SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 61

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:37

20:37

The actions in this verse (weep, embrace, and kiss) all took place after the prayer in 20:36 was finished. Some languages must make this clear. For example:

⌊Then⌋ they all wept…
-or-

⌊After they finished praying,⌋ they all wept…

They all wept openly: The Greek clause says there was much/great weeping. It is not clear whether this means that they wept a long time or that they wept loudly. If possible, translate in a way that allows either meaning. For example:

There was much weeping among them all (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
They all wept greatly
-or-
Everyone cried a lot (God’s Word)

wept openly: This word refers to water coming from the eyes and probably noises of sadness. Do not use the word “mourn,” as when someone dies.

they embraced Paul and kissed him: At that time, it was common for men to hug and kiss each other on the cheek when greeting or parting. These actions showed that they respected him and loved him like a brother.

In some languages the word embraced or the word kissed has a different meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain it in your translation. For example:

they hugged him and kissed him ⌊with the kiss of brothers⌋
-or-
They hugged him and kissed him good-bye (Good News Translation)
-or-

⌊in brotherly love⌋ they hugged and kissed him
-or-
they gave him ⌊Christian/holy⌋ hugs and kisses

• Translate the meaning of showing respect, affection, or brotherly love when leaving. For example:

bid/wished him farewell ⌊as brothers⌋ ⌊in Christ⌋

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

At that time, it was common for men to hug and kiss each other on the cheek when greeting or parting. These actions showed respect, affection, or brotherly love.

embraced: The Greek words are literally “having fallen on the neck of Paul.” This is an idiom that refers to hugging the body or neck of someone.

kissed: This word refers to a kiss on the cheek. The Greek verb indicates continual or repeated action. Each elder probably kissed Paul more than once. This showed that they loved him very much as their leader. For example:

they repeatedly kissed him (New American Standard Bible)

Or you may want to indicate generally that they hugged and kissed him. For example:

they wept embracing Paul and kissing him

© 2001, 2021 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:31

Paragraph 21:31–36

21:31a

While they were trying to kill him: 21:32c indicates that the crowd was beating Paul. They probably used their fists.

21:31b

commander: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as commander means “leader of one thousand.” The Latin phrase is “tribunus militum.” This kind of officer commanded six hundred to a thousand soldiers in the Roman army. This leader would have six to ten centurions under him who each would lead about 100 soldiers. Other ways to translate this word are:

tribune (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
officer (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
commanding officer (NET Bible)

the Roman regiment: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Roman regiment refers to an army unit of six hundred to a thousand soldiers. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the cohort (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the Roman troops (New International Version)
-or-
the Roman army in Jerusalem (New Century Version)

See how you translated this Greek word in 10:1 (“Regiment”).

Roman: This word means “from Rome” or “under submission to the government in Rome.” The Roman people named themselves by their capital city, Rome.

received a report: This clause indicates that someone told the commander. Other ways to translate this clause are:

word came (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
a report was sent to
-or-
someone told/reported

received: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as received is literally “went up.” Here it probably means “went to someone in authority.” The fortress was above the temple area, so someone from the temple area may have actually gone up to the commander. But more likely a lookout in the fortress tower overlooking the temple area descended to tell the commander.

21:31c

was in turmoil: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was in turmoil refers to being angry and disorderly. It is the same Greek word translated as “stirred up” at 21:27c. But here it refers to being angry and disorderly rather than causing others to be angry and disorderly. Other ways to translate this Greek word are:

acted like a mob
-or-
was/were upset and disorderly
-or-
was/were angry and ready to riot

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 22:24

22:24a

the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks: The clause that Paul be brought is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

the officer ordered the soldiers to take Paul into the barracks (God’s Word)

the commander: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as commander means “leader of one thousand soldiers.” This kind of officer commanded six hundred to a thousand soldiers in the Roman army. Other ways to translate this word are:

tribune (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
commanding officer (NET Bible)

See how you translated this word in 21:31 or 21:37.

barracks: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as barracks means “a place where soldiers lived.” Here it refers to the stone fortress next to the temple. See how you translated this word in 21:34.

22:24b

He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated: The Greek words are literally “to be questioned with whips.” The Romans usually flogged the person first, then took him to the leader so he could question the person. Other ways to translate these clauses are:

to be examined by scourging (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
to be flogged and then questioned

Paul be flogged and interrogated: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊they⌋ flog him and bring him for the commander to question

flogged: Here the word flogged refers to using a whip on a person’s back. The Roman whip used for flogging was made of several leather strips attached to a wooden handle. Often the strips had pieces of metal or bone attached to them to cut deeper into skin.

Other ways to translate this word are:

whipped (God’s Word)
-or-
scourged

In some languages a literal translation would not indicate that the skin would be deeply cut. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the kind of whip in the translation. For example:

cut his skin with a whip ⌊having broken bits of bone tied on⌋

• Translate literally and explain the kind of whip in a footnote. An example footnote is:

The Roman whip was made of several strips of leather. Often pieces of sharp bone or metal were tied to these strips to cut the skin and increase the pain.

22:24c

to determine the reason for this outcry against him: The Roman commander wanted to know what crime Paul had done that caused the people to shout so angrily. Other ways to translate this clause are:

so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
in order to find out ⌊what Paul had done wrong⌋ that caused the people to shout at him like that

this outcry against him: The Jewish crowd shouted for the Roman commander to kill Paul. For example:

were shouting against him
-or-
were shouting demanding his death

him: Here this pronoun refers to Paul.

General Comment on 22:24a–c

Some languages use direct speech for commands. For example:

the commander ordered, “Take this man into the barracks. Flog him and ⌊then⌋ bring him to me so that I can question him to find out why the people are shouting at him like this.”

It is implied that the soldiers obeyed the commander and took Paul into the barracks. 22:25 occurred before they started to flog Paul. In some languages, it is more natural to indicate explicitly that the soldiers did as the commander ordered. If that is true in your language, you may want to add the implied information. For example:

…in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. ⌊So the soldiers took Paul into the barracks.⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 23:26

23:26–30

Verses 26–30 are the commander’s letter to the governor. It may be helpful to your readers to use indents or another format that will show that what follows is the letter. The Berean Standard Bible is one example.

The Good News Translation puts the whole letter in quotes. For example:

26“Claudius Lysias to His Excellency, Governor Felix…30cI have told his accusers to make their charges against him before you.”

23:26a

Claudius Lysias: Claudius Lysias is the name of the commander who wrote this letter.

Here the writer identified himself. In some languages, it is more natural to use a complete sentence here. For example:

⌊I am⌋ Claudius Lysias.
-or-

⌊I,⌋ Claudius Lysias, ⌊write⌋

23:26b

His Excellency: This phrase was an address of honor to people of high social status, like a governor. Felix was more important in status than the commander. Use a word or phrase from your language with that meaning.

See how you translated this Greek word in Luke 1:3 (“most excellent”).

23:26c

Greetings: The Greek word here is literally “to rejoice.” People at that time used this word as a greeting to begin a letter. Other ways to translate this word are:

I greet you!
-or-
I give you goodness

Use the usual word or phrase of greeting in your language that would be fitting for someone of high position.

See how you translated this word in 15:23.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 24:23

24:23a

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 or 23:23.

to keep Paul under guard: The centurion was responsible to keep Paul there as a prisoner. His soldiers would guard Paul, to make sure that he did not escape and also to protect him from those who wanted to kill him. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

that he should be kept in custody (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
to guard Paul (God’s Word)
-or-
that soldiers should guard Paul

Scholars have two opinions about what this phrase indicates:

(1) The soldiers chained and guarded him.

(2) The soldiers guarded Paul but did not chain him.

Either interpretation is possible because both customs were practiced under Roman custody. Lysias, the Roman commander, probably did not have authority to chain a Roman citizen (22:29–30), but higher ranking officials like a governor could put chains on a Roman citizen (26:29). If possible, translate in a way that allows both interpretations.

24:23b

to allow him some freedom: This phrase indicates that the centurion was to allow Paul to do things as long as those things did not interfere with guarding him. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

should have some liberty (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
to allow him to do reasonable things

24:23c

permit his friends to minister to his needs: This phrase refers to allowing Paul’s friends to visit him and to bring him things that he might need. It probably included bringing food. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
not…to stop his friends from helping him (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
to let his friends bring what he needed (New Century Version)

General Comment on 24:23a–c

The centurion did as Felix had ordered. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly imply that the centurion did not do those things. If so, indicate that the centurion obeyed in your translation. For example:

He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs. ⌊And the centurion did so.⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 26:1

Paragraph 26:1–3

26:1a

You have permission to speak for yourself: This phrase in Greek is literally “to speak concerning yourself is permitted.” King Agrippa allowed Paul to speak on anything that would relate to him being a prisoner.

This clause is passive. King Agrippa permitted Paul to speak. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊I⌋ allow you to speak for yourself.

26:1b

Paul stretched out his hand: This clause refers to a polite gesture that shows the person is about to speak. It was a common thing to do to begin a speech at that time. It may have also been a gesture to thank King Agrippa for allowing him to speak. It may have been arm forward and an open hand with palm up or to the side. It was not a gesture asking for silence. In some languages a literal translation will indicate a different meaning. If so, you may want to:

• Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:

Paul motioned with his hand ⌊to begin his speech⌋
-or-
Paul put his hand out ⌊in thanks⌋

• Use a common gesture in your area for beginning a speech here. For example:

Paul bowed

You may then want to indicate the literal words in a footnote and possibly explain it. Some example footnotes are:

Literally “motioned with his hand.”
-or-
Literally “motioned with his hand.” It was a common thing to do to begin a speech at that time. It may have also been a gesture to thank King Agrippa for allowing him to speak.

began his defense: This phrase refers to responding to accusations. The person would explain that he had not done as accused, or that his actions were the right thing to do. See how you translated a similar phrase in 25:8 (“made his defense”).

began: Paul began talking in 26:2 and continued talking until 26:23. The Greek word probably indicates began here.

But in some languages it is more natural to translate without the word began. For example:

made his defense: (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
defended himself as follows: (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 26:1b

The colon (:) at the end of 26:1b and the quote marks at the beginning of 26:2a indicate that 26:2–23 are what Paul said to defend himself. In some languages it is more natural to introduce the speech with the verb “say.” For example:

began his defense, ⌊saying⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 27:1

Section 27:1–12

Paul began his journey to Rome as a prisoner

In this section, the person in charge of the prisoners at Caesarea decided the prisoners heading to Rome should travel by ship. He entrusted Paul and other prisoners to an officer named Julius. Julius took some soldiers with him to help him guard the prisoners, but they are not mentioned in the Greek until 27:31, where they become an important part of the story. In 27:2, Julius, Paul, other prisoners and some of Paul’s companions boarded a ship that the owner planned would go part way to Italy.

At Myra, they found a ship that the owner planned would go to Italy. They boarded that ship and began sailing. But the wind caused them to change course and they landed at Fair Havens, a harbor on the island of Crete. The people on that ship decided to sail to Phoenix.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Paul began sailing to Rome
-or-
A centurion began to take Paul to Rome
-or-
The beginning of Paul’s journey to Rome

Paragraph 27:1–5

27:1a

When it was decided: Festus had already decided that Paul needed to go to Caesar (25:12), who lived in Rome. The verse here refers to the person whom Festus chose to watch for an opportunity to send Paul. It could have been one of his officials or one of the military commanders over the soldiers guarding Paul. But he may have asked Festus if he agreed.

The clause it was decided is passive. Exactly who decided is not important to the story. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

When ⌊someone⌋ decided
-or-
When ⌊those responsible for Paul⌋ ⌊and the other prisoners⌋ decided

we: Luke wrote the book of Acts. He went with Paul on this voyage. So he used the pronoun we here.

sail for: This phrase refers to going somewhere by ship. All of the large ships of that time used sails and wind to move the ships forward. The ships of that time could be large; the one that wrecked at Malta had 276 people on it (27:37). Below is an artist’s drawing of a typical sailing ship of that time and place.

A trip to Rome could take several months with several stops along the way. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

travel by ship to
-or-
be put on a ship and go to
-or-
take a ship to

Italy: This is the name of the country of the Romans. It was a well-known place to those who first read Acts, so Luke did not have to explain what it was or where.

In some languages, people will not know what this name refers to. If so, you may want to explain it in your translation. For example:

⌊the land/country of⌋ Italy

The Roman capital city was Rome. You may want to explain the connection between Rome, Romans, and Italy. An example footnote is:

The land/country of the Romans was called Italy. Their capital city was Rome. Caesar lived in Rome.

27:1b

Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to: This clause in Greek is literally “(they) handed over Paul and some other prisoners.” The implied word “they” probably refers to the various groups of soldiers guarding Paul and the other prisoners. But the people who handed over are not mentioned because they are not important to the story. Many English versions translate with a passive clause. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to (Revised Standard Version)
-or-

⌊the soldiers guarding⌋ Paul gave him and some other prisoners to

were handed over to: This phrase refers to taking someone who was under his authority and putting him under the authority of another person. The authorities in Caesarea controlled Paul’s life, now they gave that authority to Julius. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

were put in the hands of
-or-
Julius…was put in charge of (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
were placed in the custody of (New Living Translation (2004))

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 or 24:23.

27:1c

who belonged to the Imperial Regiment: Julius was a member of a group of soldiers called the Imperial Regiment. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

of the Imperial Regiment (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

⌊who was⌋ in the Imperial Regiment

This clause tells the reader more about Julius. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Luke was thinking of other men named Julius and only this one belonged to the Imperial Regiment. If that is true in your language, translate this information in a way that tells more about Julius. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

He belonged to the Imperial Regiment.

Imperial: The Greek word is a title for Caesar and is literally “revered one.” Here it refers to Caesar, the leader of the Romans. This group of soldiers served the Roman Emperor in Judea and Syria. They were not his personal bodyguard. This title was an honorary title. Other ways to translate this word are:

His Majesty’s
-or-
the revered ⌊Roman⌋ leader’s
-or-
Emperor’s (Good News Translation)

See how you translated this word in 25:21 (“Emperor”).

Regiment: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Regiment refers to a group of about six hundred soldiers. It was one-tenth of a legion, and a Roman army had several legions in it. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

Cohort (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
brigade
-or-
battalion
-or-
military group

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 27:33

Paragraph 27:33–38

27:33a

Right up to daybreak: This refers to the time when there is light in the sky but the sun has not yet come up. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

As day was about to dawn (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
When it was almost sunrise

Paul kept urging: The Greek tense on the verb probably indicates that Paul continued doing this for some time. Other ways to translate this are:

Paul was encouraging (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Paul began persuading (New Century Version)

27:33b–34c is what Paul said when he urged them.

27:33b

“Today is your fourteenth day: The Greek words begin with the word “saying.” It indicates that the words in 27:33b–34c are what Paul spoke to urge the people to eat. For example:

saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that (Revised Standard Version)

Today is your fourteenth day: The Greek words are literally “Today (is) the fourteenth day.” It indicates that the people were in constant suspense for the whole time of the storm and that day was the fourteenth day of the storm. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

Today is the fourteenth day that (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
for fourteen days now (Good News Translation)

27:33c

in constant suspense: This clause in Greek is literally “you continue waiting.” Paul implied that they have waited all this time to see if they would die in the storm or not. Other ways to translate this clause are:

You have been waiting (Good News Translation)
-or-
you have been waiting and watching (New Century Version)
-or-
you have been in constant suspense (New International Version)
-or-
you have lived in suspense (Revised English Bible)

without taking any food: This phrase in Greek is literally “with a loss of appetite.” During the storm they had little desire to eat, because of seasickness or worry. Other ways to translate this Greek word are:

not desiring to eat
-or-
not wanting to eat

See how you translated this clause in 27:21 (“had gone…without food”).

27:33d

without taking any food: This clause in Greek is literally “having taken nothing.” It explains 27:33c and emphasizes they have not eaten at all. They had no desire to eat, and they did not force themselves to eat either. Other ways to translate this clause are:

having eaten nothing (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
you haven’t eaten a thing (Contemporary English Version)

Search

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021