SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 27:6

Paragraph 27:6–8

27:6a

an Alexandrian ship: The ship’s home port was Alexandria, a city in Egypt. Alexandria was a well-known city at that time. For example:

a ship of Alexandria (Revised Standard Version)

ship: This ship was a large ship at that time. It carried two hundred and seventy-six people on it as well as many tons of grain and probably other cargo. See the drawing at 27:1a.

sailing for Italy: The ship’s captain planned to sail the ship to Italy. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

that was going to sail for Italy (Good News Translation)
-or-
leaving for Italy (New Jerusalem Bible)

27:6b

put us on board: Julius arranged for Paul, the other prisoners, Luke, the soldiers, and himself to travel by this ship. Then they all went onto the ship. Other ways to translate this clause are:

he took us aboard it
-or-
he ordered us to board that ship (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he moved us to it

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 27:38

27:38a

After the men had eaten their fill: This clause in Greek is literally “having eaten enough.” After fourteen days of eating nothing, the people could only eat a little before feeling full. Other ways to translate this clause are:

After everyone had eaten enough (Good News Translation)
-or-
After they had satisfied their hunger (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
When they had eaten enough to be satisfied (NET Bible)

the men: Luke wrote this book. While he probably ate at this time, the focus is on the people of the ship, so he does not mention himself here.

27:38b

they lightened the ship: A lighter ship floats higher, so it could reach closer to shore before hitting the sea bottom. If people in your area will not know why the people on the ship would want to lighten it, you may want to:

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

A lighter ship floats higher, so it could get closer to shore before hitting the sea bottom.

• Explain it in your translation. For example:

they lightened the ship ⌊so it would float higher⌋
-or-
they lightened the ship ⌊so they could beach it closer to shore⌋

throwing the grain: The grain may have been in sacks of approximately fifty kilograms each, or it may have been loose in the hold of the ship. If it was loose, they would probably remove it with buckets or baskets. Use a verb that allows one or both possible actions.

the grain: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as grain also refers to wheat. A ship from Alexandria to Italy would mostly likely have wheat as the kind of grain. Some languages must name the particular kind of grain. For example:

the wheat

The purpose of this ship was to carry grain. So it probably had a lot of grain in its hold. It perhaps had thousands of sacks of grain or a similar amount of loose grain. Translate in a way that allows a large amount of grain.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 28:26

28:26a–27f

The quote is from Isaiah 6:9–10. It is also quoted in Matthew 13:14–15. If you have translated those verses in Matthew, translate in the same way here.

28:26a

this people: This refers to a group of people. The Holy Spirit told Isaiah to go to the Jews and speak the following words. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

this people-group
-or-
this nation

28:26b

(alt:) in hearing you will hear: There are two ways to understand this clause:

(1) It is an idiom that emphasizes the fact of hearing. For example:

You shall indeed hear (English Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, God’s Word, English Standard Version)

(2) It is an idiom that indicates repeatedly hearing something. For example:

Listen and listen, (New Jerusalem Bible)

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

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Other ways to translate interpretation (1) are:

although you will hear
-or-
You will hear clearly (God’s Word)

28:26c

(alt:) in seeing you will see: Translate this clause in a similar way to “in hearing you will hear” above. For example:

you shall indeed see (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
You will see clearly (God’s Word)

but never perceiving: The verb perceiving refers to understanding what is seen. Other ways to translate this are:

but never comprehend (God’s Word)
-or-
but never understand ⌊the truth⌋
-or-
but never understand ⌊what is true⌋

General Comment on 28:26b–c

In some languages what was heard or seen must be told. If so, refer to God’s words and deeds. For example:

You will indeed hear ⌊my words⌋ but never understand, and you will indeed see ⌊my deeds⌋ but never perceive
-or-
You will indeed hear ⌊what I say⌋ but never understand, and you will indeed see ⌊what I do⌋ but never perceive

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 1:12

Section 1:12–26

The believers chose Matthias to replace Judas

In this section, the believers were waiting for the Holy Spirit to come. They regularly prayed together. One day Peter said that they needed to choose a replacement for Judas. So they selected two men who had been with Jesus throughout his entire ministry. Then they asked God to help them know which of the two men he would choose. The method they used was to cast lots. (See 1:26 for this.) The lots indicated that God chose Matthias.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas (New International Version)
-or-
Judas’ Successor (Good News Translation)
-or-
Judas is replaced (New Jerusalem Bible)

Paragraph 1:12–14

1:12a

the Mount of Olives: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Mount of Olives are literally “the mountain/hill being-called of-olives.” People called it that because it had olive trees growing on it. It is about 85 meters (280 feet) above the city of Jerusalem, as it was at that time. Use the correct word for that size of a hill. It is next to the east side of the city.

If olive trees are not known in your area, you may want to:

• Use the word that means Olives from the major language. If this word is not well known, you may want to add a descriptive phrase. For example:

Olive Hill ⌊where those fruit trees are⌋
-or-
Hill of ⌊the⌋ olive ⌊trees⌋

• Use the word that means Olives from the major language. Describe the word in a footnote. For example:

The olive tree has a small (about 2.5 centimeters, or one inch), oval fruit with a smooth skin and a hard seed inside. The olive was an essential food in ancient times. It was pressed into oil that was used in cooking and in some rituals. The oil was also used as fuel for lamps and in medicine and cosmetics.

• Use a general word for fruit. For example:

Hill of fruit trees

See how you translated this phrase in Matthew 21:1, Mark 11:1, or Luke 19:29.

Olives: This kind of tree has a small (about 2.5 centimeters, or one inch), oval fruit with a smooth skin and a hard seed inside. The olive was an essential food in ancient times. It was pressed into oil that was used in cooking and in some rituals. The oil was also used as fuel for lamps and in medicine and cosmetics.

1:12b

a Sabbath day’s journey away: The phrase a Sabbath day’s journey refers to a distance of about one kilometer. It is the distance that Jewish laws allowed people to walk on a Sabbath, a Jewish rest day. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away (English Standard Version)
-or-
a short distance away, no more than a Sabbath walk (New Jerusalem Bible)

The word Sabbath here does not indicate that Jesus went to heaven on the Sabbath. So, you do not need to include Sabbath in your translation here. For example:

a half-hour walk from the city
-or-
a walk of a kilometer from the city
-or-
which is about half a mile away from the city (Good News Translation)

You may then want to explain the literal phrase in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

Literally “being a Sabbath’s journey.” It is the distance that Jewish laws allowed people to walk on a Sabbath, a Jewish rest day.

Sabbath: The word Sabbath is the name of the seventh and last day of the week for the Jews. The Sabbath was the special day of the week when the Jews rested and worshiped God. The Law of Moses said that the Jews must not do any work on that day (Deuteronomy 5:12–15).

Here are some ways to translate Sabbath:

the ⌊Jewish⌋ day of rest and worship
-or-
the day for resting and worshiping
-or-
the day to rest and worship God

If the word Sabbath is already known in your area, you may write it according to the sounds of your language. You may also want to include a phrase to explain the meaning. For example:

the Sabat, ⌊the Jews’ worship and rest day⌋

The term you choose should not make people think the Sabbath is on Sunday, the day when Christians worship. The Sabbath for the Jews began at sundown on Friday and ended at sundown on Saturday. You may want to include a footnote to give more information. For example:

“Sabbath” is the name for the seventh day of the Jews’ week. God told them to rest from work and worship him every week on that day.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2:18

2:18a

Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days: The word Even emphasizes the fact that God will pour his Spirit on his menservants and maidservants. Also, the Greek and the Berean Standard Bible place the phrases Even on My menservants and maidservants in the front position in the clause. That emphasizes those phrases. Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

Indeed, it is on my menservants and maidservants, that I will pour my Spirit in those days.
-or-
In those days, I will pour out my Spirit on my menservants and maidservants; yes, I will do that to all of them.

on My menservants and maidservants: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as on My menservants and maidservants is literally “on my male-slaves and on my female-slaves.” The word “slave” refers to people who belong to and obey someone. The difference between “slave” and “servant” is not important here. Many English versions use the word “servants” here. For example:

on my servants, both men and women (New International Version)
-or-
on my servants—men and women alike (New Living Translation (2004))

I will pour out My Spirit: You should translate this clause as you did in 2:17a.

in those days: This phrase refers to “the last days” of 2:17.

2:18b

and they will prophesy: God’s servants (2:18a) will prophesy as a result of God’s Spirit working in them. For example:

and ⌊so⌋ they will prophesy

prophesy: You should translate prophesy like you did in 2:17b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 3:4

3:4a–b

Peter looked directly at him, as did John: Peter and John responded to the man’s request by looking directly at him. This action showed that they wanted to talk to him. It does not mean they stared at him in disapproval.

In some languages a literal translation would have a wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

Peter looked at him, as did John
-or-
Peter turned to speak to him, and John turned too

The grammar here indicates that Peter is more important to the story than John. It is Peter who talked to the man, healed him, and spoke to the crowd.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 4:10

4:10a

then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: The word then connects 4:10 to the “if” in 4:9. If you did not use “if” there, you may want to introduce 4:10 with “therefore” to indicate the connection to 4:9. See the first two examples at 4:9a–b.

let this be known: The Greek phrase here is an indirect command. But some languages cannot use an indirect command here and must translate it as a direct command. For example:

know this (New International Version)

this: The word this refers to what Peter was about to say.

all of you and to all the people of Israel: The members of the Jewish Council were also people of Israel, so you may need to add “other” before people. For example:

you and all the ⌊other⌋ people of Israel

4:10b–d_

It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…that this man stands before you healed: In the Greek and in the Berean Standard Bible the phrase by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is emphasized by being first in the sentence. In some languages it is more natural to have the by phrase after the main clause. For example:

This man stands before you healed by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth

4:10b

by the name of: The phrase by the name of means “by the authority of.” Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

through the power of the name of (Good News Translation)
-or-
because of the power of (God’s Word)

Christ: The word Christ is used here as a title. It is not one of Jesus’ names. The Jews used this title to refer to the special person whom God had appointed and promised to send as king and savior. See how you translated this term in 2:31.

of Nazareth: Peter identified Jesus by naming his hometown, Nazareth. He was born in Bethlehem but grew up in Nazareth and still lived there when he began his ministry. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

from Nazareth (New Century Version)

4:10c_

whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead: The Berean Standard Bible adds the word but, because the second whom also refers to Jesus. In some languages the word “and” would be more natural. For example:

whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead

These two clauses tell the reader more about Jesus. They do not separate Jesus from other men named Jesus. For the correct meaning in some languages, translators must avoid the word whom. For example:

You crucified Jesus Christ of Nazareth and/but God raised him from the dead. It is in name of Jesus that this man stands…

whom you crucified: Roman soldiers had crucified Jesus, but Peter blamed the Jewish leaders of killing him, because they demanded that Pilate have him killed. They were responsible for Jesus being killed.

crucified: The word crucified refers to killing someone by nailing or tying him to a cross made of wood, then setting the cross upright and waiting until the person died. This was a Roman way to cause criminals to die a slow and painful death. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

killed/executed on a cross
-or-
nailed/tied to a cross ⌊to kill him⌋

killed by nailing to a plank/wood of death
-or-
killed on crossed beam(s) of death

whom God raised from the dead: The phrase from the dead indicates that Jesus was among the dead people but then God raised him and caused him to be alive again.

God: This word refers here to the eternal spirit who created everything. See how you translated this word in 1:3.

4:10d

that this man stands before you healed: The phrase this man stands before you indicates that the man was standing with Peter and John in front of the Sanhedrin. It describes the man as standing there. Then Peter indicates that he is healed. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

this man standing before you; he is well/healthy
-or-
this man who stands before you was/is healed

healed: The Greek adjective that the Berean Standard Bible translates as healed indicates that the man was completely healthy and well. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

well (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
with a healthy body (God’s Word)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 5:5

5:5a

Ananias fell down and died: This probably indicates that Ananias died while standing then his body fell to the ground. Here are some other ways to translate this:

he fell down dead (Good News Translation)
-or-
he dropped dead (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he suddenly died and his body fell to the ground

5:5b

great fear came over all who heard what had happened: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as came over indicates that these people became very fearful. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

great fear seized all who heard what had happened (New International Version)
-or-
all who heard about it were terrified (Good News Translation)

all who heard what had happened: The Greek is more literally “all the ones hearing.” There are two ways to interpret to whom this refers:

(1) It refers to those who heard the whole story of Ananias with Peter (5:2b–5a). It includes people who were there and other people who heard soon after. For example:

all who heard of it (Revised Standard Version)

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

(2) It refers to hearing Ananias fall down dead (5:5a). It includes only the people who were there. For example:

everyone present (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible)

Interpretation (2) is possible, but it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because most scholars support it as well.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021