SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2:6

2:6a

this sound: Some scholars think this phrase refers to the wind-like noise (2:2). Other scholars think this phrase refers to the believers speaking those many different languages (2:4). Translate in a way that allows this phrase to refer to either the wind-like noise or the noise of many people speaking. For example:

that noise

However, some languages must say what the noise was. If that is true in your language, refer to the wind-like noise of 2:2. For example:

the wind (God’s Word)

2:6b

a crowd came together: By the time the crowd gathered, the believers were probably somewhere outside of the house (2:1b). In some languages it is more natural to indicate the implied information. For example:

a crowd came together ⌊around the believers⌋ ⌊outside of the house⌋
-or-
a crowd came together ⌊around the believers⌋ ⌊because they had come out of the house⌋

a crowd: This crowd included the Jews described in 2:5. The context implies that the crowd was mostly these Jews.

in bewilderment: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in bewilderment has a number of meanings. Here it probably refers to the crowd being confused and amazed, as 2:6c explains. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Each person was startled (God’s Word)
-or-
they were surprised (Contemporary English Version)

2:6c

each one heard them speaking his own language: The pronoun them refers to the believers. Each one of these Jews heard the believers speaking the hearer’s own language. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

each one heard them speaking in the native language of each (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers (New Living Translation (2004))

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2:39

2:39a

This promise: The promise refers to what God had promised to give his people, including the Holy Spirit and forgiveness of sins.

to you and your children: The phrase you and your children refers to the people who were listening to Peter and also to their descendants. In some languages a literal translation would not indicate or imply descendants. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Indicate the correct meaning in the text. For example:

you and your descendants

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

This refers to their descendants as well.

to all who are far off: This phrase refers to people in distant places. That would include people who were not Jews. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

all who are far away (Good News Translation)

all: It is implied that this word is connected to “all” in 2:39. In other words, of all the people whom God calls, some are far from Jerusalem.

2:39b

to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself: This phrase is a summary. The word all includes “you and your children” and “all who are far off.” It also gives more information about who receives the promise. They will be called by God. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

⌊indeed,⌋ ⌊the promise is⌋ for all whom the Lord our God will call

the Lord our God: Here this phrase refers to God the Father. The word our indicates a relationship between God and some people including Peter. In some languages it is not natural to use the pronoun our with the word God. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain the relationship in the text. For example:

the Lord God ⌊whom⌋ we ⌊worship⌋
-or-
the Lord God ⌊who cares for⌋ us

God: See how you translated this word in 1:3 or 2:11.

call: Here the word call means “summoned” or “asked (them) to join him.” Here are some other ways to translate this word:

invite
-or-
told/commanded to follow

General Comment on 2:39a–b

The most general reference (“all whom the Lord our God will call”) is last. In some languages it is more natural to have it first. For example:

The promise is for all whom the Lord our(incl) God will call, including you(plur), your descendants, and all who are far off.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 3:24

3:24

Peter ended the quotation from Moses in 3:23b. Here he began speaking his own words again. In some languages he must be introduced again. For example:

⌊Peter spoke further saying,⌋…

Indeed: This word emphasizes that many prophets prophesied about what Peter here called “these days.” Here are some other ways to translate this word:

In fact (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Yes indeed

all the prophets from Samuel on: Samuel lived hundreds of years after Moses. This phrase refers to the prophets of the Old Testament who lived after Samuel did. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

all the prophets…from Samuel and those who came afterwards (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
all the prophets…including Samuel and those who came after him (Good News Translation)

prophets: See how you translated the word prophets in 3:21.

as many as have spoken: This phrase probably refers to all the prophets whose words are in the Old Testament. For example:

as many as have spoken ⌊in Scripture⌋

these days: This phrase refers to the important events which had recently happened, especially those which related to Jesus, the Christ. In some languages a literal translation would be too general. If that is true in your language, explain it in your translation. For example:

these days ⌊of the Christ⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 4:30

4:30a

as: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as as is literally “in the.” It probably means “while” here, and introduces events that would happen at the same time as the believers speaking boldly (4:29b). For example:

while you stretch out your hand (English Standard Version)
-or-
At the same time, stretch out your hand
-or-
Also, stretch out your hand

In some languages the correct meaning occurs by omitting this phrase. For example:

Reach out your hand to heal (Good News Translation)

You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders: The Greek is more literally “extend your hand for healing and signs and wonders.” There are two ways to interpret the connection between “healing” and signs and wonders:

(1) All three things (“healing and signs and wonders”) are a part of what the believers ask God to stretch out his hand to do. For example:

stretching out your hand to heal and to work miracles and marvels (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) The signs and wonders are separate from “healing.” The believers only ask God to stretch out his hand to heal. For example:

you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed (English Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, New Living Translation (2004), New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because nothing in the Greek indicates or implies interpretation (2).

stretch out Your hand to heal: The phrase stretch out Your hand is an idiom that means “do.” Here it refers to the believers asking God to use his power to heal people. For example:

Reach out your hand to heal (Good News Translation)

In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the meaning of the idiom. For example:

Show your power by healing (God’s Word)
-or-
use your power and heal

perform: Here this word means “do.”

signs: Here this word refers to a miracle that has a symbolic meaning. An example is the healing of the lame man by Peter and John. Some languages can use signs with that meaning. See how you translated this phrase in 2:22 (“signs”) or 4:16 (“remarkable miracle”).

wonders: This word refers to an amazing action or event that indicates something. Here unusual things will happen in the sky that would cause people to be amazed. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

amazing occurrences/events
-or-
portents

See how you translated this word in 2:43.

4:30b

through the name of Your holy servant Jesus: The word through indicates that God would do healings, signs, and miracles because people would call on the name of Jesus for those things. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

through your holy servant Jesus
-or-
by the power of Jesus, your holy servant (New Century Version)

holy servant: See how you translated this phrase in 4:27b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 5:25

Paragraph 5:25–26

5:25a–b

Look: The Jewish leaders were in the council room. They probably could not see the apostles from there. So this word commands the leaders to pay attention to the words that follow. Some languages would use a different word for that meaning. For example:

Listen! (Good News Translation)
-or-
Behold, (LEB)
-or-
Hey!

are standing: The Greek is more literally “having stood.” It indicates that they stopped walking somewhere in the temple courts and remained standing.

the temple courts: See how you translated this phrase in 5:21.

teaching: The Greek word here indicates that they were teaching at the time this man spoke to the Jewish leaders. For example:

are teaching (New American Bible, Revised Edition)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 15:1

Division 15:1–18:22

The Jerusalem council and the second missionary journey

In this division, the apostles and elders decided that non-Jewish believers did not need to follow the laws of Moses. They gave them only four rules, which they write in a letter. Paul and his co-workers took the letter and encouraged the believers in churches in Syria, Cilicia, Phrygia, and Galatia. They also preached the gospel in the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia. In spite of people opposing them many people believed in the Lord Jesus.

Section 15:1–21

Believers did not have to obey the laws of Moses

In this section, some men began teaching believers in Antioch that all believers had to be circumcised in order for God to save them. (Jewish believers were already circumcised but non-Jewish believers were not.) Paul and Barnabas taught that non-Jewish believers did not have to be circumcised. So Paul and Barnabas disagreed with these men.

Paul and Barnabas, along with others, traveled to Jerusalem to meet with the church leaders there about this disagreement. Along the way they told believers about their missionary trip and how God had saved many non-Jews.

At the meeting the church leaders decided that non-Jewish believers did not have to be circumcised or follow the laws of Moses. The church leaders gave only four rules to observe.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The church leaders decided that believers did not have to obey the laws of Moses
-or-
The Council at Jerusalem (New International Version)
-or-
Controversy About Moses’ Teachings (God’s Word)
-or-
The leaders decided that circumcision is not required

Paragraph 15:1–5

15:1a

Then: This verse continues the story of Paul and Barnabas’ mission to the Gentiles (Acts 13–14), but starts a new episode. In some languages, you may want to introduce it with a time indicator, like the Berean Standard Bible does with Then. Here are other examples:

Some time later
-or-
One day

There is some contrast from the success in 14:24–28 to the trouble in 15:1–2. Some languages must indicate contrast here. For example:

But (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
But one day

some men came down from Judea: The men probably came from Jerusalem, which is in Judea. The phrase came down indicates that Jerusalem is high and Antioch is low. Jerusalem is in the mountains at about 760 meters (2,500 feet) in elevation. Antioch is about 70 meters (230 feet) in elevation and near the coast. So a traveler would descend from the mountains around Jerusalem to the coast and then travel along the coast to Antioch. It is a journey of about 500 kilometers (300 miles).

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly imply a continuous downhill road to Antioch. If that is true in your language, translate more generally. For example:

Some men came from Judea to Antioch (Good News Translation)
-or-
Some men journeyed/traveled from Judea to Antioch

some men: These men were Jews. The context implies that they were believers. In some languages a literal translation might imply they were not believers. If that is true in your language, include the implied information in your translation. For example:

Some ⌊believers⌋
-or-
Some ⌊Jewish believers⌋

came down from Judea: Some English versions add the phrase “to Antioch” based on 14:26–28. Since this verse begins a new chapter, the phrase is supplied to clearly indicate where the men went.

came down from Judea to Antioch (New International Version)

In some languages it may be enough to only state what is in the Greek, as does the Berean Standard Bible.

were teaching: The verb form used here indicates that this teaching was repeated, perhaps over a short period of time, before Paul and Barnabas heard about it. Another way to indicate this in English is:

started teaching (Good News Translation)

the brothers: Here the word brothers refers to believers in Jesus, both men and women. The word indicates a close relationship because all believers are considered spiritual children of God.

In some languages brothers would be understood as literal brothers. If that is true in your language, you may want to translate differently. For example:

our brothers ⌊and sisters⌋ ⌊who believe⌋ ⌊in Jesus/Christ⌋
-or-
the fellow believers
-or-
the family of believers
-or-
the Lord’s followers (Contemporary English Version)

See how you translated the word brothers in 1:16 or 14:2.

15:1b

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

⌊someone⌋ circumcises you

you: The Jewish law required the men to be circumcised. In some languages you would refer to both men and women. If that is true in your language, indicate that it only refers to the men. For example:

you ⌊men⌋
-or-
your ⌊men⌋

circumcised: The word circumcised refers to cutting off the loose skin at the end of a boy’s penis. The father or a man who specialized in doing circumcision would perform this operation, usually eight days after the boy’s birth. Among the Jews, circumcision was an important custom that had to be done for every male.

Some languages and cultures will already have a term for this. In others, it will be acceptable to use a word or phrase that means “cut off (or split) the loose skin at the end of a boy’s penis.” If not, it will be necessary to find an acceptable way to describe this event. Some examples are:

some of your skin is cut off
-or-
your skin is ⌊ritually⌋ cut
-or-
someone makes a mark/sign on you by cutting
-or-
you receive the mark/sign ⌊to show you belong to God⌋

In some cultures people do not circumcise babies, and in some cultures they do not circumcise any males. In other cultures circumcision will be done for different reasons than Jewish circumcision. If that is true in your culture, you may want to include a footnote to explain the Jewish custom. An example footnote is:

Circumcision is the cutting off of the fold of the skin at the end of the penis. Every male Jew was required to be circumcised eight days after he was born. Circumcision was the sign that he was a member of the community of Jews with whom God had made the covenant.

If you have translated Luke 1:59, see how you translated this word there. Or see how you translated “circumcision” at Acts 7:8.

according to the custom of Moses: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as custom of Moses is literally “custom of Moses.” God began this custom or practice with Abraham but included it in the laws that he gave to Moses. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

as the Law of Moses requires (Good News Translation)
-or-
according to ⌊what it says in⌋ ⌊the law that God gave to⌋ Moses

15:1c

you cannot be saved: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ cannot save you
-or-

⌊God⌋ will not save you

saved: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as saved means “to rescue someone from danger or trouble.” Here it refers to rescuing someone from the spiritual dangers of sin and God’s punishment for sin. In some languages it is necessary or more natural to make explicit what someone is saved from. For example:

saved from sin
-or-
saved from the punishment for sin

See how you translated this word in 2:21 or 11:14.

General Comment on 15:1b–c

In some languages it is more natural to have the clause “you cannot be saved” before the “unless” clause. For example:

1cYou cannot be saved 1bunless you are circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 15:33

15:33a

After spending some time there: The phrase some time probably refers to somewhere between a few days and a few weeks.

15:33b

they were sent off by the brothers: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

the brothers sent them off

sent off: The believers sent Judas and Silas back to Jerusalem. See how you translated this phrase in 15:30.

in peace: The Greek is literally “with peace.” The believers sent Judas and Silas saying something like “Go in peace” or “Peace be with you.” This was a common farewell. The believers wanted Judas and Silas to have a good trip and also that God would enable them to live peacefully.

In some languages an actual saying must be used to indicate the blessing. For example:

saying, “Peace be with you.”
-or-
saying, “May God grant you peace on your journey.”
-or-
saying, “May God enable you to live peacefully.”

15:33c

those who had sent them: This refers to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. This implies that Judas and Silas reported that the believers at Antioch received the information in the letter with joy.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 16:24

16:24a

On receiving this order: The orders were to guard him securely, so Luke used the phrase this order. It explains why the jailer put Paul and Silas in the inner cell. The inner cell was more secure than cells along the outer wall of the prison. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

following such instructions (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Hearing what ⌊the judges⌋ commanded

inner cell: The inner cell was a room that was not along the outer wall of the prison. It did not have a window to the outside. The door to this room probably could be locked to prevent prisoners from leaving. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

inner ⌊locked⌋ room
-or-
a room not near the outside ⌊of the prison⌋ ⌊that had a lock⌋

16:24b

fastened their feet in the stocks: The stocks are two large pieces of lumber with holes cut out of them through which a prisoner’s lower legs are placed. The two pieces of lumber are clamped together, enclosing the prisoner’s lower legs. The prisoner could not remove his legs because the holes were too small to pull his feet through.

In some languages people are not familiar with stocks. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Describe the stocks. You may also want to include a picture. For example:

he put their legs in places for legs between two planks, then he locked the planks together
-or-
he put their legs between two pieces of wood with slots and tied it

• Describe the function of the stocks. You may also want to include a picture. For example:

he tied their legs to planks ⌊to prevent them from escaping⌋
-or-
put their legs inside holes in wood ⌊and locked it⌋

• Use the common language word. You may then want to explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Stocks are two large pieces of lumber with holes cut out of them through which a prisoner’s lower legs are placed. The two pieces of lumber are clamped together, enclosing the prisoner’s lower legs. The prisoner could not remove his legs because the holes were too small to pull his feet through.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021