SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 67

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 28:25

28:25a

They disagreed among themselves: Here, the word They refers to the leaders of the Jews (28:17), not including Paul. The Jews who did not believe what Paul had said were arguing with the Jews who believed what he had said. For example:

The Jews, unable to agree among themselves (God’s Word)
-or-
So they began to leave, unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement (NET Bible)

28:25b

began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: The Greek words are literally “they were leaving, Paul having said one word/saying.” There are two ways to interpret the connection between leaving and Paul saying one last thing:

(1) Paul said one last thing and then the Jews of Rome left him. For example:

they left…after Paul had said this one thing (Good News Translation)

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

(2) As the Jews of Rome began to leave, Paul said one last thing. For example:

as they went away, Paul had one last thing to say to them, (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because that is the usual way that the Greek grammar is used. However, interpretation (2) is also possible. Paul, seeing his audience start to leave, may then have warned them with the prophecy of Isaiah that he quotes in 28:25–28.

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

they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
began leaving after Paul said one more thing to them (New Century Version)
-or-
they ⌊go ready to⌋ leave. But Paul said

28:25c

The Holy Spirit was right: This clause in Greek is literally “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:

The Holy Spirit was right in saying (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
The Holy Spirit spoke rightly (NET Bible)
-or-
What the Holy Spirit said is true/right

to your fathers: Paul implied here that the message also applied to the Jews who rejected the message about Jesus. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that the message was only for the Jewish ancestors. If so, you may want to explain the implied information in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Paul clearly implied that what the Holy Spirit said here applied to the people he was speaking to as well.

your fathers:
Isaiah lived about seven hundred years before this time. So the word fathers refers to many generations earlier. For example:

your ancestors (Good News Translation)

28:25d

through Isaiah the prophet: The word through indicates that the Holy Spirit told his message to Isaiah and Isaiah wrote it in the book of Isaiah. He may have also preached it to the Jews. Other ways to translate this are:

by means of Isaiah the prophet
-or-
when he gave/told this message to Isaiah the prophet
-or-
caused the prophet Isaiah to write

prophet: See how you translated this word in 28:23.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 1:11

1:11a

Men of Galilee…why do you stand here looking into the sky?: This is a rhetorical question. It either rebukes or encourages the apostles to start doing all that Jesus had commanded them to do. The apostles already knew that Jesus would come again on the clouds. Here are some ways to translate this:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Men of Galilee, do you have some reason for standing here looking into the sky?

• As a statement. For example:

Men of Galilee, you do not need to stand here looking up at the sky.

Many English versions translate this as a rhetorical question that implies a mild rebuke. Consider how to translate this in a way that indicates a mild rebuke.

Men of Galilee: This phrase indicates that the apostles were all from the region of Galilee. This phrase is a polite address to the apostles. Consider how to translate this phrase as a polite address.

they said: The first sentence of what they said is a question. For example:

They asked (God’s Word)

But the next sentence is a statement. So many English versions translate in the same way as the Berean Standard Bible.

1:11b

This same Jesus: Just before this, Jesus was taken to heaven. The apostles saw that event. The phrase This same Jesus indicates that the angels were talking about him as well. It emphasizes the person referred to. Here are some other ways to translate this:

This Jesus (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
This very Jesus (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
As for Jesus,

who has been taken from you into heaven: This further describes Jesus. It does not separate Jesus from other men named “Jesus.” For the correct meaning in some languages, translators must avoid the word who. For example:

He was taken from you into heaven.

who has been taken: The clause is passive. Here are some ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb, as in the Berean Standard Bible.

• Use an active verb. God took Jesus to heaven, but God was not visible. For example:

whom ⌊God⌋ took up
-or-
whom ⌊God⌋ caused to rise

heaven: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heaven can mean either “heaven” or “sky.” Here it refers to the place where God lives, so the Berean Standard Bible uses the word heaven rather than the word “sky.” See how you translated heaven in 1:2a.

1:11c

come back: The Greek word means “come” (BDAG, L&N, L&S, Kittel, Moulton and Milligan). For example:

come (English Standard Version)

you have seen Him go into heaven: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heaven can mean either sky or heaven. The apostles did not see Jesus actually enter heaven. They only saw him go up into the sky until the cloud took him. Your translation should not indicate that they saw Jesus enter heaven. For example:

you have seen him go up into the sky

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2:17

2:17a

In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people: The Greek and Berean Standard Bible put the phrase God says in the middle of what he said. In some languages it is necessary or more natural to have this phrase first. For example:

God says, ‘In the last days, I will pour out my Spirit on all people…’

Peter adds the words God says to make it clear who spoke the words which follow. Those words are not in the quote from Joel.

In the last days: The phrase the last days refers to the period of time just before the current age ends. It was used to describe the final activities that would happen before this age ended and the new age began. It does not say how long this time is. It implies that the new age will soon begin. In some languages a literal translation would indicate only a few days. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Indicate it is a period of time at the end of the current age. For example:

In the last part of this era

• Explain its meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This phrase refers to the last part of the current time period.

I will pour out My Spirit on all people: The verb pour is a figure of speech that means “give” here. In some languages the phrase pour out can apply only to liquids, not the Holy Spirit. If that is true in your language, use a word or phrase that can apply to the Holy Spirit. For example:

I will give my Spirit to everyone (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I will send my Spirit to all people

I: Here the pronoun I refers to God, not to Joel.

My Spirit: This phrase refers to the Holy Spirit. In some languages the word “Holy” must be included to have the correct meaning. For example:

my ⌊Holy⌋ Spirit

2:17b

Your sons and daughters: The people there would have understood Your sons and daughters as referring to their own children.

prophesy: This verb refers to speaking a message on behalf of God. God speaks to the prophet through words and visions. Then the prophet tells God’s message (prophesying) to the people or writes it down for their use. For example:

speak what God has revealed (God’s Word)
-or-
proclaim my message (Good News Translation)
-or-
speak on God’s behalf

2:17c

young men: In Jewish culture at that time the phrase young men referred to males from about 24 through 39 years of age. Here the exact ages are not important. Also, probably young women are included as well. For example:

young people (New Jerusalem Bible)

visions: Here the word visions refers to things that God causes people to see supernaturally. A vision is not normal seeing. It is like seeing things in a dream, but the person is usually awake.

old men will dream dreams: These dreams come from God. With them God shows people what he wants them to know. In some languages a literal translation would not imply that God gave the dream and its meaning to them. If that is true in your language, you may want to include the implied information. For example:

old men will dream dreams ⌊from God⌋

In some languages only the verb dream is needed for the correct meaning. For example:

old men will dream

In some languages only the noun dreams is needed for the correct meaning. For example:

old men will see dreams

old men: Here probably old women are included as well. For example:

old people (New Jerusalem Bible)

General Comment on 2:17c

In some languages the translation of “vision” and the translation of “dream” is the same word. If possible indicate the difference between the two meanings. For example:

your young men and old men will see visions/dreams, during the night and during the day

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 3:3

3:3

he saw Peter and John about to enter: Peter and John were about to enter the temple courts.

he asked them for money: In some languages it may be more natural to use direct speech. For example:

he asked them, “Would you please give me some money?”
-or-
he said to them, “Please give me some money.”

asked them for money: The Greek is more literally “was asking to receive an act of mercy.” The Greek ending on the verb probably indicates that this man asked more than once. Usually “an act of mercy” was a gift of money. Here are some other ways to translate these words:

was asking them for a charitable gift
-or-
was begging them for money

See how you translated a similar phrase in 3:2 which the Berean Standard Bible translates as “to beg.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 4:9

4:9a–b

If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed: Here the word If introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, it supports the second part (“then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel” (4:10a)).

In some languages, using an If-clause would have a different meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

consider this: we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed. 10Therefore
-or-
we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed. 10Therefore
-or-
Right now you are examining us(excl), because we helped this lame person, you want to know how we healed him
-or-
Do you want to hear and judge the talk of the man with the bad legs that we sent heart [gave compassion] to and fixed/healed?

4:9a

we are being examined: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

you are questioning us (New Jerusalem Bible)

we: The pronoun we is emphatic here. If you have a way in your language to emphasize we, consider using it here. Here are some ways in English:

we ourselves
-or-
it is we who

are being examined: This phrase indicates that the officials were questioning them, as a judge would in a court case. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

are being called to account (New International Version)
-or-
are on trial (New American Standard Bible)

The tense of the Greek verb indicates that the Jewish leaders were questioning them at that time. They started questioning them in 4:7.

today: You should put the time word, today, where it will be most natural for your translation.

about: Here this word introduces the basis for the questions from the leaders. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

concerning (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
because of (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
for (New International Version)

a kind service to a man who was lame: This phrase in Greek is more literally “a kindness of a handicapped man.” Notice that there is no verb in Greek.

This phrase refers to the time Peter and John healed the crippled beggar in 3:1–10. Here are some other ways to translate it:

• Add a passive verb. For example:

the good deed done to the lame man (Good News Translation)

• Add an active verb. For example:

the good we did for a crippled man (God’s Word)
-or-
how we helped a crippled man

a kind service: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a kind service can also be translated as “good deed.” This good deed refers to the miraculous healing that Peter and John did. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

good thing (New Century Version)
-or-
kind deed (Contemporary English Version)

a man who was lame: This phrase in Greek is more literally “a sick/feeble man.” The Greek refers to anything that causes someone to not be able to do normal things. It refers to the lame man (3:2) here. For example:

someone who is sick (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
a man with a health problem

But many English versions make it clear here that it refers to the lame man, like the Berean Standard Bible does, because it has been many verses since he was mentioned.

4:9b

to determine how he was healed: The Greek is literally “in which this-one has been healed.” It refers to how the lame man was healed. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

by what means this man has been healed (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
as to how this man has been made well (New American Standard Bible)

to determine: This verb is not in Greek (see above). The Berean Standard Bible has added the words to determine to introduce “how he was healed” in a more understandable way in English. If you choose to add a verb, here are some ways to translate this clause:

• Add a passive verb as the Berean Standard Bible. For example:

and are asked how this man has been healed (New Revised Standard Version)

• Add an active verb. For example:

you…are asking us how he was healed (New Jerusalem Bible)

he was healed: This clause is passive. Peter was probably thinking that God did the healing. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ healed this man
-or-

⌊God⌋ has made this man well

was healed: The Greek tense indicates that this man was healed before this time when Peter was speaking. For example:

has been healed (Revised Standard Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 5:4

5:4a

Did it not belong to you before it was sold?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that the land did belong to Ananias. The Greek expects the answer “yes, the land was under my (Ananias’) control.” Here are some ways to translate this emphasis:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Did the land/property belong to you before you sold it?
-or-
It belonged to you before it was sold, right?

• As a statement. For example:

The land/property certainly belonged to you before you sold it!

it: Here this word refers to “the land” (5:3b).

it was sold: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

you sold it

5:4b

And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?: The Greek word that means “not” (the phrase was it not in the front of the clause) applies to this clause too (as it does in 5:4a with “Did it not…”). With this word, it is a rhetorical question and emphasizes that Ananias could do whatever he wanted with the money. Here are some ways to translate that meaning:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

after you had sold it, was the money yours to do with as you liked?
-or-
And after it was sold, the money was at your disposal, right?

• As a statement. For example:

And after you sold the land/property, the money was certainly yours to use as you wanted.

it was sold: This clause is passive. Some languages must translate it as an active clause. For example:

you sold it (Good News Translation)

was it…at your disposal: The Greek is literally “it was in your authority.” Ananias had control over what to do with the money from the sale of the land. Here are some other ways to translate this:

it was under your control
-or-
used the money any way you wanted (New Century Version)

5:4c

How could you conceive such a deed in your heart?: The Greek is more literally “why did you put this deed in your heart?” It indicates that Ananias planned to lie. It was not something he did without thinking.

This is a rhetorical question. It is a rebuke. Ananias should not have lied. Here are some ways to translate this as a rebuke:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Why…did you decide to do such a thing? (Good News Translation)
-or-
Why did you plan in your heart to do that?
-or-
Why did you think of doing this? (New Century Version)

• As a statement. For example:

You should not have decided to do that.

5:4d

You have not lied to men, but to God: In some languages, the positive is spoken first then the negative. For example:

You have lied to God, not men

lied: This refers to saying something that is not true. It does not imply that anyone believed the lie. Ananias probably said he was giving the full amount of the sale price to the apostles when it was really only part.

men: Here this word is general and includes women. For example:

people (God’s Word)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 5:36

5:36a

This verse in Greek begins with the word that is usually translated as “for.” It introduces two examples of why the Jewish leaders should be careful about what they do to the apostles (5:35b). For example:

For (Revised Standard Version)

Some time ago: This phrase is more literally “before these days.” Here it refers to an event that probably occurred about thirty years prior to this time. Do not say how many years in your translation. For example:

Some years ago
-or-
A number of years ago

Theudas: The Bible does not mention this man anywhere else.

rose up: The Greek is more literally “arose/stood.” It indicates that Theudas became a leader. Here are some other ways to translate this:

appeared (New International Version)
-or-
came forward (Revised English Bible)

claiming to be somebody: These words indicate that Theudas was telling people that he was an important person. It is not known what he said, but probably it was political or religious or both. For example:

saying he was great/important
-or-
and was telling people that he was an important man/person

5:36b

and about four hundred men joined him: The Greek is more literally “to whom a number of men, about four hundred, associated.” These men liked what Theudas said, so they stayed with him. Here are some other ways to translate this:

and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
and about four hundred men joined him (God’s Word)
-or-
There were four hundred men who became his followers.

5:36c

He was killed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as killed is the same word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “put…to death” in 5:33. Here it probably has the same meaning: “kill as a punishment for a crime.”

This clause is passive. Some languages must translate this as an active clause. For example:

⌊they/authorities/others⌋ executed/killed him

See how you translated the phrase “put…to death” in 5:33b.

all his followers were dispersed: The Berean Standard Bible does not start this clause with “and” because the next clause starts with “and,” following the English rule for the use of “and.” But it is more natural in many languages to begin this clause with “and.” For example:

and all his followers were dispersed

This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊they⌋ dispersed all his followers

all his followers: The Greek is more literally “all, as many as obeyed him.” It indicates that these 400 men followed the rules that Theudas made for anyone who wanted to be a part of this group. Other ways to translate it are:

all those who obeyed him
-or-
every man of his

dispersed: This word refers to causing a group to scatter. Whoever killed Theudas probably also scattered his followers. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

scattered (Good News Translation)
-or-
separated completely

5:36d

and it all came to nothing: The Greek is more literally “and they became nothing.” It indicates that all of Theudas’ followers stopped doing anything related to Theudas or the things he said. They became of no importance to the Romans or the Jews. Here are some other ways to translate this:

and came to nothing (English Standard Version)
-or-
and they became of no consequence

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 15:12

Paragraph 15:12–18

15:12a

The whole assembly fell silent as they listened: In Greek, this is literally “And all the crowd was silent, and they were listening.” There are several ways to interpret when the crowd was silent:

(1) The crowd was silent during Peter’s speech and afterward as well. It implies that Peter’s speech brought an end to the debate. No one stood to further argue that Gentiles needed to be circumcised and obey all the laws of Moses. For example:

And all the assembly kept silence; and they listened (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, King James Version, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) Either during Peter’s speech or immediately after some people were talking among themselves, but then became silent once again when Barnabas and Paul started speaking. For example:

Then the whole group became quiet. They listened (New Century Version)

(New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(3) The crowd were talking among themselves and became silent when Paul and Barnabas began talking.

(New International Version)

(4) The crowd was quiet while Paul and Barnabas spoke. The verb “was silent” does not connect to Peter’s speech. For example:

The whole group was silent as they heard (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (1996))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it fits the context best.

This clause probably does not indicate that people were speaking while Peter spoke. Instead it probably indicates that they remained quiet when he finished. Other ways to translate this clause are:

The whole crowd was silent. They listened (God’s Word)
-or-
And then there was no longer anyone who answered him, and they listened
-or-
When they heard that which Petros said, they all said nothing. And they listened

The whole assembly: This phrase in Greek is literally “all the large number of people.” It refers to all those gathered at the meeting. It included the apostles and elders, Paul and Barnabas, and believers in general (15:4). For example:

The whole group (Good News Translation)

they listened: This indicates that they listened for some time. For example:

they were listening (New American Standard Bible)

15:12b

The context and the Greek conjunction before “they listened” imply that Paul and Barnabas began speaking at this time. For example:

they were listening as 12bPaul and Barnabas began to tell…

describing: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as describing refers to telling the whole story rather than a brief summary. Barnabas and Paul probably described the events during their missionary trip (chapters 13–14) where God confirmed their ministry to the Gentiles with signs and wonders. Other ways to translate this word are:

report all (Good News Translation)
-or-
tell in detail
-or-
tell the whole/complete story

See how you translated a similar Greek word (translated “recounting”) in 15:3.

the signs and wonders: In Greek, this is literally “signs and wonders as many as” and implies “as many as God did.” It indicates that God did a number of signs and miracles during Barnabas and Paul’s trip, and Paul and Barnabas told the people about all of them. For example:

They listened to Paul and Barnabas tell about all the miracles and signs that God did (New Century Version)

signs and wonders: Both signs and wonders refer to miracles. See the definitions of both below. Both terms tell us something that Luke wanted us to know about these miracles. These miracles both had a symbolic meaning and amazed people.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer to two different kinds of things. If that is true in your language, indicate that both terms describe miracles. For example:

miracles that were signs and that amazed people
-or-
the signs which were amazing things done by God

See how you translated this phrase in 2:22 or 14:3.

signs: This refers to miracles that have a symbolic meaning. They suggest or point to something other than themselves. These miracles showed that the God about whom Paul preached was powerful and empowered Paul, and the message about Jesus that Paul preached was true. Other ways to translate this are:

great signs
-or-
omens/portents
-or-
miracles that showed ⌊that their message was from him/God⌋

wonders: This word refers to miracles that amaze people. Other ways to translate this word are:

marvels (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
amazing miracles

God had done…through them: The word through indicates that God empowered Paul and Barnabas to do the things that God wanted to happen. Other ways to translate this are:

God did by means of them
-or-
God did by their hand
-or-
which God gave them power to do
-or-
that God caused them to do

See how you translated this same clause in 14:27 or 15:4.

among the Gentiles: Here the word among indicates that Paul and Barnabas did the miracles in places where mostly Gentiles lived. Consider how to indicate that meaning here.

General Comment on 15:12b

What was done (the miraculous signs and wonders) has been moved before who did them to make it the topic of what Paul and Barnabas talked about. In some languages, it must be stated after the verb “had done.” For example:

Barnabas and Paul tell in detail that God had done ⌊many⌋ miraculous signs and wonders among the Gentiles through them.
-or-
Barnabas and Paul told how God had given them the power to work a lot of miracles and wonders for the Gentiles (Contemporary English Version)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 28:25

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 1:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2:17

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 3:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 4:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 5:4

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 5:36

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 15:12

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