SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 51

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2:12

2:12a

Astounded: The tense of the Greek verb for Astounded indicates that they continued to be amazed for some time.

perplexed: This word means “puzzled.” They heard and understood the words spoken in this miracle of languages, but were puzzled over the significance of the miracle. So they did not know what to think or do about it. The tense of the Greek verb for perplexed indicates that they continued to be perplexed for some time. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

puzzled (God’s Word)
-or-
did not know what to make of it (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

2:12b

they: The word they refers to some of the crowd, because others of them had an insulting explanation (2:13).

asked: The Greek tense indicates that they asked more than once. The question was asked more than once because no one had a good answer.

What does this mean?: The Greek is literally “What does this want to be?” It is an idiom that indicates that they did not know what the miracle meant but hoped that its meaning would become clear.

This is probably a real question. They wanted to understand the significance of the miracle.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2:45

2:45a

Selling: This word means “exchange/trade something for money.” One person would give another person money, and in exchange the second person would give the first person the thing. The thing now belonged to the first person. Here the word indicates that a believer would sell some or all of the things that he or she owned.

possessions: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as possessions refers to land, houses, and perhaps even furniture. For example:

property (Good News Translation)

goods: The word goods refers here to things other than land, houses, and furniture. Examples would be tools, kitchen things, food, and clothing.

2:45b

they: The pronoun they refers to the believers who sold some or all of what they owned (2:45a).

shared: This word implies that they gave the money from selling the things. In some languages it is helpful to include the implied information. For example:

gave ⌊the money⌋

anyone who was in need: Here the pronoun anyone refers to any person among the believers.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 4:4

4:4a

many who heard the message believed: This clause indicates that of all the people who heard Peter and John tell about Jesus (3:12–26), many of them believed. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

many of those who had listened to their message became believers (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
But the people who heard the words of Peter and John earlier, many of them believed in Jesus

the message: This refers to what Peter and John told the people about Jesus (4:2). In some languages some of the information would be helpful for the readers. For example:

the message ⌊about Jesus⌋

believed: Here the word “believe” means to accept that something is true. The people believed that the message about Jesus was true. See how you translated a similar word in 3:16 (“faith”).

4:4b

and the number of men grew to about five thousand: Below are two possible interpretations of the word men:

(1) Many scholars think that this word refers to the men only who had become believers in Jesus. That is, it does not include the women and children who also had believed in him. For example:

so the number of men who believed grew to about 5,000 (God’s Word)

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

(2) Some scholars think that the word may have been used here in a generic way, referring to all the people who had believed in Jesus. For example:

and the number grew to about five thousand (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because that is the usual meaning of the word.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause according to interpretation (1):

so the number of believers now totaled about 5,000 men, not counting women and children (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Therefore counting only the men, the number of believers had now reached five thousand.

grew: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as grew is literally “became.” It implies that the number of believers had increased from more than 3,000 on the day of Pentecost (2:41) to over 5,000 at this time. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

came to (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
increased/rose to

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 4:36

Paragraph 4:36–37

4:36a

Joseph: As it is clear from the description of this man in this verse, he is a different man from the other Josephs in the Bible.

a Levite: This name indicates that he was a descendant of Levi, one of Jacob’s twelve sons. God chose the Levites to be helpers at the temple. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

from the clan of Levi
-or-
a descendant of Levi (God’s Word)

from Cyprus: This phrase is literally “of Cyprus by nation/kind.” It indicates that Joseph was born on the island of Cyprus.

4:36b

whom the apostles called Barnabas: This clause in Greek is passive. Here are some ways to translate it:

• As a passive clause. For example:

who was called Barnabas by the apostles

• As an active clause. For example:

and the apostles called him Barnabas (Contemporary English Version)

meaning Son of Encouragement: This phrase is a Hebrew idiom. It indicates that Barnabas often encouraged others. The phrase Son of does not indicate that he was the son of someone named Encouragement. In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

which means “a person who encourages” (God’s Word)
-or-
which means, he was always encouraging the others

Encouragement: This word means “to give someone hope, courage, or confidence.” Here are some other ways to translate this word:

strengthens the mind/thoughts
-or-
able to give strength to our faith

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 5:31

5:31a

God exalted Him to His right hand: There are three ways to interpret the Greek grammar that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to:

(1) It means by. God exalted Jesus using his right hand. For example:

By his own right hand God has now raised him up (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, God’s Word)

(2) It means at. Jesus was already at God’s right hand when God exalted him. For example:

God exalted him at his right hand (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

(3) It means to. God took Jesus from the grave and raised him to sit at his right hand. For example:

God raised him to his right side (Good News Translation)

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

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because “by God’s right hand” is a common expression in the Old Testament. Also there is no other place in the New Testament where this type of Greek construction clearly indicates the meaning “to,” movement to a new location. The same choice is made at 2:33.

exalted Him: Here the word exalted means “gave a high position to.” God took Jesus up to heaven and put him in the first/highest place of authority under his (God’s) own. Here are some other ways to translate this:

put him in the place of honor (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
made him great
-or-
lifted him up

Prince: The Greek word means “primary leader” or “the leader who began the group he leads.” Here are some other ways to translate this:

top leader
-or-
founding leader

Savior: This word refers to someone who rescues people from danger. Jesus as Savior indicates that he rescues believers from the danger of God’s judgment against sinners.

Here are some ways to translate Savior:

rescuer
-or-
the person who saves ⌊us/you⌋
-or-
the person who saves/rescues ⌊from sin/death⌋

5:31b

in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel: This is a purpose clause. God exalted Jesus to Prince and Savior for the purpose of giving repentance and forgiveness to Israel. Here are some other ways to translate this:

to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
to give the people of Israel the opportunity to repent and have their sins forgiven (Good News Translation)

This purpose has been fulfilled. Jesus has offered repentance and forgiveness to Israel. Some people of Israel have repented and been forgiven. In some languages it is more natural to translate this fulfilled purpose clause as a result clause. For example:

and so he has granted/offered repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel

in order to grant: This Greek phrase is more literally “to give.” See the examples above.

repentance: When a person repents he does these three things:

(a) He feels sorry and sad about his past wrongdoings.

(b) He turns his back on his former ways of doing wrong.

Here are other ways to translate this word:

turning from sin
-or-
to change the way they think and act (God’s Word)
-or-
turn to him
-or-
change their hearts and lives (New Century Version)
-or-
abandon their evil behavior
-or-
regret their sins and change their livers

forgiveness of sins: Here this phrase means that God chooses not to punish a person for the evil things that he has done and thought. God cancels his guilt and treats him as though he had never done those evil things. See how you translated this phrase in 2:38.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 15:18

15:18

that have been known for ages: This indicates that God’s plans for the Gentiles have been known for a long time. Other ways to translate this are:

as he made known long ago (Revised English Bible)
-or-

⌊He caused⌋ people to know this long ago

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 16:9

16:9a

During the night: This phrase may refer to the first night in Troas or some nights later. For example:

That night (Good News Translation)
-or-
One night (New Jerusalem Bible)

Paul had a vision: This clause in Greek is literally “a vision appeared to Paul.” Here the word vision refers to something that appears supernaturally. It is like a dream, but the person is usually awake. It is something or someone that people usually cannot see, but God or Jesus helps them to see it.

Macedonia: Macedonia was a Roman province. It was north of Achaia. The people spoke a dialect of Greek. It was on the other side of the Aegean Sea from Troas.

standing: It is probably implied that in the vision the man was standing in front of Paul.

16:9b

pleading: This word in Greek means “invite” or “summon for aid.” The Greek tense probably indicates that he said “Come over to Macedonia and help us” more than once. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

was…urging (English Standard Version)
-or-
begging
-or-
earnestly requesting ⌊that we help them⌋

Come over to Macedonia and help us: This is a command. The man in the vision was politely requesting Paul to come and help. Translate this as a polite request. Other ways to translate this command are:

Please come to Macedonia and help us.
-or-
Would you come over to Macedonia and help us?
-or-
We would like you to come to Macedonia and help us.

In this vision, the man spoke as if he was in Macedonia.

Come over: This phrase in Greek refers to crossing a barrier. Paul would need to cross the Aegean Sea to get to Macedonia. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

Come across (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Cross ⌊the sea⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 17:1

Section 17:1–9

Paul and Silas went to Thessalonica

In this section, Paul and Silas traveled through several towns and arrived at Thessalonica. Paul preached the gospel of Jesus to the Jews and discussed it with them. Some Jews and a large number of Gentiles who worshiped God believed.

But some Jews did not believe and encouraged some bad people to start a riot against Paul and Silas. They did not find Paul and Silas but dragged a believer named Jason before the city officials. They made him promise to make Paul and Silas leave or else pay a big fine for disturbing the peace. (In 17:10, the believers sent Paul and Silas away from Thessalonica to Berea.)

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Paul preached in Thessalonica, but some Jews caused people to riot against him
-or-
The Uproar in Thessalonica (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
In Thessalonica (New International Version)

Paragraph 17:1–4

17:1a

they: This pronoun refers to Paul and Silas. This is the start of a new chapter, so you may want to use their names instead of the pronoun they. For example:

Paul and Silas (Good News Translation)

passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia: The phrase passed through indicates that Paul and Silas did not stay long in either Amphipolis and Apollonia. Luke probably mentioned these two cities because Paul and Silas stopped for the night there. They probably did not stop and preach here. For example:

traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
travelled by way of Amphipolis and Apollonia (Revised English Bible)

Amphipolis and Apollonia: These names referred to cities in the province of Macedonia. The distance from Philippi to Amphipolis is about 65 kilometers (40 miles). The distance from Amphipolis to Apollonia is about 50 kilometers (31 miles). The distance from Apollonia to Thessalonica is about 55 kilometers (34 miles). Each of these distances would be an all day journey on foot, or perhaps two days.

17:1b

Thessalonica: Thessalonica was a large city for that time. It is estimated that it had somewhere between 20,000 to 100,000 people living there.

a Jewish synagogue: A synagogue was a building where Jews gathered to pray, read scripture, teach, and worship God. See how you translated the word synagogue in 15:21.

Luke described the synagogue here as Jewish, but the word synagogue usually refers to a building for Jews to gather. For example:

a synagogue (Good News Translation)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021