SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 84

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 16:23

16:23a

And after striking them with many blows: This clause is passive in the New International Version. The Greek clause is active, as is the Berean Standard Bible. For example:

they had beaten them severely (NET Bible)
-or-
the ⌊guards⌋ beat them severely

striking them with many blows: This phrase in Greek is literally “put many blows.” It refers to hitting them with rods many times. For example:

inflicted many blows (Revised Standard Version)

striking: Here the word striking refers to beating with a rod, heavy stick, or cane. It refers to the beating in 16:22b.

16:23b

they threw them into prison: This clause is passive in some English version. However, the Greek verb is active, as is the Berean Standard Bible, and implies that the guards who beat Paul and Silas (16:23a) put them in prison. For example:

they threw them into prison (NET Bible)
-or-
and forcefully put them in prison

threw them into prison: The verb threw is a figure of speech. Here it refers to forcefully taking someone to the prison and then putting him into a cell. In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

put them in jail (Contemporary English Version)

prison: This word refers to a building with rooms and doors that people can lock so that a person cannot escape.

16:23c

ordered the jailer to guard them securely: This clause is active in the Berean Standard Bible. The Greek verb is active but does not name who did the action. Probably the magistrates of 16:22b sent this command with the guards. The magistrates probably did not go to the prison. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

commanded the jailer to guard them securely (NET Bible)
-or-

⌊the magistrates⌋ sent a command to the jailer to guard them carefully

jailer: This refers to the person in charge of the prison. He was responsible to lock people in and let them out.

securely: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as securely refers to being secure or certain of something. The magistrates did not want Paul and Silas to escape.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 17:15

17:15a

Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens: The word escorted indicates that the men went with Paul. The word brought indicates that they showed him the way to go to Athens. Other ways to translate this clause are:

The men who were taking Paul went with him as far as Athens (Good News Translation)
-or-
The men who accompanied Paul took him as far as Athens (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
The people leading Paul went with him to Athens. (New Century Version)

From whatever coastal city they went to, they may have gone to Athens by ship or by road. It was about a 500 kilometer (310 miles) trip by ship. This would take three to six days in good weather. The trip by road to Athens was about 450 kilometers (280 miles). This would take seven to twelve days on foot.

Athens: Athens was a famous city at that time and an important city for Greek art and science. The scholars of Greece lived there and had a great reputation for learning in the Roman empire. Athens is a seaport on the Saronic Gulf which leads to the Aegean Sea.

17:15b

then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible: This clause indicates that Paul told the men to tell Silas and Timothy to come and join him in Athens as soon as they could. The men returned with that message. Other ways to translate this clause are:

receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
went back with instructions for Silas and Timothy to rejoin Paul as soon as they could (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
he instructed them to tell Silas and Timothy to come and join him as soon as possible, and they returned with that message

as soon as possible: Paul wanted Silas and Timothy to leave for Athens immediately after hearing the message. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

soon
-or-
without delay

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 18:13

18:13a–b

“This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said: The Greek words are literally “saying that contrary to the law this (man) persuades people to worship God.” The phrase contrary to the law is emphasized in this clause.

The verb “saying” is first in the Greek. Consider where is the most natural place in your language. For example:

saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” (English Standard Version)

18:13a

This man: The Jews knew Paul’s name but use the phrase This man to show a lack of respect.

is persuading: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is persuading implies evil purposes. For example:

influences/entices

the people: This phrase refers generally to all people, not just Jews or Gentiles.

18:13b

worship God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worship refer to religious activities done for the purpose of honoring God.

the law: The Jews probably used the phrase the law to be deliberately vague. They did not call it “our law” (referring to Jewish law) or “your law” (referring to Roman law). They wanted Gallio to use any means to find Paul guilty.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 19:17

Paragraph 19:17–20

19:17a

This became known: The word This refers to the man with the evil spirit beating the seven sons of Sceva.

all the Jews and Greeks: Ephesus was a Greek city, but the last one hundred years more and more Romans lived there. Most of the people living there were people who spoke the Greek language as their first language. Many English versions translate the word Greeks literally. For example:

the Jewish people and Greek people

But here this word includes people from other countries who then lived in Ephesus. So this word can be translated as “non-Jews.” For example:

the Jews and Gentiles (Good News Translation)

19:17b

fear came over all of them: The Greek words are literally “fear fell upon all of them.” It indicates that they were very fearful.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fear can include the meaning of “awe” or “reverence.” This meaning is probably included here, because the people honored Jesus (19:17c). Other ways to translate this clause are:

everyone was filled with awe (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
all were awestruck (Revised English Bible)

19:17c

the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor: This clause in Greek is literally “the name of the Lord Jesus was being made large.” It indicates that the people of Ephesus were honoring or praising Jesus. The Greek grammar indicates that they did this over some time, not just once.

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

they were greatly honoring the name of the Lord Jesus
-or-
they praised the name of the Lord Jesus (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:8

20:8

there were many lamps: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as many is literally “a number of.” It probably implies more than the usual number of lamps for that size of room.

lamps: At that time, a “lamp” was a small clay bowl shaped for a wick on one side. People put oil in it. The oil burned and gave light.

Some ways to translate this word are:

• Use the type of lamp that people in your culture use inside a house. A type that burns oil or kerosene is a good option.

• Use a different type of light, such as a candle.

• Use a general word for lamp or light. You may want to describe it as using oil. For example:

⌊oil⌋ lamp/light

The word you use should allow a general meaning that can include the oil lamp of that time. The word should not refer only to a modern type of lamp, such as a pressurized lamp.

See how you translated the word “lamp” in Matthew 5:15, Mark 4:21, or Luke 8:16.

the upper room: This refers to a room or part of the house that was built on top of the main part of the house. In some cultures this custom is not known. If that is true in your language, you may want to describe it. For example:

the room above in that house
-or-
a large room built on top of the main part of the house
-or-
in a house with an upper ⌊story⌋ and a lower ⌊story⌋ it was the upper ⌊story⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:2

21:2a

Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia: This clause indicates that they went around asking about a ship that would go to Phoenicia. They then asked those in charge of the ship if there was room for them. Other ways to translate this clause are:

We searched for a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, found/saw one
-or-
We asked about a ship crossing over to Phoenicia. We were told about one
-or-
We asked about a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, and people told us about one

a ship crossing over to Phoenicia: This ship was a large ocean-going ship, probably more than thirty meters (a hundred feet) long. It probably had one large rectangular sail in the middle and a smaller one in the front. It could sail long distances over the open sea (where no land could be seen). It probably sailed straight to Phoenicia. This would be much faster than following the coast and stopping at a harbor each night. Use a word or phrase that indicates or implies that kind of ship.

crossing over: This phrase refers to going from one side of something to the other side. Here the ship would go from one place on the coast to another place, going far from land. The trip from Patara to Tyre was about 600 kilometers (370 miles). Sailing day and night, the trip took three to five days with good winds.

Other ways to translate this phrase are:

crossing ⌊the sea⌋
-or-
sailing for (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
going ⌊by sea⌋

Phoenicia: Phoenicia was a region on the coast of the province of Syria (21:3b). In some languages people are not familiar with the name Phoenicia. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it in your translation. For example:

⌊the region/area of⌋ Phoenicia

See how you spelled this name in 15:3.

21:2b

boarded it: This phrase refers to going onto a ship. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

got on it

set sail: This phrase indicates that the ship departed from the harbor. It translates the same Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “we sailed” in 21:1b. Translate it as you did there.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 21:34

21:34a

Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some another: Many people in the crowd shouted answers to the commander’s questions. But they said different things. 21:34b indicates that what one person said did not agree with what someone else said. Other ways to translate this clause are:

People in the crowd called out different things (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
And the people answered shouting, however, everyone answered something different.

See how you translated similar words (“Some were shouting one thing and some another”) in 19:32.

were shouting: The Greek verb indicates that the crowd shouted for some time.

21:34b

since: This word introduces the reason for the commander to order his soldiers to take Paul to the barracks (21:34c).

This is not a natural order in many languages. If that is true in your language, use the correct conjunction or reorder 21:34b–c. For example:

and the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, so
-or-

34che ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks, 34bsince/because the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar

the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar: The uproar caused the commander to be unable to learn what was true about Paul. In some languages the uproar must be mentioned first. For example:

the uproar ⌊of the crowd⌋ caused the commander not to get at the truth

the commander could not get at the truth: The phrase get at is an English idiom that means “learn” or “discover.” Other ways to translate this clause are:

he could not learn the facts (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the commander could not find out exactly what had happened (Good News Translation)

the truth: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the truth refers to being certain of something. The commander was not certain who Paul was or what he had done. See the examples above.

uproar: This word describes a crowd that is both noisy and disorderly. In some languages the whole meaning must be translated with a phrase. For example:

the noise and confusion (God’s Word)
-or-
confusion and shouting (New Century Version)

21:34c

he ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks: The clause Paul be brought is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

he ordered his men to take Paul up into the fort (Good News Translation)

In some languages, it will be more natural to express the command in direct speech. For example, you might say:

he ordered the soldiers ⌊saying⌋, “Take this man into the barracks.”

be brought into: If direction up and down is important in your language, you could translate this as “be brought up into.”

barracks: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as barracks means “a place where soldiers lived.” Here it refers to the stone fortress next to the temple. Other ways to translate this word are:

army building (New Century Version)
-or-
fortress (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
soldiers’ residence
-or-
the building where the soldiers stayed

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 22:27

22:27a

Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?: The first clause is a command. The last clause is the question. In some languages it is more natural to make the two clauses into two sentences. For example:

Tell me. Are you a Roman citizen?

Tell me: This command demands that Paul reply. Other ways to translate this clause are:

You must answer me.
-or-
Answer me.

The commander was not being rude here. In some languages a literal translation would be rude. If that is true in your language, you may want to make the command a polite request. For example:

Please answer me.

are you a Roman citizen?: This is a real question. The commander wanted to hear for himself what Paul said.

22:27b

“Yes,” he answered: The Berean Standard Bible placed the phrase he answered after the spoken word Yes. Place it where it would be most natural in your language.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021