SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 29

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:3

20:3a

where he stayed three months: This clause tells the reader more about Greece. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are other places named Greece and Paul only stayed in this one. If that is true in your language, translate this information in a way that tells more about what Paul did in Greece. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

He stayed there three months.

20:3b–c

And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia: The words And when introduce the reason that Paul decided to go back through Macedonia. Another way to translate this connection is:

He was getting ready to go to Syria when he discovered that there were Jews plotting against him; so he decided to go back through Macedonia. (Good News Translation)

20:3b

the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria: In the Greek clause and the Berean Standard Bible, the circumstances are given after what happened. In some languages the circumstances must be given first. For example:

just as he was about to sail for Syria, the Jews made a plot against him

the Jews formed a plot against him: The phrase formed a plot against indicates that the Jews planned ways to harm Paul. Other ways to translate this clause are:

some Jews were planning something against him (New Century Version)
-or-
he found out that the Jews were plotting to kill him (God’s Word)

the Jews: Here this phrase does not imply all the Jews. Luke did not say where these Jews were from. It may have been Jews from the nearest city (some scholars think it is Corinth) or Jews traveling from their homes elsewhere to Jerusalem for the Passover. Do not say where these Jews were from and do not imply that all Jews made this plot. For example:

some Jews

he was about to sail for Syria: This clause indicates that Paul would soon get on a ship that was going to Syria. For example:

he was about to board a ship going to Syria

Syria: Syria was a province under Roman rule. It was far east of Greece. It is previously mentioned in Acts three times (15:23, 15:41, 18:18). 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 again what the name refers to here. For example:

⌊the province of⌋ Syria

See how you spelled this name in 15:23.

20:3c

go back through Macedonia: The phrase go back probably refers to returning to Syria. Here he decided to take a longer way back through Macedonia. He had already visited Macedonia on this trip (20:1–2).

In some languages it is clearer to say where he would go back. If that is true in your language, refer to Syria. For example:

go back ⌊there⌋ through Macedonia
-or-
go back ⌊to Syria⌋ through Macedonia ⌊again⌋

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:35

20:35a

In everything, I showed you: This phrase in Greek is literally: “all (things).” Here it refers generally to deeds that Paul did. Other ways to translate this Greek word are:

By every deed
-or-
That’s what I have always done in order that

20:35b

this kind of hard work: This phrase indicates that Paul working with his hands (20:34) is an example of hard work. Paul worked hard with his hands to support himself and others financially. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

that kind of working hard
-or-
working hard in this way (Good News Translation)
-or-
my example by working hard ⌊with my hands⌋

weak: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as weak refers to weakness of any kind. They may not have been able to work because they were sick or disabled. They may have had low social status and people in general avoided them. Here it probably refers to anyone who could not support themselves financially.

In some languages a literal translation would have a different meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

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

Here the word “weak” refers to people who could not work and support themselves.

• Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:

weak ⌊and unable to work⌋

• Translate only the implied meaning. For example:

those who are unable to work

20:35c

remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: Here the word remembering means “to continue to think about.” It does not refer to remembering something that had been forgotten. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said (Revised English Bible)
-or-
think about this saying of the Lord Jesus
-or-
think about that the Lord Jesus himself said this:

20:35d

It is more blessed to give than to receive:
This saying is stated in an impersonal manner: It is more blessed. It indicates that people who give are more blessed than people who receive. It probably implies that God will bless them. Other ways to translate this clause are:

He who gives is more blessed than he who receives
-or-

⌊God⌋ blesses the person more who gives than the person who receives
-or-
You/We who give ⌊something⌋ ⌊to someone⌋ are more blessed than those of you/us who receive ⌊something⌋

blessed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blessed describes a person who is in a good situation. In the Bible, the good situation results from God being favorable/kind to the person.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

Joyful/desirable is your situation
-or-
How good it is for you
-or-
You are blessed/favored/fortunate

This word does not primarily refer to a feeling. However, a person in this good situation will frequently have good feelings like happiness and joy. Do not use a word that only refers to material prosperity or physical health.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blessed, occurs frequently in the Gospels in the form “Blessed/happy is the person who….” See for example, Matthew 5:3–11 and Luke 6:20–22. You will probably want to translate the word blessed in this verse in the same way you translated it in the Gospels.

give…receive: It is not stated what is given or received. Here the meaning is general. Some languages must say what is given or received. For example:

give ⌊things⌋…receive ⌊things⌋

receive: In some languages “take” and “receive” are translated by the same verb. The English verb “receive” implies that someone gave the gift, but the English verb “take” does not imply that.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate “take” with no one giving it. If that is true in your language, indicate that someone gave here. For example:

to be given ⌊something⌋
-or-
the blessing you have when ⌊someone⌋ gives you ⌊something⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:29

21:29a–b

The New International Version uses parentheses around 21:29a–b to indicate that it is added information related to the main story. Some languages may use punctuation like the Berean Standard Bible to indicate that. Some languages may use grammar or a phrase to indicate that. (See next note about the Greek conjunction.) Other languages allow the context to indicate that.

21:29a

The Greek conjunction often translated as “for” introduces this verse, as in the Berean Standard Bible. Here it introduces an explanation of why the Jews from Asia spoke as they did in 21:28. For example:

For they had previously seen (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
They said this because they had seen… (Good News Translation)

The New International Version and some English versions omit the conjunction and allow the context to indicate that meaning.

For they had previously seen: This phrase indicates that the Jews of Asia had seen Trophimus perhaps a day or two before. They were not looking at him at the time they said these words.

Trophimus the Ephesian: The name Trophimus is a Greek name. The word Ephesian indicates that he was from Ephesus. Greek people began the city of Ephesus and the city was still mostly Greek at that time. At that time both words would clearly indicate that Trophimus was Greek (21:28d) and not Jewish.

In some languages neither word would clearly indicate that Trophimus was Greek. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

“Trophimus” is a Greek name and Ephesus was a Greek city.
-or-
Trophimus was Greek.

• Explain it in your translation. For example:

⌊the Greek,⌋ Trophimus from Ephesus

the Ephesian: The word Ephesian indicates that Trophimus was from Ephesus. Another way to translate this phrase is:

from Ephesus (Good News Translation)

in the city: This phrase refers to generally to Jerusalem. Here it implies outside of the temple area.

21:29b

assumed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as assumed means to believe that something is true without having proved that it is true. Here it indicates that the Jews from Asia believed that Paul took the non-Jewish Trophimus into the temple courtyard reserved for Jewish men. But that was not true. Other ways to translate this word are:

supposed (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
mistakenly thought

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 22:22

Section 22:22–29

The Roman commander questioned Paul

In this section, the crowd of Jews became angry and began shouting, because they heard that Paul would go to the Gentiles. The Roman commander ordered his soldiers to bring Paul into the barracks. He told his soldiers to flog Paul so that Paul would tell them why the crowd was so angry. They tied his hands spread apart so they could flog his back. Paul told them that he was a Roman citizen. It was illegal in Roman law to flog or even chain a Roman citizen before going to court and a judge hearing his case. When they learned that he was a Roman citizen, they did not flog him.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The consequence of Paul’s speech (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
Paul and the Roman Army Commander (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Paul was a Roman citizen so the Roman officer did not flog him

Paragraph 22:22

22:22a

The crowd: The Greek word is literally “they.” It refers to the crowd of people last mentioned in 21:40–22:2. So the Berean Standard Bible explains the pronoun here using the phrase The crowd. Other ways to translate this Greek word are:

they (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
The people (Good News Translation)

until he made this statement: This phrase in Greek is literally “as far as this word.” “This word” refers to the last sentence that Paul spoke (22:21) or possibly just the word “Gentiles,” since Jews did not like Gentiles and Paul had been accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple area reserved for Jews, which was against their law. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

as far as those words
-or-
up to those words that he spoke
-or-
but then they stopped listening

22:22b

Then: The Greek conjunction is usually translated in English as “and.” The crowd stopped listening (22:22a) and now they begin shouting.

they lifted up their voices and shouted: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as shouted is literally “saying.” All the words together mean “they shouted.” Other ways to translate it are:

they shouted (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
they shouted ⌊angrily⌋

The context implies that they shouted the words of 22:22c more than once. For example:

they began to shout (New Jerusalem Bible)

22:22c

Rid the earth of him: This clause in Greek is literally “Take from the earth such a (person).” This idiom (and the Berean Standard Bible) means “kill him.” In some languages a literal translation has the correct meaning. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Away with such a fellow from the earth! (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Remove this man from the earth!

In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the idiom in your translation. For example:

Kill him, and rid the earth of such a man! (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

• Use an idiom from your language that has that meaning.

• Translate the meaning of the idiom. For example:

Kill him! (God’s Word)
-or-
End his life!

him: This word in Greek is literally “such a (person).” It shows that the crowd had no respect for Paul. For example:

such a fellow (Revised Standard Version)

He is not fit to live: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fit means “is proper.” The crowd believed that Paul was so bad that the only right or proper thing to do was to kill him.

The Greek clause indicates that this idea was true in the past as well as at the present time. Other ways to translate this clause are:

It is not right that he has lived this long!
-or-
The only right/proper thing to do with such a person is to kill him!

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 23:24

23:24a–b

Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix: 23:24a–b in Greek is indirect speech. For example:

23dto go to Caesarea at nine tonight,” 24and to provide mounts for Paul so that they may take him safely to Governor Felix

But it is more natural in English to translate this verse as direct speech, as the Berean Standard Bible and many other English versions do.

23:24a

Provide mounts for Paul: The word mounts refers to animals that people ride. If possible translate in a way that refers to all kinds of animals that people ride, as the Berean Standard Bible does. Other ways to translate this word are:

Provide riding animals for Paul
-or-
Get animals for Paul to ride

In some languages it is more clear to name a particular animal. If that is true in your language, refer to horses.

mounts:
The Greek word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as mounts means “domestic animals” (such as sheep, oxen, or horses). Here it refers to horses, mules, or donkeys. People ride these kinds of animals.

23:24b

Governor: Here this word refers to the top leader over a Roman province. He made decisions over that area, including court cases. Consider what word or phrase to use for that meaning.

Felix: If you are using footnotes to give historical background information, you may want to describe Felix in a footnote here. An example footnote is:

Felix was governor of Judea from about 52 to 60 AD. He was originally a slave of the family of the Roman emperor, and then set free by them. As governor, he was known for being cruel against Jewish revolutionaries.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 24:21

24:21a

unless it was this one thing I called out as I stood in their presence: Paul believed what he said in 24:21b–c to be true. But he knew it was no crime to believe that. The Pharisees also believed in resurrection. So he used the word unless only to make the leaders admit that it was no crime to believe in resurrection.

In some languages, a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Paul thought his statement in 24:21b–c was a crime. If so, include some implied information or translate unless in a different way. For example:

unless ⌊they want to now make a crime of this:⌋ I shouted this one thing as I stood in their presence
-or-

But I did shout one thing when I stood before them: (New Century Version)
-or-
They can tell you only that while I stood among them I shouted this one thing ⌊which was not wrong/unlawful⌋,

24:21b–c

It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today: Here Paul quoted what he said in 23:6. It is not an exact quote, but there is no important difference in meaning.

The phrase concerning the resurrection of the dead is emphasized in the Greek clause by being first in it. English emphasizes it in a similar way but must begin with the words It is to be natural. If possible translate the emphasis in a natural way. Another way to translate the emphasis in English is:

Concerning the resurrection of the dead, that is what I am on trial about today before you!

24:21c

before you: The pronoun you here refers to the members of the Sanhedrin. (Paul quoted here what he said in 23:6.) It does not refer to Felix.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 25:26

25:26a

have nothing definite to write: It was necessary for Festus to send Paul so that Caesar would hear his case. But the issues involved were about the Jewish religion and not Roman law, so Festus did not know what to tell Caesar about the case to help him decide it, nor even how to describe the charges against him. Other ways to translate this clause are:

have no certain thing to write (King James Version)
-or-
don’t have anything reliable to write (God’s Word)
-or-
have nothing specific to write (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

our sovereign one: This phrase in Greek is literally “the lord.” The Greek word means “master, ruler, owner.” The word refers to Caesar here. Caesar ruled over the whole Roman empire. It does not refer to God here. It does not imply that Festus was calling Caesar a god. Other ways to translate this Greek word are:

my lord (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
our lord/master/leader, ⌊Caesar⌋

25:26b–c

I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa: This clause emphasizes that Festus particularly wanted King Agrippa to listen to Paul and question him. For example:

I have brought him before you all and particularly before you, King Agrippa (Revised English Bible)

25:26d

after this inquiry: Festus hoped that the people here would be more familiar with the issues surrounding the Jewish accusations against Paul and so would know the right questions to ask Paul. Then Festus would be able to clearly tell Caesar what the case was about. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

after investigating his case (Good News Translation)
-or-
we will question him and as a result

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 26:31

26:31a

On their way out: The Greek word is literally “having withdrawn.” Here it refers to leaving the place where Paul was. For example:

after leaving (Good News Translation)

they said to one another: These words indicate that the king, governor, Bernice, and the others all discussed what they had seen and heard. The words they said to one another introduce a summary of what they agreed upon. Other ways to translate these words are:

they talked together and agreed (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
they said to each other (Good News Translation)

26:31b

This man has done nothing: The past tense on has done refers generally to Paul’s life as a Christian, including the things he said in 26:4–29. It does not refer only to the last thing Paul said or did before they left the room. In some languages a different tense or time phrase will indicate the correct meaning. For example:

All that he has been doing is not
-or-
This man has not done anything (Good News Translation)
-or-

There is no reason why this man should die or be put in jail. (New Century Version)

See also the examples in the previous note.

worthy of death: The phrase worthy of death means that someone deserves to be punished with death. Some laws require that officials kill people who have done certain crimes. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

should die (Good News Translation)
-or-
requires the death penalty

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

being tied/bound/chained
-or-
having ropes/chains hold me
-or-
being in prison

See how you translated this word in 26:29 (“chains”).

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021