SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 47

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 15:8

15:8a

And God, who knows the heart: In Greek, this is literally “God, the heart-knower.” It indicates that God knows everything that people think and believe. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

God, who knows the thoughts of everyone (Good News Translation)
-or-
God knows people’s hearts (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
God, the one who knows what every person thinks and believes

the heart: In Greek, the word heart refers figuratively to the inner person, which includes the mind, the emotions, and the will. In some languages, another body part is used to describe this. For example:

the liver
-or-
the stomach
-or-
the throat

If a literal translation of heart (or another body part) would not refer to the inner person, you should translate the meaning directly. For example:

the insides of people
-or-
the minds of everyone
-or-
what people think/believe

showed His approval: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as showed His approval means here that God approved and accepted the Gentiles because they believed the gospel about Jesus. God showed His approval by giving them the Holy Spirit. (See Acts 10:44–47.) They did not have to follow any Jewish rituals like circumcision first before God accepted them. Other ways to translate this are:

confirmed that he accepts Gentiles (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
gave evidence ⌊to everyone⌋ that he accepted them ⌊as his people⌋

15:8b

by giving the Holy Spirit to them: This phrase indicates how God showed he accepted them. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

when he gave the Holy Spirit to them
-or-
God, who knows hearts, gave the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. In this/that way he showed that he accepted them.

giving the Holy Spirit to them: This refers to causing the Holy Spirit to fill them and communicate with them or through them. In some languages it is more natural to use a different verb than “give.” For example:

causing the Holy Spirit to enter/indwell them
-or-
sending the Holy Spirit to them
-or-
putting the Holy Spirit upon them

the Holy Spirit: This phrase refers to the Spirit of God. Some ways to translate Holy Spirit are:

Spirit/Breath of God
-or-
Sacred Spirit

See how you translated this phrase in 1:2 or 13:52.

just as He did to us: This refers to God giving the Holy Spirit to the Jewish believers on the day of Pentecost (2:4).

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 15:40

15:40a–b

Paul chose Silas and left: It is implied that Paul took Silas with him. For example:

Before Paul left, he chose Silas to accompany him (New Jerusalem Bible)

15:40b

commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord: The Greek is literally “being handed them over to the grace of the Lord by the brothers.” This probably refers to the believers at Antioch praying that the Lord would care for and help Paul as he traveled. It is implied that Silas was included in this prayer. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
after the followers had placed them in God’s care (Contemporary English Version)

See how you translated a similar phrase (“they had been commended to the grace of God”) in 14:26.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 16:31

Paragraph 16:31–34

16:31a

They replied: This clause in Greek is literally “they said.” But Paul and Silas responded to the question of the jailer, so many English versions translate like the Berean Standard Bible.

Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved:
The first clause is a command. It is used as an invitation to believe. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly be a demand and not an invitation. If that is true in your language, translate the first clause as an invitation. For example:

Please believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved
-or-
If you believe in the Lord Jesus, you will be saved
-or-
Would you believe in the Lord Jesus? Then he/God will save you.

Believe in the Lord Jesus: This indicates that he must believe who Jesus is, what he did, and accept him as Lord. Paul and Silas probably told the jailer the main points of the gospel at this time. They explained further in 16:32.

In some languages what is to be believed about Jesus must be included. For example:

Believe that the Lord Jesus ⌊is your savior⌋
-or-
Believe that the Lord Jesus ⌊is the one whom God sent to save you⌋

you will be saved: Paul and Silas refer to Christian salvation here. Use your usual way of translating the word saved. See 15:1.

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

⌊he⌋ will save you

16:31b

you and your household: This phrase in Greek is literally “and your household.” Paul and Silas told the jailer that they also invited his household to believe and be saved. For example:

and your household too (New Jerusalem Bible)

your household: This word refers to the jailer’s family and anyone who lived in his house. For example:

all the people in your house (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 17:23

17:23a

For: The word For introduces an explanation for why Paul said that the people of Athens were very religious.

I walked around: This clause refers to visiting various parts of the city. For example:

I walked through your city (Good News Translation)

examined: This phrase indicates that Paul studied the altars and statues of the gods. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

looked carefully (New International Version)
-or-
observed closely (NET Bible)

your objects of worship: This phrase refers to images and statues of the gods that the people of Athens worshiped. It also included the altars at these images and statues where people would pray to the gods and leave offerings. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

your sacred monuments (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
your worship places
-or-
your altars and images/statues of your gods

17:23b

I even found an altar: Here the verb found indicates that he happened to see an altar to an unknown god while he walked through the city. The verb does not imply that he was searching for this altar. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I noticed…an altar (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
And one of your altars (New Living Translation (2004))

an altar: This word refers to a platform that people use for religious activities. People sacrifice animals on it to honor the god to whom they dedicated the altar. Greek altars of that time were usually made of stone. The picture below is an example of a pagan altar.

Some languages do not have a word for that meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Describe what an altar is. For example:

a platform for sacrificing
-or-
a place for putting something to honor a god

• Use the common language word. If the word is not well known, you may want to explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

The word “altar” refers to a platform that people use for religious activities. People sacrifice animals on it to honor the god to whom the altar was dedicated. At that time Greek people usually made their altars from stone.

this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD: The word inscription indicates that someone carved the words TO AN UNKNOWN GOD into the altar.

TO AN UNKNOWN GOD: This saying is like a title for the altar. Other ways to indicate that this saying is a title are:

‘To an unknown god.’ (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
To An Unknown God (New Jerusalem Bible)

The phrase “This altar is dedicated” or “We dedicate this altar” is implied at the start of this saying. In some languages a full sentence is more natural. If that is true in your language, include the implied information. For example:

This altar is dedicated to an unknown god
-or-
This altar honors a god that we do not know
-or-
We(incl) dedicate this altar to an unknown god

AN UNKNOWN GOD: The word AN indicates a particular god, but the people did not know his name or anything about him. The Greek people believed that there were many unknown gods. English versions do not use the word “the,” because in English “the” implies that there was only one unknown god.

17:23c

Therefore: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore is a common connector that introduces the result of what was stated previously. Some English versions do not use a connector, while others use a different one. For example:

Now (New International Version)

Connect these sentences in a natural way in your language.

what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you: The phrase what you worship as something unknown is emphasized by being first in the clause. If possible emphasize the phrase. If not, translate in the normal order. For example:

Now I am going to proclaim to you the God that you worship as something unknown.

what you worship as something unknown: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translate as what and something refers generally to any kind of thing. The people did not know anything about the unknown god, even what kind of being it was. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the thing/being you worship as someone unknown
-or-
the god whom you worship as someone you do not know

This phrase indicates that the Greek people worshiped this god but did not know anything about him. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

That which you worship, then, even though you do not know it (Good News Translation)
-or-
the unknown God you revere (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
You worship this God, but you don’t really know him. (Contemporary English Version)

I now proclaim to you: This clause in Greek is literally “I proclaim to you.” Paul began to proclaim him in the next verse. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I now proclaim to you. (Good News Translation)
-or-
I am here to proclaim to you! (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
I am about to proclaim to you.

proclaim: This word refers to publicly announcing something. Other ways to translate this word are:

declare (King James Version)
-or-
tell (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 18:21

18:21a

But as he left, he said:
The Greek words are literally “But having said goodbye and having said.” Paul said goodbye to them and then said that he hoped to return. Other ways to translate this are:

but on taking leave of them he said (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
He told them good-by and said (Contemporary English Version)

I will come back to you if God is willing: This clause indicates that if God decides that Paul should return, then he would. Other ways to translate this clause are:

If God lets me, I will come back. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I will come back to you again if God wants me to. (New Century Version)

18:21b

And he set sail from Ephesus: The phrase set sail indicates that Paul got on a sailing ship that departed from that place. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Paul took a boat from Ephesus (God’s Word)
-or-
Then he boarded a ship and sailed from Ephesus.

Paul left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus when he set sail.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 19:25

19:25a

Demetrius assembled the craftsmen: This clause refers to summoning the craftsmen. Other ways to translate this clause are:

These he gathered together (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
called a general meeting of them (New Jerusalem Bible)

the workmen in related trades: This clause in Greek is literally “the workmen also occupied with such things.” Demetrius called together other men who had similar work to the silversmiths. They probably all made things related to the temple of Artemis and the worship of this goddess. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

others whose work was like theirs (Good News Translation)
-or-
the workmen of similar trades (New American Standard Bible)

workmen: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as workmen refers to any kind of worker. It does not imply skilled workers like the Greek word in 19:24b (“craftsmen”).

19:25b

this business is our source of prosperity: This clause in Greek is literally “from this trade/work is prosperity to us.” It indicates that the workers earned a fair amount of money from the work that they did. It indicates that they were prosperous. They earned enough money to buy all the things they needed and have some extra. It does not indicate that they were wealthy. Other ways to translate this clause are:

we earn plenty of money from this work
-or-
we are getting much money from this work of ours
-or-
our income is very good in this work

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:16

20:16a

The Greek conjunction often translated as “for” introduces this verse. It introduces an explanation why Paul wanted to sail directly from Assos to Miletus. For example:

For Paul had decided to sail… (Revised Standard Version)

In some languages it may be more natural to omit the Greek conjunction.

Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus: The phrase had decided indicates here that Paul decided earlier in the journey to sail past Ephesus. He probably chose a ship in Troas (20:13) that was not going to Ephesus.

to sail past Ephesus: After leaving the harbor near Chios, the ship sailed southeast, directly to Samos. It did not turn east and sail to Ephesus. Other ways to translate this clause are:

not to sail/go to Ephesus
-or-
to sail straight ⌊to Samos/Miletus⌋ without going to Ephesus
-or-
to sail past Ephesus ⌊on his way to Miletus⌋

20:16b

to avoid spending time: Here the phrase spending time refers to staying for a day or more. Paul did not want to stay in Ephesus and delay his journey to Jerusalem. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

so that he might not have to spend time (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
so as not to lose any time (Good News Translation)
-or-
so that he would not be delayed there

the province of Asia: The Berean Standard Bible adds the phrase the province of. At that time the name Asia referred to a region in what is now the western part of the country of Turkey. See how you translated this phrase in 20:4.

20:16c

because: This word introduces the reason for Paul wanting to avoid spending time in Asia.

if possible: This phrase indicates that Paul was trying to go to Jerusalem before Pentecost, but he was not sure that he would arrive there by that time.

Pentecost: The word Pentecost refers to a holy day for the Jews. It means “fiftieth.” It is the Greek name for the Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15–21), fifty days after the Passover.

For Christians it refers to the events of 2:1–13. It became a holy day for Christians, seven weeks after Easter, but it is not clear when this practice began.

In some languages this name is not well known. If that is true in your language, you may want to use the name from the common language and explain it in your translation. For example:

Pentecost ⌊holy day⌋

You may also want to explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

The word “Pentecost” refers to a holy day for Jews and Christians. For Jews it refers to Leviticus 23:15–21. For Christians, it refers to Acts 2:1–13.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:10

Paragraph 21:10–11

21:10a

After we had been there several days: The Greek words are literally “And staying many days.” It probably indicates they stayed more days than they at first thought they would stay. It would probably refer to five days or more. For example:

While we were staying for many days (English Standard Version)

21:10b

a prophet: A prophet was a person to whom God tells messages to tell people. These messages are called “prophecies”; see note at 21:9. The person speaks the prophecy to the people or writes it for them. Some ways to translate prophet are:

a spokesman for God
-or-
a man who speaks God’s words
-or-
God’s message-speaker

It is good to use a general term that does not focus only on foretelling the future.

When choosing a term for prophet, consider how you will distinguish prophet from other words such as “angel,” “apostle,” “evangelist,” and “preacher.”

See how you translated this word in 2:16 or 15:32.

came down from Judea: This phrase indicates that the word Judea refers to the hilly region of Judea. Jerusalem is in the middle of this region. It is 760 meters (2,490 ft) above the sea. Caesarea is on the sea coast. It is at least a one day journey from the hilly region of Judea to Caesarea. Indicate that kind of journey in your translation.

In some languages it is not important to indicate going uphill or downhill. If that is true in your language, you may not need to translate the idea of down here. For example:

arrived from Judea (Good News Translation)

Judea: This word usually refers to the province called Judea. The Romans had conquered Judea and ruled it at this time. But the Roman capitol of Judea was Caesarea. So here it probably refers to the hilly region of Judea. For example:

⌊the hills of⌋ Judea

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021