26:22a–b

But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike: The Greek is literally “Therefore, having obtained help from God up to this day I have stood testifying to both small and great.” The word “therefore” introduces the result of Jesus commanding him to preach to all people (26:20). It introduces “I have stood.” “Having help from God” further describes how Paul had stood. For example:

⌊I have been preaching, and⌋ so I have stood testifying to this day to both small and great, having/with help from God

But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify: The English versions connect the phrase to this day in two ways:

(1) It indicates that Paul had God’s help for all that time. For example:

To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying (Revised Standard Version)

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

(2) It indicates that Paul persevered in testifying for all that time. For example:

But I was blessed with God’s help, and so I have stood firm to this day, testifying (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it goes more naturally with help than with stand here.

26:22a

But: The Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions add the word But here. There is contrast to the Jews trying to kill Paul (26:21). But 26:22 connects to 26:20, as the above note shows.

I have had God’s help: The Greek clause can be translated literally as “experiencing help which is from God.” It emphasizes that the help was from God. Other ways to translate this clause are:

having the help that comes from God
-or-
I have received help from God himself (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
with help from God himself

to this day: This phrase indicates that God had helped Paul from the time Paul began to preach until the time he spoke this. This phrase indicates that the help had not stopped. Paul also expected that help to continue. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

To this very day (New International Version)
-or-
all this time (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
right up to this present time (New Living Translation (2004))

26:22b

(New Jerusalem Bible🙂 I have stood firm to this day, testifying: This clause in Greek is literally “I have stood/stand testifying.” Testifying was what Paul did while standing. There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the New Jerusalem Bible translates as stood firm:

(1) It indicates that Paul stood in the past and continues to stand at this time. It refers to persevering and not giving up. In the past and continuing to this day, Paul persevered in telling others about Jesus. He did not stop when people opposed him. For example:

I have stood firm to this day, testifying (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, King James Version)

(2) It indicates that Paul is standing at this time. It refers literally to Paul standing and speaking before King Agrippa at this time. So these English versions add the word “here.” For example:

I stand here testifying (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible, Revised Edition, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, English Standard Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek perfect tense usually indicates that kind of meaning. Also, 26:22a indicates a long time and not just the current time.

testifying: This word means “to report what one saw.” See how you translated it in 26:5. The thing that Paul testified about is told in 26:23.

to small and great alike: The words small and great refer to a person’s status. Paul preached to slaves, who had low status, and leaders. This phrase implies all kinds of people. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

from the least to the greatest (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
to high and low (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
to important and unimportant people (God’s Word)
-or-
to ⌊all kinds of⌋ people, small/lowly or great/high

26:22c

I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen: This clause indicates that Paul spoke things about the Christ that agreed with what the prophets and Moses said in the Old Testament. Paul did not add other teachings. Other ways to translate this clause are:

What I say is the very same thing which the prophets and Moses said was going to happen (Good News Translation)
-or-
I tell them only what the prophets and Moses said would happen (God’s Word)

what the prophets and Moses said would happen: The Greek clause can be translated literally as “what both the prophets said would happen and Moses.” The name Moses is either an afterthought or placed there for emphasis. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

what the prophets and Moses himself said would happen (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
what the prophets said would happen as well as what Moses said ⌊would happen⌋

prophets: The prophets were people who received messages from God. The message from God (often called a “prophecy”) may be in words or visions. It may reveal something about a past, present, or future event, or it may reveal someone’s thoughts, motives, or attitudes. It is not like a sermon, prepared by the preacher’s study of the Bible, but God may inspire a preacher with a prophecy during a sermon. The person speaks the prophecy to the people or writes it down for their use. Some ways to translate prophets are:

spokespersons for God
-or-
ones who speaks/brings God’s message/words

See how you translated this word in 2:16 or 24:14.

© 2001, 2021 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

27:22a

to keep up your courage: Here this phrase refers to helping the people have hope and confidence to face the current danger. The people could stop worrying about dying, because Paul assured them that they would all survive the storm. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

to have courage (God’s Word)
-or-
to cheer up (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
to stop worrying/fearing

27:22b

you will not experience any loss of life: Here the phrase loss of life refers to dying in the storm. All the people would make it to land safely. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Not one of you will lose your life (Good News Translation)
-or-
not a single life will be lost (Revised English Bible)
-or-
none of you will die (New Century Version)
-or-
you will be safe (Contemporary English Version)

but only of the ship: This clause in Greek is literally “except the ship.” This indicates that the ship would be lost. The storm would destroy the ship. Other ways to translate this are:

only the ship will be destroyed (New International Version)
-or-
only the ship will be lost (Good News Translation)
-or-
but the storm will destroy the ship

© 2001, 2021 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

28:10a

honored us in many ways: The word honored refers to praising someone, showing respect to him, telling others that they esteemed him. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ways can refer to praise as well as gifts of money or other things that show that the person respects them. Other ways to translate this clause are:

gave us many honors (New Century Version)
-or-
honoured us with many marks of respect (Revised English Bible)
-or-
honored us with praise ⌊and gifts⌋ ⌊and money⌋

us: The people included Luke in these honors as Paul’s associate. Probably Aristarchus (27:2) and other Christians were still traveling with them at this time, because they had not arrived in Rome yet.

28:10b

supplied our needs: This clause in Greek is literally “they gave the things for the needs.” The context implies that they gave food and supplies to Paul and Luke and the other believers traveling with Paul for their journey to Rome. For example:

people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip (New Living Translation (2004))

28:10c

when we were ready to sail: This refers to three months after the shipwreck on Malta (28:11). They were about to board a ship headed to Rome. Other ways to translate this clause are:

when the time came to sail (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
When we were ready to leave, three months later, (New Century Version)

General Comment on 28:10a–c

The time phrase “After three months” in 28:11a also refers to the events 28:10b–c. See the general comment at 28:11d.

© 2001, 2021 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

2:2a

a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heaven can mean either “heaven” or “sky.” Some languages must choose between using “heaven” or “sky.” There are two ways to interpret the Greek word:

(1) It means heaven, the place where God dwells. For example:

heaven (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), English Standard Version, New Century Version)

(2) It means sky. For example:

the sky (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

a sound…came from heaven: In some languages a verb different than came must be used here. For example:

a sound was heard from heaven
-or-

⌊they⌋ heard a sound from heaven

a mighty rushing wind: Here the word mighty indicates that the wind was very strong. In some languages a different word is used for that meaning. For example:

the blowing of a violent wind (New International Version)
-or-
a strong, driving wind, a noise (Revised English Bible)

2:2b

filled the whole house: This phrase indicates that people everywhere in the house clearly heard that sound. In some languages a different verb must be used here. For example:

enveloped the whole house
-or-
took over the whole house
-or-
reverberated inside the house
-or-
was heard in every corner of the house

sitting: The people were probably sitting on the floor with their legs crossed. You should use the normal word for sitting in your language.

© 2001, 2021 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

3:20a

Some English versions like the New International Version include 3:20a as part of 3:19. However, the UBS Handbook Greek New Testament (UBS5) puts this clause at the beginning of 3:20 as does the Berean Standard Bible. Put this text in the same place that the major language version in your area puts it.

that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as refreshing also means “rest.” This phrase probably refers to times when God will do things for them that will give them joy and encouragement. It may also refer to times when God will relieve believers from being persecuted. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

times of comfort may come from the Lord
-or-
the Lord God will strengthen your hearts
-or-
times of encouraging your livers will be coming/arriving from God

the Lord: Here this word refers to God. Some languages must say who this refers to. For example:

Lord ⌊God⌋

3:20b

He may send Jesus, the Christ: This clause refers to the second coming of Jesus. Some languages must clearly indicate that. For example:

he may send the Christ ⌊again⌋

Some languages must say where the Christ will be sent. If that is true in your language, refer generally to believers. For example:

he may send the Christ ⌊to his people⌋

Jesus, the Christ: This phrase indicates that Jesus is the Christ. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

that is, Jesus (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
even Jesus (New International Version)

3:20c

who has been appointed for you: This clause further describes the Christ. It does not separate Christ from other Christs. For the correct meaning in some languages, translators must avoid the word who. For example:

He has been appointed for you.

This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

whom ⌊God⌋ has appointed for you

has been appointed: The Greek indicates that God chose Jesus before this time. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

has already been chosen
-or-
was ordained

© 2001, 2021 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

4:26a–b

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One: Both clauses, The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, have the same purpose: to go against the Lord and against His Anointed One. Here are some other ways to indicate that:

The kings of the earth took their stand against the Lord and against his Anointed One, and the rulers gathered to do likewise
-or-
The kings of the earth stood together, and the rulers assembled together, against the Lord and against his Christ (NET Bible)

4:26a

take their stand: This phrase indicates that the kings went and stood in preparation to go against God and his Anointed One. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

went and stood in preparation ⌊to go⌋
-or-
take up position (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
prepare to fight (New Century Version)

The tense on the Greek verb usually indicates past tense. It is the same tense as on the Greek word translated “gathered.”

4:26b

the Lord: This phrase refers here to God. In some languages a literal translation would refer to Jesus. If that is true in your language, make it clearly refer to God. For example:

the Lord ⌊God⌋
-or-

⌊God⌋ the Lord

His Anointed One: In Psalm 2:2, this phrase refers to the Jewish king at that time, many hundreds of years before Jesus. In 4:27 Luke interprets Psalm 2:2 to be a prophecy about Jesus as the Christ, the Greek word that means “anointed one.” But Luke here is only quoting Scripture and not yet interpreting it, so you should translate it without capital letters. For example:

his anointed one (New International Version (2011))

Anointed One: When God chose someone for a special task, God’s spokesman would pour oil on his head as a symbol of that choosing (for example, Samuel anointed Saul to be king in 1 Samuel 9:15–16). Many languages do not have a custom of anointing like this. If that is true in your language, translate the meaning. For example:

chosen one

The Greek word is literally “Christ.” But it would be incorrect to use that word with all its Christian meaning in a quote from the Old Testament.

© 2001, 2021 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

5:21a

At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told: The Greek is more literally “and, having heard, they entered the temple at daybreak.” The words “having heard” refers to what the angel told them in 5:20. It indicates that the apostles had heard and were ready to obey what the angel told them as soon as the gates to the temple courts were opened at daybreak.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

After hearing that, they entered the temple courts at dawn

At daybreak: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as daybreak refers to the time when the sun begins to rise above the horizon, or any time near to that time. Here are some other ways to translate this:

at dawn (Good News Translation)
-or-
when the sun was coming up

the temple courts: The Greek is “the temple” but refers to the temple area, as in 5:20. See how you translated this phrase there.

5:21b

began to teach: The Greek tense of the word teach indicates ongoing action. They were teaching over the next days and weeks. But the apostles were also teaching earlier (4:2, 18). Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

began again to teach

Some languages can imply an ongoing action with the simple past or similar tense. For example:

and taught (Revised Standard Version)

the people: The Berean Standard Bible adds these words to make clear whom the apostles were teaching. Some languages would not need to add them for the correct meaning.

Paragraph 5:21c–24

5:21c

When the high priest and his associates arrived: This happened on the same day as the apostles beginning to preach again (5:21b). For example:

⌊That day,⌋ when the high priest and his associates arrived

This event has not been mentioned before. In some languages it is more natural to omit the word When. You will then need to add “and” after arrived. For example:

⌊That day,⌋ the high priest and his associates arrived and

the high priest and his associates: The phrase the high priest and his associates is the same group as in 5:17a. See how you translated it there.

arrived: Here this word probably refers to the place where the Sanhedrin usually met.

5:21d

they convened: This phrase indicates that the high priest and his associates sent a message to all the men who belong to the Sanhedrin, for them to gather for a meeting. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

they summoned (NET Bible)
-or-
they called…to meet/gather

the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel: There are two ways to interpret the connection between the Sanhedrin and the full assembly of the elders of Israel here:

(1) The phrase the full assembly of the elders of Israel explains the phrase the Sanhedrin. For example:

the Sanhedrin, the full Council of the Israelite nation, (Revised English Bible)

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

(2) The full assembly of the elders of Israel was a separate group from the Sanhedrin. For example:

the council and all the senate of Israel (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, King James Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because we know of no document of that time that supports two groups here (interpretation (2)).

Sanhedrin: This word refers to a group of people who made decisions that affected all or some of the Jews. In the New Testament it is often used as a name for the Jewish ruling council, as here. They made laws and set political policy (all subject to the Roman governor). They made decisions relating to the temple and to the worship there. This group of Jewish leaders also were the judges in the main court of the Jews. You may want to:

• Translate this word as a name. You may then want to explain its meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This word refers to the Jewish ruling council.

• Translate the meaning of the name. For example:

council (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
highest Jewish council of leaders
-or-
the Jewish ruling group

5:21e

sent to the jail for the apostles: In Greek this sentence is more literally “they sent to the jail for them to be brought.” It indicates that the high priest and his associates sent someone to bring the apostles from the jail. Here are some other ways to translate this:

sent to the prison to have them brought (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
they sent orders to the prison to have the apostles brought before them (Good News Translation)

The Greek clause ‘to be brought’ is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

They sent some men to the jail to bring the apostles to them (New Century Version)

© 2001, 2021 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.