SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 85

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 23:9

23:9a

great clamor: Here this phrase refers to the loud noise caused by many people arguing very loudly at the same time.

23:9b

some scribes from the party of the Pharisees: Many scribes were members of the Pharisee group. Some of these scribes stood up and spoke.

scribes: The scribes were scholars who studied, taught, and interpreted the law of Moses, as well as related Jewish laws and traditions. Most scribes were Pharisees, but not all Pharisees were scribes Some ways to translate this term are:

experts in the Law of Moses
-or-
teachers of religious law (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
expert teachers on Moses’ law
-or-
teachers of religion

See how you translated this phrase in 4:5 or 6:12.

23:9c

contended sharply: This phrase indicates that the scribes contended even more strongly and loudly than they had earlier (23:7). The Greek grammar probably indicates that they argued in this way for some time. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

started arguing loudly
-or-
began to argue forcefully (New Living Translation (2004))

23:9d

(New American Standard Bible) saying: The Greek word which the New American Standard Bible translates literally as saying indicates here that main point of what the teachers of the law argued was: “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” For example:

saying, “We find nothing wrong… (New American Standard Bible)

The New American Standard Bible places the word saying before the spoken words. Place it where it would be most natural in your language.

We find nothing wrong with this man: This clause indicates that these scribes decided/judged that Paul had done nothing wrong for which someone should punish him. Other ways to translate this clause are:

We cannot find a thing wrong with this man! (Good News Translation)
-or-
We find no fault with this man (Revised English Bible)
-or-
This person is not guilty
-or-
We(excl) have not found any evil in this man

23:9e

What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?:
This is probably a rhetorical question. The teachers of the law wanted to support Paul because he believed that God would resurrect people, as they did. Translate it with that meaning. Some ways are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Suppose a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel? (New Jerusalem Bible)

• As a statement. For example:

Perhaps a spirit or an angel really did speak to him. (Good News Translation)

a spirit or an angel: See how you translated spirit and angel in 23:8.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 24:6

24:6a

even: Here this word means “also.” Tertullus implies that Paul was a worse person than being a leader of a sect, because here he claimed Paul tried to desecrate the Jewish temple. Other ways to translate this word are:

also (God’s Word)
-or-
Furthermore (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and worse than that,
-or-
And that’s not all

tried to desecrate the temple: The word desecrate refers to making the temple unfit for religious uses. Doing this is very offensive to those who follow that religion. Tertullus referred to what some Jews from Asia yelled in Acts 21:27–29. They claimed that Paul tried to bring a non-Jewish person into the area only allowed for Jews. If that had happened, all religious services would have stopped until the temple was ritually cleansed. The clause implies that he did not succeed in desecrating the temple. Other ways to translate this clause are:

tried to defile the Temple (Good News Translation)
-or-
attempted to profane the Temple (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
tried to disgrace the temple (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
was trying to make the Temple unclean (New Century Version)

the temple: This refers to the temple in Jerusalem. It was the main place where Jews worshiped God. In some languages this must be made clear. For example:

the temple ⌊in Jerusalem⌋
-or-
the ⌊Jewish⌋ temple

If Paul had brought Gentiles into the temple courts reserved for the Jews, the Jews would have considered that he had desecrated the temple as well.

24:6b

so we seized him: This clause in Greek is literally “whom we seized.” This clause is a result of 24:6a, so the Berean Standard Bible adds so here. Use whatever is natural for that meaning. For example:

but we seized him (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
attempted to profane the Temple. We placed him under arrest. (New Jerusalem Bible)

seized: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as seized refers to grabbing someone. It can also mean “arrest.” For example:

arrested (Good News Translation)

24:6c–8a

There is a textual issue here:

(1) The earliest Greek manuscripts do not have 24:6c–8a.

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

(2) Some later Greek manuscripts have 24:6c–8a, which reads:

and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander, Lysias, came and with the use of much force snatched him from our hands and ordered his accusers to come before you

(King James Version, New American Standard Bible (in brackets))

It is recommended that you follow option (1), because the UBS Handbook Greek NT recommends it.

Many English versions put 24:6c–8a in a footnote. You should include 24:6c–8a as a footnote. An example footnote is:

Only some of the later Greek manuscripts include 24:6c–8a, which reads: and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander, Lysias, came and with the use of much force snatched him from our hands and ordered his accusers to come before you.

If the common language version in your area includes this verse in their translation, you may want to include it in brackets, as the New American Standard Bible does.

If you put 24:6c–8a in a footnote, here are several ways to number the verses:

• Put the number 7 after the number 6 in 24:6. Put the footnote marker before 24:8. For example:

6–7…so we seized him. * 8By…

• Do not include the number 7. Put the footnote marker before 24:8. For example:

6…so we seized him. * 8By…

• Indicate a span of verses 6 to 8. For example:

6–8…so we seized him. * By…

You probably want to follow how the common language version in your area did this.

[and we would have judged him according to our law]: The Jewish leaders wanted to take Paul to court and try him under Jewish law.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 25:11

25:11a

If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death: The Greek clauses are literally “If I do wrong and have done (something) worthy of death.” They refer generally to wrongdoing and breaking laws that require the death penalty as punishment. Other ways to translate these clauses are:

If…I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything for which I deserve to die (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
if I were a criminal and had committed some crime which deserved the death penalty (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

If, however:
This phrase in Greek can be translated literally as “Then if, on one hand.” The Greek conjunctions here and at 25:11c indicate that either situation is possible. The conjunctions say nothing about which situation is more likely. For example:

If then (Revised Standard Version)

If: Paul knew that he had committed no crime. But he used the word If to present two options for Festus to think about.

25:11b

I do not refuse to die: This clause refers to not seeking to avoid the punishment of death. If Festus truly found Paul guilty, Paul would not try to run away or avoid being killed. He would face the punishment and accept it. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I do not seek to escape death (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I do not ask to escape it (Good News Translation)
-or-
I do not ask to be saved from death (New Century Version)
-or-
I do not ask you to prevent people from executing/killing me ⌊as punishment⌋

25:11c

But if: This phrase in Greek can be translated literally as “if, on the other hand.” This introduces the other possible condition/circumstance. 25:11a–b is the first possible condition/circumstance.

if: Paul knew that the charges were not true. But he used the word if to introduce the second option for Festus to think about.

there is no truth to their accusations against me: Other ways to translate this clause are:

the charges which these Jews brought against me are not true
-or-
those charges are not true, namely those charges which the Jews accuse me ⌊of doing⌋
-or-
that which these Jews accuse me about is not true

In some languages it is more natural to avoid the relative clause with the active verb that some English versions, such as the New International Version, use. For example:

there is nothing to their charges against me (English Standard Version)
-or-
their accusations are untrue (God’s Word)
-or-
not one of their charges against me is true (NET Bible)
-or-
I am innocent (New Living Translation (2004))

25:11d

no one has the right to hand me over to them: This clause in Greek is literally “no one can give me to them as a favor.” Festus wanted to do a favor to the Jews, so Paul used that same idea here regarding Festus putting Paul under their control. For example:

then no one can give me to them (New Century Version)
-or-
no one is able to deliver me to them as a favor
-or-
no one can make a present of me to them

But the Berean Standard Bible, many other English versions, and many scholars translate the Greek word as “hand over” here. For example:

no one can hand me over to them as a favor (God’s Word)
-or-
no man may deliver me unto them (King James Version)
-or-
no one has the right to give me over to them

25:11e

I appeal to Caesar!: This clause in Greek is literally “I call to Caesar on my behalf.” Paul probably thought that Festus would be swayed too much by the Jewish leaders, so he asked here that the trial be moved to Rome. In Rome, Caesar or his representative would decide the case against Paul. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I appeal my case to Caesar!
-or-
I now ask to be tried by Caesar himself.
-or-
I want Caesar to hear my case! (New Century Version)

In a Roman court the accused person could appeal before the Roman judge decided.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 26:16

26:16a

But: The Greek conjunction is usually translated as But. There is contrast from what Paul was doing to what he would be doing.

get up and stand on your feet: Paul was probably lying face down on the ground. Here Jesus commanded him to stand and remain standing. For example:

rise and stand upon your feet
-or-
arise and ⌊remain⌋ standing

In some languages only one verb is needed. For example:

get to your feet! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Stand up! (New Century Version)

26:16b

For I have appeared to you to appoint: The Greek words here are literally “for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint.” The Greek conjunction For introduces the reason for the command to stand. Paul can now stand and see the risen Jesus, who has now appeared to him. For example:

16aI command you to stand 16bbecause I have appeared to you to appoint

The phrase “for this purpose” introduces to appoint. For example:

for I have appeared to you for this reason: to appoint (New Jerusalem Bible)

Since the English word “to” indicates purpose, some English versions, such as the Berean Standard Bible, do not translate the phrase “for this purpose.” For example:

I have appeared to you to appoint (Good News Translation)

I have appeared to you: Here the word appeared refers to not being there one moment and then being there the next moment. Jesus suddenly appeared before Paul. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I have shown myself to you (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
I have come/appeared before you

to appoint you as a servant: This phrase indicates that Jesus chose to make Paul a servant. Paul would do what God or Jesus told him to do. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

to appoint you to serve (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I have chosen you to be my servant (Contemporary English Version)

26:16c

and as a witness of what you have seen from Me:
This phrase indicates that Jesus also chose to make Paul a witness of seeing Jesus. Paul would tell others about seeing Jesus alive on the Damascus road, as he was telling King Agrippa here. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

You are to tell others what you have seen of me today (Good News Translation)
-or-
and ⌊to appoint you⌋ to testify that you saw me ⌊today⌋

and what I will show you: This is the second thing that Paul would be a witness of. There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as show:

(1) The word means appear. Jesus would appear to Paul at other times and tell him things he needed to know. Examples of this are 18:9 and 23:11. For example:

and to those in which I will appear to you (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version (2011), New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, King James Version)

(2) The word means show. Jesus would show things to Paul but not necessarily appear to Paul. For example:

and what I will show you in the future (Good News Translation)

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

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because that is the normal meaning of the Greek word.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 27:16

27:16a

Passing to the lee: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Passing to the lee is similar in meaning to the Greek verb in 27:4b. Here the island was small, so they did not have much time to take advantage of it sheltering the ship somewhat from the wind. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Running under the shelter (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
We sailed along the side sheltered from the wind

a small island called Cauda: The island is small compared to Crete. Cauda is approximately seven kilometers (about four miles) wide and long.

Cauda: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts spell the name of the island Kauda.

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

(2) Other Greek manuscripts spell the name of the island Klauda.

(King James Version, New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), because the Greek NT 4 recommends it.

27:16b

we barely managed to secure the lifeboat: The lifeboat was often tied with a rope to the back of the ship and the ship pulled it along as they sailed to make more room on the ship. This clause indicates that they had to pull the rope to bring the lifeboat to the ship and get control of it, but this was very difficult to do, because of the wind and waves. Other ways to translate this clause are:

with some difficulty we managed to make the ship’s boat secure. (Good News Translation)
-or-
we managed with difficulty to secure the boat (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
we barely got control of the ship’s lifeboat (God’s Word)

lifeboat: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lifeboat refers to a boat that could hold ten to thirty people, depending on its size. A large ship such as the one Paul and Luke sailed on probably had a larger boat of this kind. It was most often used to take people to and from the large ship when the ship could not get close to a dock or the shore. Other ways to translate this word are:

boat (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
ship’s boat (English Standard Version)
-or-
dinghy/skiff
-or-
small boat

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 28:4

28:4a

When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand: The snake was still biting Paul’s hand, so it was hanging by its mouth. It is implied that Paul pulled his hand away from the sticks and the snake remained attached. In some languages some of this implied information will make the translation clearer. For example:

When the islanders saw the snake hanging ⌊by its mouth⌋ from his hand
-or-

⌊Paul pulled his hand away but the snake continued biting his hand.⌋ When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand

creature: The Greek word is literally “animal.” The word is more general than “snake” but clearly refers to the viper. The Greek word implies a wild animal. Here it probably implies an animal that is harmful to people. Other ways to translate this word are:

snake (New International Version)
-or-
wild animal

The word or phrase you use should clearly refer to the snake. In some languages repeating snake here is best. But you can add that this is a poisonous snake here. For example:

poisonous/dangerous snake

28:4b

they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer: The people of the island guessed that Paul had murdered someone. They did not know that he had. In some languages the fact of guessing must be clearly stated. For example:

they ⌊wondered about this and⌋ said to each other, “This man must be a murderer…
-or-
they ⌊thought about what happened and⌋ said to each other, “This man must be a murderer…
-or-
they ⌊mistakenly⌋ said to each other, “This man must be a murderer…

they said to one another: The Greek tense indicates that the islanders were talking together about Paul and the snake, possibly telling and retelling the story as new people came to hear of it. For example:

they were saying to one another

Surely this man is a murderer: The word murderer refers to someone who unlawfully killed someone else. It also implies that he planned to kill the other person. In some languages the word murderer must be translated with a verb. For example:

This man must have murdered someone

28:4c–d

Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live: The word Although indicates contrast between these two clauses. For example:

He did not die in the sea, but Justice does not want him to live. (New Jerusalem Bible)

28:4c

There is no conjunction here in this verse in Greek. But 28:4c explains why they called him a murderer, so you may want to use a conjunction that shows this connection. For example:

because
-or-
for (New International Version)

The Berean Standard Bible follows the Greek here and does not have a conjunction. It also begins 28:4c as a new sentence. The verse in Greek and the Berean Standard Bible assume the reader will see that 28:4c explains why they called him a murderer.

he was saved from the sea: This refers to escaping from the danger of storm and shipwreck at sea. Either of those things could have caused Paul to die. Other ways to translate this clause are:

He escaped ⌊those dangers⌋ at sea
-or-
He didn’t drown in the sea (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
He did not die in the sea (New Century Version)

28:4d

Justice: There are two issues here.

Issue 1: Interpretation

There are three ways to interpret this word:

(1) It refers to a goddess called Justice. People believed she sought to make sure wrongdoers were punished. For example:

the goddess of justice (Contemporary English Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible, Revised Edition, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, New Century Version, English Standard Version)

(2) It refers to the principle of justice. People just thought it was right that wrongdoers be punished. For example:

justice (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, King James Version)

(3) It refers to the desire of the gods to see that wrongdoers were punished. People expected the gods to punish wrongdoers but were not thinking of the particular goddess Justice. For example:

divine justice (Revised English Bible)

(Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

Other ways to translate this word are:

the goddess named Justice
-or-
the god called Retribution/Payback
-or-
the god⌊-dess⌋ named Justice who seeks to punish wrongdoers

Your translation should not refer to the true God. The people of the island believed in many gods.

Issue 2: Translating this noun

In some languages it is necessary to translate Justice in a different way. For example:

the goddess named Judger/Punisher of Wrongdoers
-or-
the goddess named Judges/Punishes Sinners
-or-
the deity/god who punishes those who do wrong

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021