SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 71

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 17:32

Paragraph 17:32–34

17:32a–b

began to mock him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to mock can also mean “mocked.” Some of the Athens city council members thought that causing a person to become alive again was ridiculous. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

made fun of him (Good News Translation)
-or-
laughed at him

17:32c

but: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but indicates a clear difference between the two groups. The first group mocked but the second group was interested enough to hear more.

We want to hear you again on this topic: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as want to hear is literally “we will listen.” It indicates that some of the city council members planned to listen again. They wanted Paul to speak more about the religion he was preaching. They wanted to meet again at a different time or on a different day. For example:

We will hear more about this from you later. (New Century Version)

again: The Greek is literally “and/yet again.” The first word “and/yet” emphasizes that they wanted to hear him speak again. For example:

indeed again

this topic: This phrase refers to all of Paul’s speech. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

this subject
-or-
that teaching
-or-
what you are teaching

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 19:2

19:2a

Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?: At that time, some believers did not receive the Holy Spirit immediately when they decided to believe in Jesus (8:15–17). Some people were not taught about the Holy Spirit. So Paul probably wanted to know what these men knew.

In some languages what is believed must be said. If that is true in your language, refer to believing in Jesus. For example:

Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed ⌊in Jesus⌋?

Did you receive the Holy Spirit: In English, the word receive implies someone else willingly gave what was received. The word “take” does not imply that someone else willingly gave it. It is implied here that God willingly gave the Holy Spirit.

Many languages have the same word for both “receive” and “take.” In some of those languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that the believers took the Holy Spirit or that God did not give it willingly. If that is true in your language, you may want to use a different word than receive. For example:

Was the Holy Spirit given to you…?
-or-
Did ⌊God⌋ give the Holy Spirit to you…?

became believers: Here this word means “accepted that a message is true.”

19:2b

No, they answered, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit: This clause in Greek is literally “But we have not heard if the/a Holy Spirit is/exists.” These men had not heard of the Holy Spirit. For example:

We have never even heard of a Holy Spirit (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 19:34

19:34a

when they realized that he was a Jew: People in the crowd recognized that Alexander was a Jew, perhaps by his clothing or his appearance or his way of speaking. These people probably started the chant of 19:34c and everyone else in the crowd immediately joined in. The people of Ephesus would not be happy to listen to a Jew. Other ways to translate this clause are:

when they recognized that he was a Jew (Good News Translation)
-or-
Knowing he was a Jew

19:34b

they all shouted in unison: The people realized Alexander was a Jew and therefore did not worship Artemis. So they started shouting so he would not be able to speak to them.

in unison: This phrase indicates that the crowd spoke each word at the same time.

19:34c

Great is Artemis of the Ephesians: See how you translated this clause in 19:28.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:25

Paragraph 20:25–31

20:25a–c

Now I know that none of you among whom I have preached the kingdom will see my face again: The clause among whom I have preached the kingdom is more information about the people that Paul spoke to. It interrupts the clause none of you…will see my face again. The extra information is last in the Greek. You may want to:

• Put the extra information last. For example:

Now I know that none of you will ever see me again, you whom I have traveled among preaching the kingdom

• Put the extra information first. For example:

I have gone about among all of you, preaching the Kingdom of God. And now I know that none of you will ever see me again. (Good News Translation)

• Put the extra information in the middle, as the Berean Standard Bible does.

20:25a

Now: Here the word Now introduces a new topic. Here it is not a time word. Introduce this new topic in a way that is natural in your language.

There are three words here in the Greek: “and now, look.” The word “and” is a general connecting word. It is often not translated in English when at the beginning of a sentence. The word “look” is used to get the attention of the listeners. Paul has something important to say in the following verses. For example:

And now, behold, (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Now, listen/hey,

20:25b

preached the kingdom:
This phrase refers to preaching about the kingdom of God. It is similar in meaning to “testifying to the good news” (20:24d).

In Greek this clause has a phrase that means “gone around.” It refers to traveling around from place to place. Paul lived in Ephesus for almost three years and during that time went to other villages and towns and preached. Although the Berean Standard Bible leaves this phrase untranslated, some ways to translate it are:

traveled about/around preaching the kingdom
-or-
went here and there preaching the kingdom
-or-
went to various places to preach the kingdom

preached: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as preached refers to publicly telling people something important. The word should not only refer to what a preacher does in church. Some other ways to translate preached are:

announced
-or-
proclaimed
-or-
told people

kingdom: Here this word refers to the kingdom of God. For example:

the kingdom of God (New Century Version)

The phrase “kingdom of God” refers to God’s activity of ruling and caring for his people as their king. It does not refer to a land or country that he rules over. It refers to the relationship that he has with his people. He leads, protects, and cares for them. They obey, trust, and submit to him as their king.

Some ways to translate this are:

• As a noun. For example:

⌊God’s⌋ rule/reign
-or-

⌊God’s⌋ kingship
-or-

⌊God’s⌋ chieftaincy

• Using a verb. For example:

the way ⌊God⌋ rules ⌊his people⌋
-or-
the way ⌊God⌋ cares for ⌊his people⌋ as king

See how you translated the phrase “kingdom of God” at 1:3 or 19:8.

20:25c

see my face again: The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek literally as see my face again. Here face is an idiom referring to the whole person, not just the face.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:19

21:19a

Paul greeted them: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as greeted refers to the usual ritual when friends or acquaintances meet.

At the time the greeting was probably a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and words of greeting. Use the usual word or phrase for the usual ritual of greeting someone in your language.

recounted one by one: The Greek words are literally “was explaining/reporting one by one.” Paul probably told them all the important details of his ministry since his last report (15:12). For example:

gave a complete report (Good News Translation)

recounted: The Greek verb indicates that Paul’s report took some time. For example:

began to relate (New American Standard Bible)

21:19b

among the Gentiles: The word among indicates that some Gentiles believed in Jesus. They were not just from one group of Gentiles, but some of them believed from each place that Paul went.

the Gentiles: The word Gentiles refers to non-Jewish people. Here it refers to the many language groups that Paul visited and preached to. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

non-Jewish people (God’s Word)
-or-
those who were not Jews

See how you translated this phrase in 4:27 or 18:6.

through his ministry: The word through indicates that Paul’s ministry was the way that God did wonderful things among the Gentiles.

ministry: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ministry describes the work given to a servant or slave. Here it refers to the work that Paul did for God. This included preaching, teaching, praying, and helping others. Other ways to translate this word are:

teaching/preaching the gospel
-or-
serving him/God
-or-
work (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 22:12

Paragraph 22:12–13

22:12a–13a

22:12a introduces Ananias to the story, and 22:12b–c tells some things about him. 22:13a then continues the story. For example:

12a
A certain Ananias, 12bwho was a devout man according to the law 12cand well spoken of by all the Jews living there, 13acame to me (New Revised Standard Version)

Consider how to introduce Ananias here in your language, and continue the story about Paul in 22:13. Other ways to translate this meaning are:

12aIn that city was a man named Ananias, 12ba religious man who obeyed our Law 12cand was highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13aHe came to me (Good News Translation)
-or-

12aSomeone called Ananias, 12ba devout follower of the Law 12cand highly thought of by all the Jews living there, 13acame to see me (New Jerusalem Bible)

You may want to reorder the information. For example:

12aA man named Ananias 13a came to see me. 12bHe was a devout observer of the law 12cand highly respected by all the Jews living there. (New International Version)

22:12a

There a man named Ananias: This phrase in Greek is literally “a certain Ananias.” The word “certain” probably indicates that Paul did not expect those listening to him to know who this Ananias was. The word also indicates that this Ananias was not the Jewish high priest. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

A certain Ananias (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
There a man named Ananias (New Century Version)
-or-
In that city there was a man named Ananias (Contemporary English Version)

22:12b

a devout observer of the law: This phrase in Greek is literally “devout according to the law.” This phrase indicates that Ananias obeyed God as the law of Moses said to. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

a devout man according to the law (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
a godly man as the law ⌊of Moses⌋ said one should live
-or-
a devout-worshiper, in harmony with all which is contained in our laws

See how you translated this word in 2:5 and 8:2, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “God-fearing.”

22:12c

who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as highly regarded indicates that the Jews in Damascus said Ananias was a very good man. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
he had a good reputation among all the Jews living there
-or-
all the Jews living there respected him very much

See how you translated highly regarded in 10:22 (“with a good reputation”) or 16:2 (“spoke well of him”).

living there: The word there refers to Damascus here.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 23:14

23:14a

chief priests: This phrase refers to the priests who were leaders of the Jewish priests. (The high priest was top leader of the priests.) See how you translated this phrase in 4:6 or 22:30.

elders: The word elders describes leaders in Jewish society who were not priests. See how you translated this word in 21:18 or 24:1.

23:14b

have bound ourselves with a solemn oath: Here the clause in Greek has the same verb that means “speak a curse” in 23:12. The clause in Greek also has the word that means “with a curse.” This emphasizes that they are completely committed to fulfilling their promise to kill Paul. Translate in a similar way as you did in 23:12. For example:

We have bound ourselves under a great curse (King James Version)
-or-
We’ve asked God to curse us (God’s Word)
-or-
promised with a great curse of bad consequences ⌊should we not fulfill it⌋
-or-
promised, saying “We will indeed do this or else ⌊die trying⌋!”
-or-
promised, saying “We will indeed do this or else ⌊may God kill us⌋!”

not to eat anything: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as eat is literally “taste.” It refers to either eating or drinking a small amount. It implies any amount of food or drink. For example:

to taste nothing (New American Standard Bible)

In some languages, translating this word as taste would imply that they could eat as long as it was more than just a taste. If that is true in your language, indicate that they meant not eating or drinking at all. For example:

to eat or drink nothing

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 24:11

24:11a

You can verify for yourself: Felix could ask the people that Paul stayed with in Caesarea before departing for Jerusalem (21:9–15). Felix could also ask people in Jerusalem about Paul’s activities. Their answers would verify that what Paul said in 24:11b–12b and 24:17–21 was true. Other ways to translate this clause are:

As you can find out for yourself, (Good News Translation)
-or-
You can confirm these things/facts:
-or-
You are able to check,

24:11b

I went up to Jerusalem: Caesarea is on the seacoast, and Jerusalem is up in the mountains at about 760 meters (2,500 feet) in elevation. It is a journey of about 120 kilometers (75 miles). So Paul used the Greek verb that refers to going up in elevation. In some languages it is more natural not to use the word up. For example:

I went to Jerusalem (Good News Translation)

worship: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worship refers to kneeling on the ground and placing the face on the ground with hands outstretched toward someone. These actions show honor. This Greek word was also used more generally to refer to religious activities done for the purpose of honoring God. So the Berean Standard Bible translates this word as worship.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021