SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 81

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 5:21

5:21a

At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told: The Greek is more literally “and, having heard, they entered the temple at daybreak.” The words “having heard” refers to what the angel told them in 5:20. It indicates that the apostles had heard and were ready to obey what the angel told them as soon as the gates to the temple courts were opened at daybreak.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

After hearing that, they entered the temple courts at dawn

At daybreak: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as daybreak refers to the time when the sun begins to rise above the horizon, or any time near to that time. Here are some other ways to translate this:

at dawn (Good News Translation)
-or-
when the sun was coming up

the temple courts: The Greek is “the temple” but refers to the temple area, as in 5:20. See how you translated this phrase there.

5:21b

began to teach: The Greek tense of the word teach indicates ongoing action. They were teaching over the next days and weeks. But the apostles were also teaching earlier (4:2, 18). Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

began again to teach

Some languages can imply an ongoing action with the simple past or similar tense. For example:

and taught (Revised Standard Version)

the people: The Berean Standard Bible adds these words to make clear whom the apostles were teaching. Some languages would not need to add them for the correct meaning.

Paragraph 5:21c–24

5:21c

When the high priest and his associates arrived: This happened on the same day as the apostles beginning to preach again (5:21b). For example:

⌊That day,⌋ when the high priest and his associates arrived

This event has not been mentioned before. In some languages it is more natural to omit the word When. You will then need to add “and” after arrived. For example:

⌊That day,⌋ the high priest and his associates arrived and

the high priest and his associates: The phrase the high priest and his associates is the same group as in 5:17a. See how you translated it there.

arrived: Here this word probably refers to the place where the Sanhedrin usually met.

5:21d

they convened: This phrase indicates that the high priest and his associates sent a message to all the men who belong to the Sanhedrin, for them to gather for a meeting. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

they summoned (NET Bible)
-or-
they called…to meet/gather

the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel: There are two ways to interpret the connection between the Sanhedrin and the full assembly of the elders of Israel here:

(1) The phrase the full assembly of the elders of Israel explains the phrase the Sanhedrin. For example:

the Sanhedrin, the full Council of the Israelite nation, (Revised English Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

(2) The full assembly of the elders of Israel was a separate group from the Sanhedrin. For example:

the council and all the senate of Israel (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, King James Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because we know of no document of that time that supports two groups here (interpretation (2)).

Sanhedrin: This word refers to a group of people who made decisions that affected all or some of the Jews. In the New Testament it is often used as a name for the Jewish ruling council, as here. They made laws and set political policy (all subject to the Roman governor). They made decisions relating to the temple and to the worship there. This group of Jewish leaders also were the judges in the main court of the Jews. You may want to:

• Translate this word as a name. You may then want to explain its meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This word refers to the Jewish ruling council.

• Translate the meaning of the name. For example:

council (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
highest Jewish council of leaders
-or-
the Jewish ruling group

5:21e

sent to the jail for the apostles: In Greek this sentence is more literally “they sent to the jail for them to be brought.” It indicates that the high priest and his associates sent someone to bring the apostles from the jail. Here are some other ways to translate this:

sent to the prison to have them brought (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
they sent orders to the prison to have the apostles brought before them (Good News Translation)

The Greek clause ‘to be brought’ is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

They sent some men to the jail to bring the apostles to them (New Century Version)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 6:12

6:12a

So: The Greek word here indicates a close/strong connection to the previous sentence. But it probably does not mean “therefore” here. (So in English can indicate a more general but close connection.) Here are some other ways to translate this word:

And likewise
-or-
Also

they stirred up the people: Here the word they probably refers to the members of the “Synagogue of the Freedman” (6:9a–b).

stirred up: This phrase refers to causing people to be angry about something. Here they made people angry with Stephen.

the people: This phrase probably refers to people of Jerusalem, implying Jews who lived there.

elders: Here this word refers to respected leaders in the Jewish community. They were probably not religious leaders. See how you translated this word in 4:5.

scribes: This phrase refers to men who studied, interpreted, and taught the law of Moses. See how you translated this phrase in 4:5.

6:12b

They seized him: Here the word They probably refers to same people referred to by “they” in 6:12a.

seized: This word refers to forcefully grabbing someone. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

took hold of
-or-
captured

Sanhedrin: This is the name of the Jewish ruling council. See how you translated it in 5:21.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 15:29

15:29a–c

food sacrificed to idols: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as food sacrificed to idols refers to food given to the priests at pagan temples. The priests would kill the animals and cook the animals and other food as an honor to the pagan deity. Then they would share it with those worshiping the pagan deity. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

food that has been offered to idols (Good News Translation)
-or-
what has been sacrificed to idols (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
food that has been used to worship idols
-or-
food that people have sacrificed to idols

idols: The idols are statues or other physical representations of a god. People bow down in front of the idol to worship that god. See how you translated this word in 15:20.

15:29b–c

from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality: See how you translated these phrases in 15:20.

15:29d

You will do well: Like the Greek, this English clause indicates both that the person will do what is right and his life will be good.

15:29e

Farewell: The Greek word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as Farewell literally means “be strong.” It was a common way to end letters. It indicated a desire on the part of the writer that things would go well for the person or persons who read the letter.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 16:20

16:20a

magistrates: This word refers to administrative officials of the Roman Empire who had the highest legal authority within their city or domain. Here it probably refers to judges whose duty was to judge cases in court. Another way to translate this word is:

judges ⌊of the city⌋

Magistrates were only some of the authorities (16:19d).

said: Paul and Silas preached the gospel of Jesus. They were not trying to cause an uproar. Romans generally did not like people trying to convert others away from the Roman religion.

The accusation of the owners was misleading. They did not talk about the girl but instead said the words of 16:20b–21 to make the leaders angry at Paul and Silas. They succeeded. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Paul and Silas were in fact trying to cause an uproar. If that is true in your language, include some of the implied information. For example:

⌊deceitfully/deceptively⌋ said

16:20b

These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil: The Greek words are literally “These men are disturbing our city, being Jews.” This indicates that the reason the owners gave for Paul and Silas disturbing the city was that they were Jews. For example:

The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
These men, being Jews, are disturbing our city!

These men: This phrase indicates that the owners had contempt for Paul and Silas. If possible, indicate or imply contempt in how you translate this phrase.

are throwing…into turmoil: This phrase refers to causing the people to be upset. Other ways to translate it are:

are throwing our city into confusion (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
are stirring up a lot of trouble (God’s Word)
-or-
causing a great disturbance (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

our city: At that time probably several thousand people lived in Philippi. It had a high status as a Roman colony, so the people called it a city. In some languages the word “town” is more appropriate for this size city.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 17:12

17:12a

As a result: In the Greek 17:12a starts with a Greek phrase that means “accordingly” or “therefore.” The Berean Standard Bible translates it as As a result. Here is another way to translate this:

So, (New Century Version)

But the New International Version and some English versions allow the context to indicate the connection and do not translate the Greek phrase.

believed: Here this word means “accepted that the message about Jesus as the Christ is true.” It here implies that the person who believes will commit himself to following Jesus.

In some languages it may be good to use more than one verb to express this type of belief. For example:

believed ⌊in Jesus⌋ ⌊and commit to him⌋
-or-
believed ⌊and follow Jesus⌋

See how you translated this word in 4:4 or 16:34.

17:12b

quite a few prominent Greek women and men: The Greek words are literally “of prominent Greek women and of men, not a few.” The idiom “not a few” emphasizes the meaning of “many.” It applies to both women and men here. The word Greek also applies to both women and men here. For example:

many Greek women of high social standing and many Greek men (Good News Translation)

prominent: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as prominent refers to someone of high social status. Other ways to translate this word are:

of high social standing (Good News Translation)
-or-
important (New Century Version)

See how you translated this word in 13:50 (“prominence”).

Greek: Since the people of Berea spoke the Greek language, the word Greek here refers to people who spoke Greek as their first language. It may imply people from other places (but not Jews). However, you should translate it as people who spoke Greek as their first language here.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 18:10

18:10a

For: This word introduces the reason for Paul to not be afraid and to continue speaking to people about Jesus. For example:

because (NET Bible)

Some English versions allow the context to imply the connection and do not translate the Greek word.

I am with you: This clause indicates that Jesus supported Paul, empowered him, guided him, and helped him. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to physical presence. If that is true in your language, translate in a way that includes the correct meaning. For example:

I support you
-or-
I will help you always

no one will lay a hand on you: The Greek words here are literally “no one will attack you to harm you.” The goal of the words lay a hand on is to do harm. The Jews opposed Paul and brought him to court (18:12), but they were unable to harm him. So this attack did not result in harm to Paul. Other ways to translate these clauses are:

no one will lay a hand on you to harm you (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
no one will attack you that will result in harm to you
-or-
no attack shall harm you (Revised English Bible)

lay a hand on: Here the words lay a hand on refers to coming against someone for the purpose of harming them. Other ways to translate this word are:

fight
-or-
come/be against

18:10b

because I have many people in this city: The word because introduces the second reason for Paul to not be afraid and to continue speaking to people about Jesus. For example:

⌊Do not be afraid and continue to speak⌋ because I have many people in this city
-or-

⌊Do those things⌋ because I have many people in this city

Some English versions allow the context to imply the connection and do not translate the Greek word. They separate this reason from the promise of a lack of harm by starting a new sentence. For example:

Many people in this city belong to me. (Contemporary English Version)

I have many people in this city: This clause in Greek is literally “a (group of) people to me is big in this city.” It indicates that Jesus has already chosen many people in Corinth to become believers. It encouraged Paul to preach because many people would become believers. Other ways to translate this clause are:

there are many in this city who are my people (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Many people in this city are ready to become my people

people: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as people indicates that Jesus has chosen a group of people from the Jews and Gentiles to believe in him. They together become God’s people in Jesus. For example:

my people (Good News Translation)

See how you translated this word in 15:14.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 19:14

19:14

Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this: This verse is literally “(There) were seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish high priest, doing this.” It introduces an example of Jews driving out evil spirits (19:13). For example:

Among those who did this were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest. (New Jerusalem Bible)

The word “certain” probably indicates that Luke did not expect his readers to know who Sceva was.

Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest: Among the Jewish priests, all their leaders came from certain families. The phrase chief priest indicates that Sceva was from one of those families. He was not the official high priest, the leader of all the priests. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Seven sons of Sceva, a leader of the Jewish priests

For additional help translating chief priest, see Chief Priests, sense 2 in Key Biblical Terms.

were doing this: The word this refers to using the name of Jesus to force evil spirits to leave (19:13). In some languages the word “that” would be more natural. For example:

were doing that

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:5

20:5

These men: This phrase refers to the seven men of 20:4.

went on ahead and waited for us in Troas: Troas was a city in the province of Asia. It was a coastal city on the Aegean Sea. The men had to sail on a ship across part of the Aegean Sea in order to get to Troas. Other ways to translate this are:

went ahead of us, ⌊crossed the sea,⌋ ⌊landed at⌋ ⌊the city of⌋ Troas, and waited for us there

went on ahead: It is possible that:

(1) the seven men went with Paul to Macedonia, then left him there to go ahead to Troas,

(2) the seven men left Paul in Corinth to go ahead to Troas.

The words seem to imply interpretation (2). But Luke joined Paul in this verse. Many scholars believe he was living in Macedonia at this time. This would imply interpretation (1). If possible, translate in a way that allows either interpretation.

us: This pronoun indicates that Luke was with Paul again. It is also possible that other believers traveled with Paul and Luke at this time.

Troas: See how you spelled this name in 16:11.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021