SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 37

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 19:23

Paragraph 19:23–27

19:23

This verse introduces the story in 19:24–41.

About that time: This refers to the time Paul stayed in Ephesus after he sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

During that time (God’s Word)
-or-
At that time (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
That was when

there arose a great disturbance: This clause in Greek is literally “no little disturbance happened.” The phrase “no little” is a Greek idiom that means great here. Other ways to translate this clause are:

no little trouble occurred
-or-
a great commotion happened
-or-
there was huge turmoil

disturbance: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as disturbance refers to being upset or refers to trouble. This disturbance occurred because Demetrius objected to Paul preaching about Jesus and caused people to riot. See the above examples.

the Way: This name refers to the beliefs of Christians and living as a Christian. See how you translated this phrase at 9:2 or 19:9.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:14

20:14

he met us at Assos: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as at can mean “into,” “in,” “near,” or “at.” Assos was on a hill over 200 meters (650 ft) above the sea. Its harbor was connected to the town by a road. The Greek word probably indicates that Paul met Luke and the others at the harbor rather than in the city.

Mitylene: Mitylene is a city on the island of Lesbos. It was the capital city of the island. It is south of Assos.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:8

21:8a

Leaving the next day, we went on to Caesarea: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as went on to is literally “came to.” It does not indicate whether they traveled by land or by water. They probably traveled by water but it is possible they traveled by land. Therefore, use a general word. For example:

The next day we left and came to Caesarea. (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
On the following day we left and arrived in Caesarea. (Good News Translation)

It is about sixty-four kilometers (forty miles) from Ptolemais to Caesarea. This would be about six hours by ship with good winds or thirteen hours by foot.

Caesarea: This name refers to a city on the Mediterranean coast of the province of Judea. See how you spelled this name in 8:40 or 18:22.

21:8b

stayed at the home of Philip: The Greek words are literally “entering into the house of Philip,…we stayed with him.” For example:

we entered the house of Philip…and stayed with him (Revised Standard Version)

“Entering” implies that Philip invited them in. The clause also implies that Philip invited them to stay. For example:

Philip ⌊invited⌋ us into his house…and to stay with him. And we did.

Philip: This was the same man named Philip in 6:5 and 8:5–40. See how you spelled his name there.

21:8c

evangelist: Here this word means “someone who tells/proclaims the good news about Jesus.” An evangelist tells it mainly to people who do not believe in Jesus yet. He tells it in hope that some will believe. Philip told the good news about Jesus to people in Samaria and to the Ethiopian official (chapter 8). Other ways to translate this word are:

His work was telling the gospel ⌊to people who do not believe⌋ ⌊yet⌋
-or-
a person who carried the Good News
-or-
a man whose work was proclaiming the good news about Jesus

one of the Seven: Here the phrase the Seven refers to seven men that believers chose to help widows (6:1–6). In some languages a literal translation will not be natural or make the meaning clear. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain it in your translation. For example:

one of the seven men who had been chosen as helpers in Jerusalem (Good News Translation)
-or-
one of the seven men who helped the apostles (God’s Word)
-or-
one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food (New Living Translation (2004))

You may also want to indicate that this phrase refers to 6:1–6 in a footnote. An example footnote is:

See 6:1–6.

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

The phrase “the Seven” refers to seven men that the apostles chose to help widows (6:1–6).

the Seven: Here the phrase the Seven implies seven “men.” In some languages a word such as “men” must be explicit. For example:

the Seven Men/Helpers

General Comment on 21:8b–c

The order of the Greek words here is:

and entering into the house of Philip, the evangelist, one of the Seven, we stayed/lodged with him

Some languages can follow this order. Other languages must reorder this information. For example:

and entered into the house of the evangelist Philip. He was one of the Seven. We stayed/lodged with him.
-or-
and entering into the house of Philip, we stayed/lodged with him. He was one of the Seven ⌊Helpers⌋, and an evangelist.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 22:1

22:1

Brothers and fathers: This phrase in Greek is literally “Men, brothers and fathers.” The phrase Brothers and fathers describes the word “men.” The word Brothers is Paul’s polite address to fellow Jews that are his age or younger. The word fathers is Paul’s polite address to fellow Jews that are older than him. It includes any Jewish leaders in the crowd.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to Paul’s actual brothers and father. If that is true in your language, use whatever terms are natural for addressing people from the same ethnic group, including leaders. For example:

My companions and my fathers
-or-
my brothers and my uncles
-or-
You men and elders who are Israelites as I am
-or-
My fellow Jews (Good News Translation)

See how you translated this phrase in 7:2.

my defense before you: The word defense indicates that Paul would explain who he was and why he had been in the temple area. It was similar to defending himself in court, because the Jews from Asia accused him of wrongdoing. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

what I have to say to you in my defence (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
my words to reply/answer to your accusations
-or-
the words I have to say to explain

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 23:3

23:3a

God will strike you, you whitewashed wall: Paul called the high priest a whitewashed wall. In some languages this term of address must be first in the clause. For example:

You whitewashed wall, God will strike you!

The phrase whitewashed wall is a metaphor. A whitewashed wall is a wall of stones that was painted white to hide how weak or ugly it was. People used this metaphor to refer to someone who was a hypocrite. That person pretended to be good, but was really evil. Some ways to translate this phrase are:

• Translate the metaphor as a simile. For example:

God will strike you. You ⌊are like a⌋ whitewashed wall

• Explain the metaphor in your translation. For example:

God will strike you. You ⌊are as phony/fake as a⌋ whitewashed wall
-or-
God will strike you. You ⌊are like a⌋ wall painted white ⌊to hide the bad parts⌋

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

You hypocrite, God will strike you!
-or-
You deceive people, so God will strike you!

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

Literally “whitewashed wall.” This is a metaphor for being a hypocrite.

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

This is a metaphor for being a hypocrite. People paint the wall white to hide how weak or ugly it was.

God will strike you: This clause in Greek is literally “God is about to strike you.” It indicates that God will soon strike the high priest or will certainly strike him. Luke used the word strike again to connect the sentence to 23:2b. For example:

God is going to strike you (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
God will certainly strike you (Good News Translation)

The clause God will strike you is a figure of speech which means “God will harm you.” If possible, use the same verb for strike that you used in 23:2b. Some languages use a different verb for God striking/harming people. If that is true in your language, use a verb that indicates or implies that God would harm him.

23:3b–c

You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck: The scholars of the Greek New Testament interpret this sentence as a question. For example:

Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck? (Revised Standard Version)

It is a rhetorical question. Paul used it to rebuke him. Translate it as a rebuke in your language. Some ways are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

How can you sit there to judge me according to the Law, and then break the Law by ordering a man to strike me? (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck? (New American Standard Bible)
-or-

⌊Why⌋ do you sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck?

• As a statement. For example:

You sit there to judge me according to the Law, yet you break the Law by ordering them to strike me! (Good News Translation)
-or-
You sit there and judge me, using the law of Moses, but you are telling them to hit me, and that is against the law. (New Century Version)

• As a command. For example:

⌊Consider that⌋ you sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!

You sit here to judge me: Here the word judge refers to deciding whether what someone says is true or a lie. If this were a trial, the leader of the Sanhedrin would be deciding if Paul deserved to be punished. Here, the Roman commander asked the leader to find out if the mob’s accusations against Paul (22:30) were true.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 23:35

23:35a

I will hear your case: This clause indicates that Felix would listen to both Paul and his Jewish accusers. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I will give you a hearing (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I will examine your case
-or-
I will investigate the things you are accused of

accusers: This word refers to people who accuse someone of doing something wrong. See how you translated this word in 23:30.

23:35b

he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium: This probably happened in Herod’s Praetorium. The governor lived there and governed the people from there. Some languages must use direct speech here. For example:

he ordered/said, “Keep Paul under guard ⌊here⌋.” ⌊They were all⌋ in Herod’s palace.

he ordered that Paul be kept under guard: The clause Paul be kept under guard is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

he ordered ⌊some of⌋ his soldiers to guard Paul

kept under guard: This phrase refers to always guarding Paul. The Romans usually did this for someone awaiting trial. Another way to translate this phrase is:

always guarded

Herod’s Praetorium: The Greek phrase the Berean Standard Bible translates as Herod’s Praetorium refers to the costly palace Herod the Great built. He died a year or two after Jesus was born. At the time of this story, more than fifty years later, the Romans used it as the residence and headquarters of the Roman governor of Judea.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as Praetorium is the borrowed Roman word praetorium. This word refers to the residence of a Roman leader such as the governor Felix. But Herod built a palace for himself, not a praetorium for the Roman governor. However, when Herod lived there, he ruled the people from there, like the Roman governor did. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

Herod’s palace (New International Version)
-or-
the palace that Herod built
-or-

⌊the governor’s house and offices that used to be⌋ Herod’s palace
-or-

⌊the governor’s residence called⌋ Herod’s Palace

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 25:5

25:5a

So: The Greek conjunction often translated as “therefore” introduces this verse. It introduces a logical conclusion for Festus going to Caesarea soon. The Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions translate this conjunction as So. For example:

So (Revised Standard Version)

Some English versions allow the context to indicate the connection and do not translate the conjunction.

wrong: The Greek word is literally “out of place.” It is a Greek euphemism that mildly refers to a crime or wrongdoing worthy of punishment. Festus probably used this word as a contrast to the urgent request of the Jewish leaders. It is not known if Festus already knew from Lysias (21:27–23:35) or from Felix that the Jewish leaders lacked proof that Paul did anything wrong (24:13). Other ways to translate this word are:

amiss
-or-
at fault (Revised English Bible)
-or-
improper

25:5b-c

let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there: These clauses are third person (“to them”) commands in Greek. English sometimes uses the word let for a third person command. Festus was the Roman leader over the Jews. Translate these clauses for someone with that kind of authority. For example:

Some of your leaders must come with me and press charges against the man there

25:5b

your leaders: This phrase in Greek is literally “the powerful ones among you.” This phrase probably refers to those Jews who would have the power/authority to represent the Jewish leadership in court before Festus. Only some of the Jews present would have that authority. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the men of authority among you (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
your authorities (God’s Word)
-or-
representatives of your Sanhedrin
-or-
those empowered among you ⌊for such a matter⌋

25:5c

accuse: This word refers to telling a judge what wrongs they believe a person has done and trying to prove that he did them. See how you translated this Greek word in 24:2 (“opened the prosecution”) or 24:19 (“bring charges”).

General Comment on 25:5a–c

In some languages it is more natural to have the “if” clause last. For example:

5bLet some of your leaders come with me 5cand press charges against the man there, 5aif he has done anything wrong. (New International Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 26:10

26:10a

And that is what I did in Jerusalem: This clause indicates that Paul did the deeds he referred to in 26:9b. He then described some of those deeds in 26:10b–c. Other ways to translate this clause are:

And I did so in Jerusalem; (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
And I did oppose it/them in Jerusalem. ⌊For example⌋…

26:10b–c

This sentence describes how Paul opposed the name of Jesus in Jerusalem. For example:

⌊In particular,…⌋

But many languages will not need to add this phrase.

26:10b

With authority from the chief priests: The chief priests authorized Paul to arrest Christians and put them in prison. In some languages it is more natural to use a verb here. For example:

The chief priests gave authority to me and so

the chief priests: This phrase refers to the priests who were leaders of other priests and religious leaders of Israel. See how you translated this phrase in 4:23 or 25:15.

I: The pronoun I is emphasized in the Greek clause. For example:

I myself (New Jerusalem Bible)

saints: The Greek word here is literally “holy (ones).” It refers to those whom God has set apart for himself. God has made them holy and they share in his holiness. In the New Testament, this word refers to all Christians, not to any special group of Christians.

Paul referred here to believers in Jesus but avoided using a specific term like “Christians.” Other ways to translate this word are:

God’s own people
-or-
people whom God has made holy

Your translation of this Greek word should refer to all believers.

26:10c

they were condemned to death: This clause is passive. The Jewish leaders decided they should die and commanded someone to execute the believers. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊the Jewish leaders⌋ decided that they should die
-or-

⌊the Jewish leaders⌋ ordered someone to execute/kill them
-or-

⌊the Jewish leaders⌋ had them killed

I cast my vote against them: This clause may indicate that:

(1) Paul actually voted along with others about whether or not believers in Jesus should be killed. Paul voted that someone should kill them.

(2) Paul agreed when the chief priests decided that someone should kill the believers.

If possible, translate literally, as in interpretation (1). Other ways to translate this clause following interpretation (1) are:

I also voted against them. (Good News Translation)
-or-
I voted to have them killed every time a vote was taken. (God’s Word)

In some languages a more general translation is more natural. If so, translate in a way that allows one of the above interpretations. For example:

I said that they should die.
-or-
I agreed it was a good thing. (New Century Version)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021