SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 5

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:6

20:6a

And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And here indicates contrast. The seven men went ahead but Paul and the others waited in Philippi until the Feast of Unleavened Bread ended. This is why many English versions translate this word as “But.”

the Feast of Unleavened Bread: This phrase in Greek is literally “the days of the unleavened bread.” It refers to the Jewish feast where they ate unleavened bread. So the Berean Standard Bible translates the words “the days of” as the Feast of.

Over a thousand years before Jesus was born, God freed the Jews from slavery in Egypt. On the night before, he told them to bake unleavened bread so they could leave quickly. The purpose of the feast was to help the Jews remember this and thank God for what he had done for them.

Some possible ways to translate this are:

Feast of bread made without leaven/yeast
-or-
Feast of bread made without raising/expanding agent/stuff
-or-
Feast when people eat bread with no leaven/yeast

See how you translated this phrase in 12:3.

Unleavened Bread: This was a thin bread that people cooked without yeast or leaven. Yeast and leaven cause dough to expand.

If people in your area are not familiar with making dough rise, here are other ways to translate this phrase:

• Use a word or phrase that describes the leaven. For example:

bread without the thing that spreads to make bread rise/swell
-or-
bread without the thing that makes it expand

• Use the word or phrase from the national language and indicate its meaning. For example:

bread without leaven/yeast that makes bread swell

• Use the common language phrase. If people in your language are not familiar with this phrase, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Unleavened bread has no leaven. Leaven is something that spreads in flour dough and causes it to expand. After the dough expands, it is baked.

Philippi: See how you spelled this name in 16:12.

20:6b

five days later we rejoined them in Troas: This clause indicates that Paul, Luke, and probably other believers boarded a ship in Philippi. The ship took five days to cross the Aegean Sea and arrive at Troas. Other ways to translate this clause are:

⌊boarded a ship,⌋ ⌊crossed the sea,⌋ ⌊landed at⌋ Troas five days later, and joined the others there

20:6c

where we stayed seven days: This clause tells the reader more about Troas. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are other places named Troas, and Paul, Luke, and the others 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 Troas. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

We stayed there seven days.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:38

20:38a–b

They were especially grieved by his statement that they would never see his face again: The phrase his statement that introduces indirect speech. Some languages usually have direct speech. For example:

he had said, “You will never see my face again.”

20:38a

They were especially grieved by: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as grieved means to experience pain. When Paul told the elders that they would not see him again, they experienced emotional pain and grief. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

sorrowing most of all because of (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
grieving especially about
-or-
hurt them most of all (God’s Word)
-or-
What really made their hearts sad were

20:38b

they would never see his face again: The phrase see his face is a Hebrew idiom that means “see him.” For example:

they would never see him again (Good News Translation)

See how you translated similar words in 20:25 (“see my face”).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:32

21:32a

soldiers and centurions: This phrase in Greek has the order “soldiers and officers.” The Berean Standard Bible and some English versions have the order as soldiers and centurions although this order is less common in English.

These centurions were probably the leaders of these soldiers. In some languages this must be made clear. For example:

soldiers and ⌊their⌋ centurions
-or-
centurions and ⌊their⌋ soldiers

centurions: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as centurions means “leader of one hundred.” The Berean Standard Bible also translates it as “centurion” in 10:1. You may want to:

• Translate the meaning literally. For example:

officers of one hundred men ⌊each⌋

• Use the term for a low-ranking officer in the army in your country. For example:

captain

• Use a general word for an officer.

See how you translated the word “centurion” in 10:1.

ran down: The word down indicates that the fortress where the soldiers were was above the temple area. They ran down a set of steps to reach the temple area.

the crowd: The Greek word is literally “them.” It refers to all the people throughout the city who gathered around Paul outside of the temple area.

21:32b

the people: The Greek just has a word ending that means “they.” It refers to the same group as “the crowd” in 21:32a. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

they (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the rioters (New International Version)

the soldiers: Here the word soldiers includes the officers.

21:32c

they stopped beating Paul: Here the word beating probably refers to hitting with fists. 21:31a implies that the crowd began beating Paul soon after they left the temple area. Another way to translate this clause is:

they stopped hitting Paul

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 22:25

22:25a

But: The Greek conjunction often translated as “and” or “but” introduces this verse. It is sometimes not translated, as in the New International Version. The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek conjunction here as But because the Berean Standard Bible, as well as some other English versions, see contrast between what the commander commanded in 22:24 and what Paul said here. Other English versions do not see contrast here. For example:

And (King James Version)
-or-
When they tied Paul… (New Living Translation (2004))

they stretched him out: The soldiers prepared to flog Paul by putting his hands forward and up around a post. They were preparing to tie his wrists to the post and flog his back. Some ways you might say this are:

they stretched out his arms/hands to tie them ⌊to a post⌋ and then whip him
-or-
they stretched his arms out and began to tie him up so they could whip him ⌊on his back⌋

to strap him down: There are two ways to interpret the Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to strap him down:

(1) They indicate that the soldiers were preparing to flog Paul. For example:

for the whips (English Standard Version)

(New International Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, NET Bible, English Standard Version)

(2) They indicate that he was tied with leather straps. For example:

with the thongs (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the soldiers had already put chains on Paul’s wrists (21:33). They would probably use those to tie Paul to the whipping post.

22:25b

centurion: The centurion was an officer in the Roman army who usually led one hundred soldiers. Translate this word as you did in 10:1 (“centurion”).

22:25c

Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?: The Greek words are literally “If a man/person (is a) Roman and uncondemned, it is lawful for you(plur) to flog him?” There are two issues here:

Issue 1: Meaning

There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as without a trial:

(1) It means have a trial and the judge declares a person not guilty of a crime. It implies that all appeals are completed and the judgment of “not guilty” still stands. For example:

Do you have the right to beat a Roman citizen who has not been proven guilty? (New Century Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, English Standard Version, King James Version)

(2) It means not have a trial. For example:

Is it legal for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and has not been brought to trial? (New Jerusalem Bible)

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

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) because the Greek word is the negation of “to condemn as guilty;” it is not the negation of the Greek word that means “to judge.”

Other ways to translate these words following interpretation (1) are:

Does the law allow you to flog a Roman citizen, and an unconvicted one at that? (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Do you have the right to beat a Roman citizen who has not been proven guilty (New Century Version)
-or-
Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who has not been judged guilty in court
-or-
Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen to whom the judge has not yet said, “You are guilty of this crime.”

Roman law protected Roman citizens from being flogged before a judge said someone was guilty and deserved to be punished. If the person appealed his case, they were also not allowed to punish him until the appeal upheld the judge’s decision. In some languages, this will not be clear. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Roman law stated that a Roman citizen should not be flogged unless a judge first decided he was guilty and all court appeals agreed with the judge.

Issue 2: Rhetorical Question

This rhetorical question implies that the soldiers should not flog Paul. The centurion knew that a judge first had to decide that a Roman citizen was guilty of a crime before that person could be flogged. Translate these clauses with that meaning. Some ways are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned? (English Standard Version)

• As a statement. For example:

⌊You and I both know that⌋ it is not legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been judged guilty.

Is it lawful: This phrase refers to what the law permits. It implies the Roman law here. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

Is it legal (New International Version)
-or-
Does the law allow (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Do you have the right (New Century Version)
-or-
Does your/Roman law say that

a Roman citizen: The word citizen indicates that the Roman government considered Paul to belong to Rome. He had rights as a Roman. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

a Roman by right
-or-
have Roman citizenship
-or-
legally a person of Rome
-or-
belong to Rome
-or-
on the list of Roman people

General Comment on 22:25c

Paul clearly implied here that he was a Roman citizen. In 22:26 the centurion showed that he understood that implied information. In some languages the implied information will not be clear. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Include the implied information in your translation. For example:

If someone ⌊like me⌋ is a Roman citizen and no judge has declared him guilty, is it legal for you(plur) to flog him?
-or-
Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen, ⌊like me,⌋ who hasn’t even been found guilty?
-or-

⌊I am⌋ a Roman citizen. Is it legal for you to flog ⌊me⌋ when ⌊I⌋ have not even been found guilty?

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

With this question, Paul clearly implied that he was a Roman citizen (see 22:26).

• Allow 22:26 to explain the implied information.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 23:27

23:27a

This man was seized by the Jews: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

The Jews had seized this man (God’s Word)

and they were about to kill him: Here the phrase about to indicates that the Jews were trying to kill Paul but had not killed him yet (21:31). Another way to translate this clause is:

they were trying to kill him

23:27b–c

I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen: The commander said here in his letter (though it was not true) that he learned that Paul was a Roman first, and then for that reason, he went and rescued Paul. Other ways to translate this connection are:

I came up with the detachment and rescued him, because I had learned that he was a Roman citizen (NET Bible)
-or-
I learned that he is a Roman citizen, so I went with my soldiers and rescued him. (Good News Translation)

23:27b

A contrast is implied from the context, so many English versions add the conjunction “but” here. For example:

but I came with my troops and rescued him (New International Version)

troops: This word refers to a group of soldiers. 21:32 does not tell us the number of soldiers, but it was probably many soldiers to make the mob stop beating Paul.

23:27c

I had learned: Here this clause indicates that someone told the commander that Paul was a Roman.

he is a Roman citizen: Paul was a Roman citizen at the time that the commander wrote this letter.

a Roman citizen: The word citizen refers to one of a group of people whom the Roman government gave certain rights and privileges. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

Roman by right
-or-
have Roman citizenship
-or-
legally a person of Rome
-or-
belong to Rome
-or-
on the list of Roman people

See how you translated this phrase in 22:25.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 24:24

Paragraph 24:24–26

24:24a

Felix returned: The word returned probably indicates that Felix came to the room where the court hearing was, or a similar place. He lived in a different part of Herod’s palace (23:35b).

Jewess: This word refers to a woman who is a Jew.

24:24b

He sent for Paul: This clause indicates that Felix ordered one of his servants to go and bring Paul from the room where the soldiers guarded him.

24:24c

Christ Jesus: The order of the words emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ. However, in some languages the order of the words Christ Jesus is not natural. If that is true in your language, emphasize the fact that Jesus is the Christ in a natural way. For example:

Jesus, who/he is the Christ

Christ: The word Christ is a title for Jesus. It means “the anointed one.” The Jews used it to refer to the special person God promised to send. See how you translated this word in 2:31 or 15:26.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 26:2

26:2a–c

Paul spoke with respect to King Agrippa. Translate in a way that indicates respect.

I consider myself fortunate: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fortunate refers to being favored. King Agrippa favored Paul by wanting to listen to his story. Agrippa, as king, could have ignored Paul because Paul was not an important person in Roman society. Paul was important to the Jews only as a threat to their religion. But King Agrippa wanted to listen to him. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I consider myself favored
-or-
I think of myself as privileged
-or-
I think it is very good for me ⌊that you are willing to hear my story⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 27:2

27:2a

We boarded…ship: This clause refers to going onto a ship. Other ways to translate this clause are:

We went aboard a ship (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
We got on a ship (New Century Version)

Adramyttian: This name refers to a city that was on the coast of the province of Asia (now western Turkey) under Roman rule.

27:2b

to sail: The verb sail refers to traveling by ship. At that time ships used sails and the wind to move forward. In some languages a more general verb will indicate the correct meaning. For example:

leave (Good News Translation)
-or-
to go

ports: The word ports refers to cities on the shore with places for ships to stop. These cities were in various places along the coast.

the coast of Asia: The Berean Standard Bible adds the phrase coast of to indicate that these places were along the edge of the sea. Some English versions add the phrase “province of” to distinguish this region from the region of the world that includes the country of China. In the time of the Bible, 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 2:9 or 24:18.

27:2c

we put out to sea: This refers to leaving the place where the ship was tied and begin traveling on the sea. Other ways to translate this clause are:

we sailed away (Good News Translation)
-or-
set sail (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

sea: This refers to a large body of water. The land on the other side of a sea is usually too far away to be seen.

27:2d

a Macedonian from Thessalonica: The word Macedonian refers to a person from the province of Macedonia. The city of Thessalonica was in Macedonia. It was the home town of Aristarchus. But this phrase indicates that being a Macedonian was more important than being from Thessalonica.

a man from ⌊the province of⌋ Macedonia and ⌊whose hometown was⌋ Thessalonica

Macedonian: Macedonia was a province of Greek cities and land ruled by Romans. See how you spelled this name in 16:9.

Thessalonica: Thessalonica was a large city for that time. See how you spelled this name in 17:1.

was with us: Aristarchus joined Paul and Luke some time before the ship left Caesarea. This phrase indicates that Aristarchus was with Paul and Luke when the ship left. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

was with us ⌊when the ship left⌋
-or-
joined us ⌊before the ship left⌋

General Comment on 27:2a–d

Aristarchus joined Paul and Luke before the ship left Caesarea. The phrase “was with us” may indicate that he joined them before they boarded the ship. In some languages it is more natural to have 27:2d before 27:2c or 27:2a. For example:

2aWe boarded an Adramyttium ship 2babout to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia. 2dAristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. 2cWe put out to sea.
-or-

2dAristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was/joined with us. 2aWe boarded an Adramyttium ship 2babout to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and 2cwe put out to sea.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021