SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 79

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 17:25

17:25a

Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as served refers to taking care of someone. God does not need anything, so people cannot take care of him. Other ways to translate this clause are:

he is not taken care of by people, as if he needed things
-or-
He does not need any help from…people;…he has everything he needs. (New Century Version)
-or-
Nor does he need anything that we can supply by working for him (Good News Translation)

Nor is He served by human hands: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊people⌋ do not take care of him

as if He needed anything: This phrase in Greek is literally “being in need of something.” It connects to “he is not served” above. Here it indicates that God does not need anything. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

Nor is he in need of anything, that he should be served by human hands (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
he has everything he needs (New Century Version)

17:25b

because: This verse in Greek implies that 17:25b explains why people cannot help him. So the Berean Standard Bible adds the word because.

He Himself: The pronoun is emphatic in the Greek, so the Berean Standard Bible translates as He Himself. If possible, emphasize the pronoun in your language. For example:

It is he who (New Jerusalem Bible)

gives everyone life and breath: This phrase indicates that God causes all people to live and causes them to continue living. In some languages a different verb is needed for a more natural translation. For example:

causes all people to live and breathe
-or-
causes all people to begin to live and continue to live

everyone: Although the Greek is more literally “all,” here the word means everyone and refers generally to people.

life: Here the word life refers to being alive. God causes all people to exist. See the examples above.

breath: Here the word breath probably refers to continuing to live. See the examples above.

everything else: This phrase refers to food, clothing, shelter, and other things.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 18:23

Division 18:23–21:16

The third missionary journey

In this division Paul went on his third missionary journey. During that time Priscilla and Aquila instructed Apollos in the complete teachings of Jesus.

Section 18:23–28

Paul began his third journey and Apollos learned about Jesus’ way of saving people

In this section, Paul began his third missionary journey. About that time Apollos began preaching Jesus as the Christ. But he did not know all of the gospel. In particular, he did not know about the baptism that believers practiced. Priscilla and Aquila instructed Apollos in those teachings that he did not know. Then Apollos went to Achaia and helped the believers there.

Some English versions begin the new section at 18:24 instead of 18:23 because the story of Apollos begins there. But Paul began his journey in 18:23. Consider where would be the best place to start a new section.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Third Missionary Journey (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Paul went on his third missionary journey
-or-
Paul went to visit some of the churches and Apollos learned the rest of the gospel

Paragraph 18:23

18:23a

After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place: The Berean Standard Bible adds the phrase in Antioch to make it clear in this verse where Paul was. The word traveled refers to beginning a journey. For example:

After spending some time there he departed (Revised Standard Version)

18:23b

traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia: The Greek words here are literally “passing through in order the district/region of Galatia and Phrygia.” It indicates that Paul visited the towns in Galatia and Phrygia. He visited them one after the other. The phrase “in order” probably indicates that he visited every town that he had preached in before. He probably visited them in the same order that he visited them last time. Other ways to translate this clause are:

traveled through the region of Galatia and Phrygia visiting each church ⌊that he established⌋
-or-
traveled through the region of Galatia and Phrygia visiting each church ⌊in the same order that he went the last time⌋

the region of Galatia and Phrygia: Here this phrase probably refers to the region that included both Galatia and Phrygia. For example:

the Galatian and Phrygian lands
-or-
the areas of Galatia and Phrygia

18:23c

strengthening all the disciples: The word strengthening refers to helping the disciples to become stronger in their faith in Jesus. Other ways to translate this word are:

helped the followers there to become stronger in their faith (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
strengthened [ the faith of ] all the disciples (God’s Word)
-or-
strengthened the disciples’ ways of faith
-or-
helped the disciples to believe, ⌊love, and obey⌋ ⌊Jesus⌋ better

disciples: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as disciples means “learners” who are in a relationship with a teacher. The learners commit themselves to their teacher in order to learn from him and live according to his teaching and example.

In some languages using the word disciples would imply the twelve disciples. If that is true in your language, you may want to use the more general word “believer.” See how you translated this word in 6:1 or 16:1.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 19:27

19:27a

There is danger not only that our business will fall into disrepute: Demetrius was worried that three things he thought were bad might happen:

(a) his trade would lose its good name,

(b) people would discredit the temple of Artemis (19:27b),

The phrase not only indicates that the workers should also be concerned about (b) and (c). See General Comment at 19:27c for other ways to translate this complex sentence.

There is danger…that our business will fall into disrepute: The Greek words are literally “This is a danger to us the business to come into disrepute.” The word “this” refers to what Paul was doing. Demetrius believed that Paul’s preaching and converting people to Christianity might cause the people of Ephesus to dislike the worshipers of Artemis and the making of small silver models of the temple of Artemis. Demetrius’ three reasons are given in this verse. Other ways to translate this clause are:

This threatens…to discredit our trade (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
His preaching is dangerous because people might start saying terrible things about our business
-or-
This preaching may cause people to say that our work is bad ⌊to do⌋

our business will fall into disrepute: This clause indicates that people would no longer respect the business of making things for worshiping Artemis. So people would also disrespect Demetrius and the other workers. Other ways to translate this clause are:

this trade of ours may come into disrepute (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
this business of ours will get a bad name (Good News Translation)
-or-
people will begin to say that our business is bad/shameful

19:27b

the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊people⌋ will discredit the temple of the great goddess Artemis

be discredited: This phrase in Greek is literally “be considered nothing.” It indicates that people would consider the temple to be unimportant or worthless. It implies that people would stop worshiping Artemis. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

be regarded as worthless (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
be scorned (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
reduce to unimportance (New Jerusalem Bible)

19:27c

her majesty deposed—she who is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world: The clause who is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world tells the reader more about the goddess. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are other goddesses named Artemis and only this one is worshiped throughout Asia. If that is true in your language, translate this information in a way that tells more about Artemis. One way to do that is to put it in a new sentence here. For example:

the goddess herself will be robbed of her divine majesty. It is she who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world.
-or-
the goddess herself will be robbed of her divine majesty. Indeed, she is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world!

majesty: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as majesty means “grandeur,” “importance,” or “greatness.” People considered Artemis to be a great and important goddess. Her temple and statue were very beautiful. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

magnificence (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
prestige (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
praiseworthiness

deposed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as deposed is literally “suffer the loss of.” It indicates that the majesty of Artemis would vanish. It implies that people would no longer honor her. Other ways to translate this Greek word are:

be destroyed (Good News Translation)
-or-
come to nothing
-or-
dissipate/disappear

is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world: Demetrius exaggerated to emphasize that many people worshiped Artemis. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that people everywhere worshiped Artemis. If that is true in your language, indicate a wide area. For example:

is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and ⌊very⌋ many other places

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:18

20:18a–21b

You know: 20:18b–21c in Greek is one sentence. It describes what Paul is sure that the elders know about him. For example:

You yourselves know how I lived among you all the time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews; 20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Revised Standard Version)

In many languages it is more natural to translate this as several sentences. You may then want to repeat You know at the beginning of each new sentence. The example below adds this phrase each time it is not in the Berean Standard Bible:

You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia. 19⌊You know⌋ I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, especially in the trials that came upon me through the plots of the Jews. 20I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you as I taught you publicly and from house to house. 21⌊You know⌋ I testified to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

20:18b

You: Here this pronoun in Greek emphasizes the fact that the elders personally saw how Paul lived in Ephesus. For example:

You yourselves (Revised Standard Version)

how I lived the whole time I was with you: Paul said here that the elders knew how he behaved while he had lived with them in Ephesus for three years. Other ways to translate this clause are:

how I lived among you the whole time (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
how I behaved the entire time I lived in your city
-or-
everything I did during the time I was with you (Contemporary English Version)

I was with you: This refers to Paul living in Ephesus, as they did. It does not imply that he lived in the same house with them. For example:

I lived among you (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I was ⌊in Ephesus⌋ with you

After the three years in Asia, Paul went elsewhere. Paul now spoke to the elders some years later. In some languages it is more natural to indicate that Paul no longer lived in Asia. For example:

⌊when⌋ I had lived with you

20:18c

from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia: This clause indicates that the elders knew what Paul did during the whole time he was in Asia. Other ways to translate this clause are:

ever since the first day I set foot among you in Asia, (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
beginning with the first day I came into the province of Asia

I arrived: This clause in Greek is literally “I set foot.” It is an idiom that refers to the first moment Paul entered Asia.

the province of Asia: The Berean Standard Bible adds the phrase province of, as in 20:16. See how you translated this phrase there.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:12

Paragraph 21:12–14

21:12a

When we heard this: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this is literally “these (things).” It refers back to what Agabus said. In some languages it is more natural to use “that.” For example:

When we heard that
-or-
When we heard those ⌊words⌋

21:12b

we and the people there: Here the phrase the people there refers to the believers from Caesarea who were present with Paul and the others at the time. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

we and the believers there
-or-
we and the local believers (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
we and the believers/disciples who lived there

pleaded with: The word pleaded means “to urge.” The Greek verb indicates that the people were urging Paul for some time. For example:

began to urge

Paul: This verse in Greek implies that they urged Paul, so the Berean Standard Bible adds his name. Many translations use the pronoun “him.”

go up to Jerusalem: Caesarea is on the sea coast, 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 Luke 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:

go to Jerusalem (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 22.5

22:5a

the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me: The Greek words are literally “the high priest testifies to me and all the council of elders.” About twenty-four years earlier the high priest and council gave Paul written permission to persecute Christians. Since then the Romans named someone else high priest. But the high priest of this time may have been on the council at that time. Certainly many of the council from twenty-four years ago were still on the council. So in that way they could testify to what Paul said here. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the high priest is my witness and so are all the council of elders
-or-
the high priest and all the council of elders know of these deeds of mine and can speak of them

the high priest and the whole Council: The high priest was the leader of the Council (it is also called “the Sanhedrin” in Scripture). To make this clear, you might want to say:

the high priest and all the ⌊other⌋ members of the Council
-or-
the high priest and all the ⌊rest⌋ of the Council

high priest: This phrase refers to the priest who was the leader of all the Jewish priests. Other ways to translate this word are:

the leader of the priests
-or-
the priest who was the leader of all ⌊Jewish⌋ priests

See how you translated this phrase in 4:6 or 9:1.

priest: A Jewish priest was a religious leader who:

(a) sacrificed animals and other things to God for the people,

(b) did other rituals for the people,

(d) taught the people about God.

Some ways to translate priest are:

• Use a descriptive term that focuses on the function of a priest. For example:

sacrificer
-or-
man/person who offers sacrifices to God
-or-
one who represents people to God

• Use a local word for priest. This option may be acceptable if the duties of a local priest are similar to those of a Jewish priest. You may need to indicate that the word refers to a Jewish priest. For example:

Jewish ⌊people’s⌋ priest

If possible, you should choose a term that can be used in both Old Testament and New Testament contexts. Notice that in the book of 1 Peter believers are called priests because they serve God with their whole lives and Christ is called our high priest.

the whole Council: This phrase refers to the council of elders that ruled all the Jewish people and made decisions. In Scripture is it sometimes referred to as “the Sanhedrin.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the whole council of elders (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the whole council of older Jewish leaders (New Century Version)
-or-
the whole Sanhedrin

See how you translated the word Council in Luke 22:66 (“council of the elders”) or “Sanhedrin” in Matthew 26:59, Mark 14:55, or Acts 5:27.

22:5b

I even obtained letters from them: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as obtained usually means “take” or “receive.” The leaders in Jerusalem gave these letters to Paul. For example:

I received from them letters (Good News Translation)
-or-
they gave letters to me

The context probably implies that Paul asked for these letters.

letters: These letters officially permitted and authorized Paul to persecute the Christians in Damascus. In some languages a different word than letters is used for such official documents. For example:

writs
-or-
decrees
-or-
written orders

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

• Explain these letters in your translation. For example:

letters ⌊giving permission⌋ ⌊to persecute Christians⌋
-or-
letters ⌊of authority⌋
-or-
letters ⌊which authorized me to arrest followers of The Way⌋

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

These letters officially permitted and authorized Paul to persecute the Christians in Damascus.

See how you translated this word in 9:2.

from them: The word them refers to the high priest and Council of elders (22:5a). Here, it refers to the man who was high priest and the men who were on the Council twenty-four years earlier.

their brothers: Here the Greek phrase is literally “the brothers.” It refers to Jews whom the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem would consider leaders of the Jewish community in Damascus. It does not refer to fellow Christians here. For example:

the Jewish brothers (New Century Version)
-or-
fellow Jews (Good News Translation)
-or-
the Jewish community (God’s Word)

22:5c

I was on my way to…bring: In 22:6 Paul continued the story about his journey to Damascus. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

I set off to bring (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
I…started off…in order to bring (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
I was on my way to make arrests there (Revised English Bible)
-or-
I was going there to arrest (New Century Version)

bring: The purpose of Paul going to Damascus was to bring people who believed in Jesus to Jerusalem so that the Jewish leaders could punish them. But Paul began believing in Jesus on the way there, so he no longer tried to capture believers. Your translation should not indicate or imply that he captured believers and brought them to Jerusalem. For example:

intending to arrest any followers of the way I could find there (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

to apprehend: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as apprehend is literally “having been tied.” Here it would imply tied with ropes or chains. It can also mean “arrest (people) and make (them) prisoners.” Both meanings are appropriate here. Paul planned to arrest the Christians in Damascus and fasten ropes or chains to their wrists so that he could take them to Jerusalem. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

in chains (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
to arrest these people and bring them back (New Century Version)
-or-
handcuffed

See how you translated this phrase in 9:2, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “as prisoners.”

these people: This phrase refers to Christians. In some languages who this phrase refers to will be unclear to readers even reading 22:4–5 together. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it here. For example:

the Christians (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
any followers of the way (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
any people who believed in Jesus

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 23:7

Paragraph 23:7–9

23:7a–b

a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as dispute here probably implies anger and shouting while they argued. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the Pharisees and the Sadducees got into a big argument (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the Pharisees and the Sadducees began shouting and arguing with each other

23:7c

the assembly was divided: The word divided means that some of the members of the Sanhedrin had one opinion and others members had another, very different opinion. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the council members were now divided (in opinion)
-or-
the men who had gathered now separated ⌊by their beliefs⌋

This word probably does not indicate that the Sadducees and Pharisees moved from where they were and gathered into two groups on different sides of the room.

the assembly: Here the word assembly refers to the Sanhedrin. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the meeting (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
the men in the meeting (God’s Word)
-or-
those who had assembled there

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 24:4

24:4a

in order not to burden you any further: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as burden:

(1) It means delay here. For example:

detain (Revised Standard Version)

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

(2) It means weary here. For example:

bore (New Living Translation (2004))

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because of the scholarly support for it. Other ways to translate this phrase according to interpretation (1) are:

to take up too much of your time (Good News Translation)
-or-
so that I may not delay you any further (NET Bible)
-or-
to not waste the Governor’s time

24:4b

your indulgence: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as indulgence refers to being gentle and patient. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

with your customary graciousness (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
be patient with us (Contemporary English Version)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021