SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 48

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 18:7

Paragraph 18:7–8

18:7a–b

So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus: The Greek words here are literally “having changed places from there he entered the house of a certain man named Titius Justus.” There are two ways to interpret the Greek words:

(1) It refers to changing Paul’s place of meeting. Before this time Paul met regularly at the synagogue, but after this time he met regularly in the house of Titius Justus. For example:

Then he left the synagogue and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus (New Revised Standard Version)

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

(2) It refers to changing Paul’s place of living. Before this time Paul lived in Aquila and Priscilla’s house, but after this time he lived in the house of Titius Justus. For example:

So he left them and went to live in the house of a Gentile named Titius Justus (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because in 18:6 Paul was in the synagogue, and the Greek word “there” in this verse most likely refers to it. The synagogue was the place where Paul had earlier told people about Jesus.

Other ways to translate these clauses according to interpretation (1) are:

Then Paul stopped ⌊meeting⌋ there and entered the house of a man named Titius Justus
-or-
Then Paul changed from that ⌊meeting⌋ place to the house of Titius Justus

18:7b

next door to: This phrase indicates that the house of Titius Justus was next to the synagogue. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the next building
-or-
was next to (Good News Translation)

the house of Titus Justus:
This phrase in Greek is literally “the house of a certain man, by name Titius Justus.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the home of a certain man, whose name was Titus Justus
-or-
the house of a man named Titius Justus (Revised Standard Version)

The word “certain” probably indicates that Luke did not expect his readers to know who Titus Justus was.

a worshiper of God: This phrase indicates that Titus Justus was not a Jew but worshiped the true God. However, he had not converted to following all of the Jewish religion. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

a ⌊non-Jew⌋ who worshiped God
-or-
a ⌊Gentile⌋ believer in God

See how you translated this phrase in 16:14.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 19:11

19:11–20

The events of 19:11–20 occurred during the two years (19:10a). In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that the events of 19:11–20 occurred after the two years. If that is true in your language, indicate that these events occurred during the two years. For example:

⌊During that time⌋ God did…
-or-

⌊During the/that two years⌋ God did…

Paragraph 19:11–12

19:11

God did extraordinary miracles: The Greek words here are literally “God did miracles, not ones (that) commonly occur.” The phrase “not ones (that) commonly occur” indicates that these miracles were different from the usual kinds of miracles. Some of these unusual miracles are listed in 19:12a–c. Other ways to translate this clause are:

extraordinary miracles (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
remarkable…miracles (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
special miracles (King James Version)

through the hands of Paul: This phrase in Greek is literally “by the hands of Paul.” It indicates that God enabled Paul to do the miracles. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

at Paul’s hands (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
used Paul to (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:2

20:2a

that area: This phrase in Greek is literally “those parts/districts.” It refers to the regions in the province of Macedonia. Paul probably went to those regions where the churches in Macedonia were. He visited the believers there on his way to Greece. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

these parts (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
those regions (Good News Translation)

20:2b

speaking many words of encouragement: Like in 20:1, this phrase also refers to encouraging the believers. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

encouraged the people with many messages (Good News Translation)
-or-
He said many things to strengthen the followers (New Century Version)

20:2c

he arrived in Greece: The Greek grammar indicates that Paul arrived in Greece after going to those places in Macedonia. Indicate in your translation that Paul arrived in Greece after going to those places in Macedonia. For example:

and finally arrived in Greece (New International Version)

Greece: Here the name Greece refers to a region of Greek towns and land that the Romans conquered and ruled. The Romans called it the province of Achaia. Paul traveled south from Macedonia to reach Greece.

Today the word Greece refers to a country that includes the region of Macedonia. You may want to explain the meaning of this word here. An example footnote is:

Here the name “Greece” refers to a region of Greek towns and land that the Romans called the province of Achaia.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:34

20:34

Paul wanted to show that he did not desire to be paid for his ministry, so he reminded them here that he worked to pay for his own needs while he was with them. Some languages need to indicate that kind of connection with a word or phrase. For example:

⌊On the contrary,⌋ you yourselves know…
-or-

⌊Indeed⌋ you yourselves know…

these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions: Paul probably referred to his work as a tentmaker here. By making tents he earned money. He used that money to buy the things that he and the others with him needed. Other ways to translate this clause are:

these hands of mine have worked to supply the needs of me and those who were with me
-or-
I have worked with these hands of mine to provide everything that my companions and I have needed (Good News Translation)
-or-
I worked to support myself and those who were with me (God’s Word)
-or-
I have worked to earn enough money to meet my needs and those of my companions

these hands of mine: This phrase refers to Paul working hard with his hands. In some languages it is more natural to translate it differently. For example:

I
-or-
I, with my own hands,

have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions: This phrase refers to buying food, paying rent for rooms to stay in, and other daily needs. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

earned money so that I and my companions could pay for things we needed ⌊to live⌋
-or-
worked so that I and my companions had money for our expenses

Some languages will have to list the kinds of needs. For example:

have earned money to pay for food, rooms/lodging/shelter, and whatever else my companions and I needed

my companions: This phrase in Greek is literally “the (people) being with me.” This group probably included Timothy and Erastus (Acts 19:22). There may have been other people who were Paul’s companions. They were his companions because they traveled with him as partners in preaching about Jesus. Other ways to translate this word are:

those who were with me (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
my coworkers

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:28

21:28a

Men of Israel: This phrase in Greek is literally “Men, Israelites.” It only refers to one group, the crowd in the temple area. So many English versions combine the two words into one phrase, as the Berean Standard Bible does. But in some languages a literal translation has the correct meaning. For example:

Men/People, Israelites!

They probably expected only men to come and help.

help us: The Berean Standard Bible adds the word us. It is implied from the context.

help: Here this command indicates that the men want help in a situation of urgency and great need. The Jews of Asia thought that Paul taught people that the Jewish religion was wrong (21:28b–c). They also thought that he had defiled the temple (21:28d–e). So they wanted people to help remove Paul from the temple area. They also wanted them to help kill him for those things that they thought he had done.

Here it is best to translate without explaining why they wanted the others to help, because 21:28b–e explains that. Also see General Comment on 21:28a–e below.

21:28b–c

This is the man who teaches everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place: Here the word against indicates that the Jews from Asia thought that Paul opposed the Jewish people, their law, and their temple. They thought he taught that the Jewish religion was wrong. Other ways to translate this clause are:

This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere to turn against the Jewish people, Moses’ Teachings, and this temple. (God’s Word)
-or-
This is the man who is teaching everybody everywhere to despise our people, our Law and this place. (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
this is the one who is teaching all people that we Jews are evil and evil moreover is the law of Moses and our Temple
-or-
this is the man who teaches everyone that our people, our law and this place are worthless
-or-
this is the man who says bad things to everyone about our people, our law and this place

teaches everywhere: Paul had not taught everywhere. But the Jews of Asia used the word everywhere to indicate that they thought that Paul’s teaching had great effect.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Paul taught every man on earth. If that is true in your language, indicate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

teaches people in all the places he has been

our people: Here this phrase refers to the Jewish people in general. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to the Jews of Asia. If that is true in your language, indicate the correct meaning. For example:

us Jewish people
-or-
the people of Israel (Good News Translation)

21:28c

our law: This phrase refers to the Jewish law. This should be clear from earlier verses. But in some languages a literal translation would refer to something else. If that is true in your language, indicate the correct meaning. For example:

our law ⌊that Moses gave to us⌋
-or-
our ⌊Jewish⌋ law/laws

this place: This phrase refers to the Jewish temple. This should be clear from earlier verses. But in some languages a literal translation would refer to something else. If that is true in your language, indicate the correct meaning. For example:

this Temple (Contemporary English Version)
-or-

⌊our⌋ temple here

21:28d

Furthermore: Here this phrase indicates that the Jews of Asia accused Paul of something else. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

moreover (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
And what is more
-or-
And now he has even brought (Good News Translation)

he has brought: The Jews of Asia claimed that Paul took Greeks into the temple area before this time. There were no Greeks with Paul at this time.

Greeks: Here this word probably refers to people of Greece or people who spoke Greek as their first language. The city of Ephesus (21:29a) was Greek city. Other ways to translate this word are:

people of Greece
-or-
Greek people

Some scholars think it refers more generally to non-Jews here (but it is not the usual Greek word for non-Jews). For example:

Gentiles (Good News Translation)

into the temple: Non-Jews/Gentiles were only allowed in the courtyard of Gentiles. So this phrase implies a part of the temple area where they were not allowed.

21:28e

and defiled this holy place: 21:28e is the implied result of 21:28d. The clause defiled this holy place is not a separate action from “brought Greeks into the temple area.”

In some languages a literal translation of and would wrongly indicate that Paul did two different deeds. If that is true in your language, indicate that 21:28e is the result of 21:28d. For example:

and so defiled this holy place

defiled: This word means “to cause something to become unclean or unacceptable to be used for worship.” The Jewish law did not allow foreigners to enter many of the areas of the temple. If they did enter, they defiled it, because they did not belong to the Jewish religion. Other ways to translate this word are:

made impure/unclean/filthy
-or-
spoiled the holiness/cleanness
-or-
caused this holy place to be unholy/bad
-or-
damaged the holiness of this place

this holy place: This phrase refers to the temple. In your translation you may want to make it clear by saying:

this holy temple

holy: The word holy has the meaning of “dedicated to God,” “reserved for God,” or “set apart for God.” The temple was holy since it was the place where he was present in a special way. It was also the place where people worshiped God. They were not to do other things there. Other ways to translate this word are:

sacred

General Comment on 21:28a–e

Most Jews of that time were very committed to their religion. They would be very upset with someone who said their religion was bad. They were also very committed to keeping the temple area holy.

In some languages people will not realize that these words of the Jews of Asia were meant to make the crowd upset and angry. You may want to:

• Explain this using a footnote. An example footnote is:

The Jews believed that Gentile peoples were ritually unclean and that they would cause the temple to be ritually unclean if they entered it. Jews had the right to kill any Gentile that entered the inner courts of the temple.

• Explain some of this information in your translation. For example:

This is the man who teaches all men everywhere to call our people and our law and this place ⌊evil⌋. And besides, he has brought Greeks into ⌊the parts of⌋ the temple area ⌊where the law does not allow them to go⌋ and so defiled this holy place.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 23:2

23:2a

At this: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as At this is the conjunction often translated “and” or “but.” The action of the high priest in this verse is connected to what Paul said in 23:1. He was probably angry about what he said or that he spoke before being told to speak. Other ways to translate the Greek word are:

and (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
then (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
When/After Paul said that,

Ananias: If you provide historical information in footnotes, you may want to talk about Ananias in a footnote here. An example footnote is:

This Ananias was high priest from AD 47 to 59. Two other men are named Ananias in Acts. One is in chapter 5 and the other in chapters 9 and 22.

23:2b

to strike him on the mouth: The word strike can refer to slapping with an open hand or hitting with a closed fist. If possible, translate in a way that allows either meaning. If you must use only one, refer to hitting with a closed fist.

The verse does not say that anyone actually struck Paul, so you should not say that someone hit Paul in your translation.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 23:34

23:34a

The governor read the letter: At that time, the custom was to read aloud.

asked what province Paul was from:
Some languages prefer direct speech here. For example:

asked, “What province are you from?”

province: Here this word refers to a large area of land that the Romans conquered or ruled, that is not in Italy. It may refer to land that used to be ruled by another country, an independent country or to a group of countries. The Roman rulers put another Roman as the ruler over that province. Consider how to translate this word here.

23:34b

Learning that he was from Cilicia: This clause implies that Paul told him that he was from Cilicia.

Some language prefer direct speech here. For example:

Paul answered, “I am from Cilicia.”

Cilicia: See how you spelled this name in 6:9 or 22:3.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 25:4

25:4a–b

But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon: 25:4a–b in Greek is indirect speech. For example:

But Festus replied that Paul was in custody in Caesarea, and that he would be going back there shortly himself. (New Jerusalem Bible)

But 25:5a–c is direct speech in Greek. In some languages it is more natural to have it all as direct speech, as in the Berean Standard Bible.

25:4a

But: 25:4a begins with a Greek phrase that is often translated as “so then.” For example:

Then (NET Bible)

The Berean Standard Bible translates just the Greek conjunction in the Greek phrase that begins this verse. The Berean Standard Bible translates the conjunction as But because there is some contrast between what the Jewish leaders wanted and what Festus said to them. Some other English versions also begin this verse with But. For example:

But (New Jerusalem Bible)

Paul is being held in Caesarea: This clause is passive. Some languages must translate it as an active or intransitive clause. For example:

⌊Soldiers/They⌋ are guarding Paul at Caesarea
-or-
Paul is in custody/prison in Caesarea

25:4b

I myself am going there soon: The word soon probably refers to a day or several days.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021