made their magic secrets public. Other ways to translate the Greek words are:

confessing and divulging (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
admitting and revealing (Good News Translation)

In Greek thought, making magic secrets public destroyed their power. In some languages it is necessary to include this implied information for the correct meaning. For example:

confessing their evil deeds ⌊of sorcery⌋ and telling their magic secrets publicly ⌊to ruin their power⌋

confessing: The believers probably confessed to other believers. But some of them may have also confessed to non-believers.

their deeds: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as their deeds probably refers to doing magic or sorcery. But as believers, these deeds were wrong for them to do. In some languages it is more clear to indicate the kind of deeds. For example:

their practices (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
magical spells (God’s Word)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:9

20:9a

a certain young man: This phrase refers to a male human between perhaps sixteen years old and the usual age of marriage, perhaps twenty-five. Later Luke refers to Eutychus as a “boy,” so he was probably thirteen to nineteen years old.

seated in the window: Windows of that time did not have glass. There may have been shutters, but they would have been open. The walls were probably thick stone, so there would have been room to sit in the window opening.

20:9b

was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on: This clause tells the reader more about Eutychus. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Luke was thinking of other men named Eutychus and only this one was sinking into a deep sleep. If that is true in your language, translate this information in a way that tells more about Eutychus. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

He was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on.

was sinking into a deep sleep: This phrase refers to becoming very sleepy. For example:

got sleepier and sleepier (Good News Translation)

talked: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as talked refers to someone speaking to a group, teaching and encouraging them. It refers to the same event as Paul speaking in 20:7c.

on and on: This phrase in Greek is literally “for much (time).” The phrase “much time” probably indicates that Paul spoke from early evening until midnight. Eutychus probably fell out of the window about midnight. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

for a long time
-or-
still longer (Revised Standard Version)

20:9c

When he was sound asleep: Here the phrase sound asleep means “completely asleep.”

20:9d

he fell: The Greek phrase is literally “he fell down.” Eutychus fell all the way to the ground from the third story window.

the third story: This phrase refers to the floor of the house two floors above the ground floor. In some languages this would be called the second story, because the first floor is the one above the ground floor.

20:9e

and was picked up dead: The context implies that some of the believers rushed downstairs to see what happened to Eutychus. Some languages must include that implied information. For example:

⌊people rushed downstairs⌋ and picked him up dead

was picked up dead: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

When they picked him up, he was dead (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:3

21:3a

After sighting Cyprus: As the ship sailed southeast towards Phoenicia, it passed near enough to the island of Cyprus where the people on the ship could see it. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

When we had come in sight of Cyprus (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
We could see the island of Cyprus (God’s Word)
-or-
We sailed near the island of Cyprus, seeing it (New Century Version)

Cyprus: This name refers to an island in the Mediterranean Sea west of Syria. See how you spelled this name in 15:39.

passing south of it: The Greek words are literally “leaving it on the left hand.” For example:

passed it on our left (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
sailing past on/to the right side of it

But in some languages it is more natural to use a direction. For example:

sailed south of it (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
sailed…seeing it to the north (New Century Version)

21:3b

Syria: At that time the name Syria referred to a province under Roman rule. It was north of Judea and Galilee. The western border was the coast on the Mediterranean sea. The region of Phoenicia was part of it.

It is previously mentioned in Acts four times (15:23, 15:41, 18:18, 20:3). If you indicated that Syria was a province in one of those verses, you may not need to indicate that it refers to a province again here.

But in some languages people are not familiar with this name. You may want to indicate what the name refers to again here. For example:

⌊the province of⌋ Syria

21:3c

landed: Here the word landed indicates that the ship arrived at the place where people got off the ship. Here it implies that Paul and the others left the ship and went ashore. Other ways to translate this clause are:

stopped (New Century Version)
-or-
went ashore (Good News Translation)

Tyre: Tyre was the principal city of Phoenicia. In some languages people are not familiar with this name. You may want to indicate what the name refers to here. For example:

⌊the city of⌋ Tyre

the ship was to unload its cargo: The people who worked on the ship unloaded the cargo. In some languages, it is more natural to refer to those people unloading the ship. For example:

our ship’s cargo would be unloaded
-or-
our ship’s crew would unload it

the ship: Some English versions add the word “our.” Paul and his companions traveled by that ship. It did not belong to them. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

our ship (New International Version)
-or-
the ship that we traveled by
-or-
the ship that we took here

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:35

21:35a

When Paul reached the steps: This clause in Greek is literally “and when he was on/at the steps.” The commander and the soldiers were with Paul. In some languages it is more natural to refer to all of them. For example:

When they were on the steps
-or-
When Paul ⌊and the soldiers⌋ were on the steps

the steps: These steps led up to the Roman fortress and barracks. In some languages, where these steps went to must be indicated. For example:

the steps ⌊to the barracks/fortress⌋

21:35b–c

he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob: This clause in Greek is literally “he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd.” The violent crowd caused the soldiers to carry Paul. They carried him to protect him. Otherwise the crowd might have grabbed him again and began beating him again. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the soldiers had to carry him because the mob was so wild (Good News Translation)
-or-
the crowd became so violent that he had to be carried by the soldiers (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him (New Living Translation (2004))

21:35b

the violence of the mob: The word violence indicates that the crowd was forcefully trying to reach in and grab Paul or hurt him. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the crowd became so wild (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the people were trying to kill him

the mob: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mob is literally “crowd.” But the crowd had become violent, so the English word mob is more natural here.

21:35c

It is not clear if the soldiers carried Paul in their arms or on their shoulders. Translate in the way that sounds most natural in your language.

he had to be carried by the soldiers: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

the soldiers had to carry him

carried: The Greek verb indicates that the soldiers carried Paul for some time. They carried him to the top step and perhaps a little way inside the walls of the fortress. For example:

⌊began⌋ to carry

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021