22:34a

I tell you, Peter: Jesus used the phrase I tell you here as a solemn introduction to what he was about to say to Peter. Jesus often used the words I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. Here it indicates that the statement was important and that Peter should listen carefully to it. Some other ways to show this emphasis are:

Peter, let me tell you this
-or-
Listen carefully to this, Peter:
-or-
I assure you, Peter

If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here.

22:34b

the rooster will not crow today until: The clause the rooster will not crow today until refers to a time later that same night. The Jewish day begins at sundown. Jesus said this sometime during the evening. Roosters crow early in the morning before sunrise. So Jesus indicated that Peter would deny him that night before sunrise. Refer to this time in a natural way in your language. Other ways to translate the clause are:

before a rooster crows tomorrow morning (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the rooster will not crow today until (NET Bible)
-or-
tonight before the rooster crows at dawn

the rooster: The phrase the rooster refers to a male cock. The phrase does not indicate that Jesus was thinking of any particular rooster. Some ways to translate this are:

a rooster crows (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
a cock crows

crow: The word crow refers to the loud sound a rooster makes before dawn each day. Languages have different ways to describe this sound. For example:

sings
-or-
cries

Use the natural way in your language to describe this sound that a rooster makes.

22:34c

you have denied three times that you know Me: This clause indicates that Peter would say three times that he did not know Jesus. In some languages it may be more natural to translate this clause as direct speech. For example:

three times you will say, “I do not know him/Jesus”

General Comment on 22:34b–c

In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of 22:34b and 22:34c. For example:

34cyou will deny three times that you know me 34bbefore the rooster crows tonight.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Section 22:66–71

The Jewish leaders questioned Jesus

In this section Luke told about Jesus’ trial before the Jewish leaders. This trial is also described in Matthew 26:57–68 and John 18:12–15, 18:19–24. Some other examples of headings for this section are:

Jesus is tried/questioned by the Jewish council
-or-
Jesus before the Council (Good News Translation)
-or-
Jesus’ trial before the leaders of the Jews

Paragraph 22:66–69

22:66a–b

At daybreak: The phrase At daybreak refers to dawn when daylight came. A Jewish council could only make legal decisions during the daytime. So they waited until after sunrise to have this meeting. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

At dawn
-or-
When the sun rose

the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together: Scholars differ about whether the meeting at dawn included two groups or three groups:

(1) The meeting included two groups: the chief priests and the scribes. These two groups together were described as the council of the elders. Here is another way to translate this:

all the elders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law (New Living Translation (2004))

(Berean Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, NET Bible, New Century Version, English Standard Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) The meeting included three groups: the elders of the people, the chief priests, and the scribes. Here is another way to translate this:

the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law met together (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, King James Version, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This interpretation is supported by the construction of the Greek sentence. It is true that the Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin, included more than two groups. However, here Luke mentioned just two of the groups and referred to the Sanhedrin itself as the council of the elders.

Another way to translate this interpretation is:

the council of the elders of the people gathered together. These elders were the leading priests and the experts in the law.

the council of the elders of the people: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as council of the elders refers to the assembly of the main leaders of the people. Here the phrase of the people refers to the Jewish people/nation. At the council the groups that led the Jewish people met and made decisions. Some other ways to translate the council of the elders of the people are:

the nation’s leaders (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the assembly of the elders of the people (New Revised Standard Version)

chief priests and scribes: For translation suggestions, see the notes at 19:47b–d. See also priest and scribe in the Glossary for more information. These terms also occurred in 22:2a. See how you translated them there.

met together: The phrase met together indicates that the council gathered for a specific purpose. In this context they gathered to make a judgment about Jesus. Other ways to translate the phrase are:

assembled (Revised English Bible)
-or-
gathered together (NET Bible)

22:66c

They led Jesus into their Sanhedrin: Some ways to translate this clause are:

• Use a passive clause. For example:

Jesus was led before them (New International Version)

• Use a causative. For example:

They caused Jesus to be led into their meeting

• Use an active clause and supply a subject, as the Berean Standard Bible does. If you need to be more specific, you may refer to men who guarded Jesus. For example:

they brought Jesus before them
-or-

⌊the guards⌋ led Jesus before them

into their Sanhedrin: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as into their Sanhedrin is literally “into their council.” The context implies that he was brought there for trial. Some English versions use the word “before” to imply this. For example:

before them (New International Version)

If there is a special idiom to imply this in your language, you may be able to use it here. Other ways to translate this are:

to their meeting
-or-
into their gathering

and said: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and said is literally “saying.” In the Greek text, these words are at the beginning of 22:67a, but the Berean Standard Bible places them here. Place them where it is natural in your language. If you translate the council’s demand as a question, you may want to use a verb like “asked.” Translate in a natural way in your language.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

23:28a

But Jesus turned to them and said: The clause Jesus turned to them and said introduces what Jesus said to the women who mourned for him. The phrase Jesus turned indicates that Jesus turned toward them. It does not indicate that he turned to look behind him or go in a different direction.

Some other ways to translate the clause are:

Jesus turned to them and said (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus turned-to-face them and said

Daughters of Jerusalem: Jesus addressed the women as Daughters of Jerusalem. This phrase indicates that the women lived in Jerusalem. These women were not among Jesus’ family members and probably not his close friends. Use a natural way in your language to address women from a particular place. For example:

Women from Jerusalem
-or-
Jerusalem women

In other languages it may be strange or rude to use a direct address like this for the women. If that is true in your language, you should translate it in a different way. For example:

As for you women from Jerusalem
-or-
You women from this city of Jerusalem should not be weeping for me

23:28b–c

do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children: The two commands here contrast with each other. Jesus indicated that instead of weeping for him, the women should weep for themselves and their children. This statement is a warning that the people of Jerusalem will soon suffer terribly.

Jesus used this statement to emphasize that there was a greater reason for the women to weep for themselves than for him. He probably did not mean that it was wrong to weep for him at all. Translate this warning in a natural way in your language.

Some other ways to translate this in English are:

it should not be me that you are crying-for but rather yourselves and your children
-or-
do not cry for me. It is better that you cry for yourselves and your children.

23:28c

but: In Greek, 23:28c begins with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but. This conjunction indicates a contrast between what Jesus said here and what he said in 23:28b. Many English versions translate this word as “but.” Another way to translate this is:

Rather (God’s Word)

Some versions indicate the contrast without a conjunction:

28bdo not weep for me; 28cweep for yourselves (New International Version)

Show this contrast in a way that is natural in your language.

weep for yourselves and for your children: In the context of 23:29–31, this command is a warning. Jesus implied that the women should weep because they and their children will suffer terribly. (They will suffer like this when God punishes the city of Jerusalem for rejecting Jesus.) In some languages it may be helpful to indicate clearly that Jesus was warning them. For example:

but rather the thing that you should cry about, is what’s going to happen to you and your children.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Section 24:36–43

Jesus appeared to his followers

This section tells about another time when Jesus appeared to people after he rose from the dead. Jesus had already appeared to Simon (24:34) and to the two men on the road to Emmaus. In this section Jesus appeared to all eleven apostles and those who were with them. He ate with them and proved that he really was alive.

Some examples of other headings for this section are:

Jesus Appears to His Followers (New Century Version)
-or-
Jesus showed his followers that he was alive

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 16:14, John 20:19–23, and Acts 1:4–5.

Paragraph 24:36–39

24:36a

While they were describing these events: This clause introduces the very important event in 24:36b: Jesus appeared to all his followers when they were gathered together. He appeared as the two disciples were speaking in 24:35. Consider how you would introduce an important event like this in your language.

Some ways to introduce the event in English are:

They were still talking about this when ⌊suddenly⌋
-or-
As they were talking about all this (Revised English Bible)
-or-
And just as they were telling about it (New Living Translation (2004))

Introduce 24:36b in a way that is natural in your language.

24:36b

Jesus Himself stood among them: The phrase Jesus Himself is more literally “he himself,” as in the New Jerusalem Bible. The phrase “he himself” is emphatic. It emphasizes that just as the disciples spoke about Jesus, he himself was there with all of them. Some other ways to translate the clause Jesus Himself stood among them are:

Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
suddenly the Lord himself stood among them (Good News Translation)
-or-
there he was, standing among them (Revised English Bible)

English versions translate the phrase “he himself” in different ways. Some use these pronouns, and others use the name Jesus. The Good News Translation (see example above) has “the Lord.” This phrase refers back to 24:35, especially to the phrase “they had recognized Jesus.” See how you translated it there.

them: The pronoun them refers to everyone present, not just to the two disciples from Emmaus.

24:36c

There is a textual issue concerning the clause in this part of the verse:

(1) Most Greek manuscripts include 24:36c. For example:

and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, NET Bible, English Standard Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, Contemporary English Version, King James Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) A few Greek manuscripts do not include 24:36c.

(Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It has early and strong manuscript support, and the majority of English versions follow this option.

and said, “Peace be with you”: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Peace be with you is literally “Peace to you.” This was a common way to greet others in Jesus’ time. The greeting implies that Jesus was asking God to bless his disciples by giving them peace.

Some other ways to translate the greeting are:

and greeted them, “May ⌊God’s⌋ peace be with you”
-or-
He blessed them, saying, “May ⌊God⌋ bless/prosper you.”

In some languages it may be more natural to translate 24:36c as indirect speech. For example:

and greeted them with a blessing of peace

If you have a greeting that expresses the same meaning as the phrase Peace be with you, you should consider using it here.

A similar greeting occurred in 10:5. See how you translated it there. See also peace, Meaning 5, in the Glossary.

Peace: The Jewish people used the word Peace to refer to a condition of well-being, health, and prosperity. In this condition people are living in harmony with God and people. They are not in conflict or at war with them. All of these blessings come from God for those who trust him.

Some languages will have one way to describe not being in conflict or at war and a different way to describe general well-being and blessing. If that is true in your language, the term for general well-being fits this context better. In some languages there is an idiom to describe this meaning.

See the note on “peace” at 19:42b for more information. See also peace, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

1:2

just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates with the passive form were handed down is an active form in Greek. A more literal translation of the clause is:

just as the ones who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered (them) to us

Some ways to translate the clause are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

just as they were told/delivered to us by those who were originally eyewitness and servants of the word

• Use an active verb. For example:

just as those who were originally eyewitnesses and servants of the word told us

This clause is long and complex. In some languages it may be more natural to translate it with more than one sentence. For example:

Some people were eyewitnesses of these things from the first. They were servants of the word. These people handed down the reports of these things to us.

See the General Comment on 1:2a–c at the end of the notes on 1:2b–c for another way to reorder 1:2a–c and translate it in an active way.

1:2a

just as: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as just as indicates that the others who had undertaken to “compose an account” about Jesus faithfully reported what they heard from the people who were eyewitnesses. They did not invent or change the story. Another way to translate this is:

exactly as

they were handed down to us: The pronoun they here refers to the “things” of 1:1b. These “things” were the events of Jesus’ life and death. Luke and the other believers had heard about these events from other people.

In some languages, it may be necessary to make it clear that it was the information about these events that was handed down. For example:

these accounts/reports were handed down to us

were handed down: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as were handed down means “delivered.” This word often describes the way people tell their children and grandchildren about important things that happened before their children were born. In this context people who saw the events in Jesus’ life told people who were born later about them. That generation also told the believers of the next generation. People told these things orally or wrote them down.

to us: The pronoun us refers here to Luke and the other Christians of his generation. It includes the others who had written accounts of the life and death of Jesus. Concerning whether it includes Theophilus, see the note on “among us” at 1:1b.

1:2b–c

the initial: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the initial is literally “from the beginning.” It refers to the time when the events of Jesus’ life and ministry began. It may refer mainly to the time when he was baptized and began his ministry, but there were also eyewitnesses to his birth.

eyewitnesses and servants of the word: The words eyewitnesses and servants refer to one group of people. Luke described them here in two different ways. The same people who actually saw the events were the ones who served by telling the message about them.

eyewitnesses: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as eyewitnesses refers to people who had personally seen or heard something. Luke and the other writers based their writings on what they learned from people who had seen and heard Jesus themselves.

servants of the word: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as servants of the word refers to people who served God by announcing his word (message) to others. In this context, the word refers to the message about Jesus. Another way to translate this is:

the people who…served God by telling people his message (New Century Version)

General Comment on 1:2a–c

In some languages, it may be clearer to combine or reorder parts of 1:2a–c. For example:

2a
⌊They wrote down the events⌋ just as 2bthe people who were eyewitnesses from the beginning ⌊had reported them⌋. 2cThese eyewitnesses were servants of the message ⌊about these events⌋ 2aand handed it down to us.

General Comment on 1:1–2

In some languages, it may be clearer to put some of the parts of 1:1–2 into the order in which the events happened. For example:

2bFrom the beginning ⌊of Jesus’ time on earth,⌋ certain people were eyewitnesses 1bof the things/events ⌊of Jesus’ life and death⌋ that have been fulfilled among us. 2cThey served God by telling people what Jesus did and what he taught 2aand so the knowledge of these things was passed/delivered to us. 1a⌊Later,⌋ many ⌊others⌋ undertook to put these events in order as a story/history and to write it down.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

1:34

The Berean Standard Bible divides Mary’s question in 1:34 into two parts, and it puts the words “Mary asked the angel” between these parts. In many languages it is more natural to put the phrase “Mary asked the angel” at the beginning of the sentence. That is the word order in Greek. See the Display for 1:34a for an example. Follow the order that is natural in your language.

1:34a

How can this be: The word this refers to the angel’s words in 1:31a, “You will conceive.” So the question How can this be means “How shall this happen?” Mary was asking the angel for information. She was not implying that she did not believe what the angel had said. She did not understand how she could have a baby when she had not had sexual relations. You should express the question in a respectful way.

Some other ways to say this are:

But how can I have a baby? (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
How can/will I become pregnant?

Mary asked the angel: The Berean Standard Bible has placed the words Mary asked the angel in the middle of what Mary asked the angel in 1:34a–b. Place these words where it is natural in your language.

1:34b

since I am a virgin: The basis for Mary’s question in 1:34a is that she was a virgin. That is, because she was a virgin, she concluded that she could not have a baby. So she asked the angel to explain how this could happen.

I am a virgin: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I am a virgin is literally “I do not know a man.” This phrase is a polite way to refer to the fact that Mary had never had sexual intercourse with a man. In some languages there may be an idiom for this. Be careful to use an expression that is not vulgar in your language.

Some other ways to say this in English are:

I have not been intimate with a man (NET Bible)
-or-
I am still a virgin (Revised English Bible)
-or-
I have not had sexual relations with a man

General Comment on 1:34a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of 1:34a and 1:34b. For example:

34b“I have no husband, 34a so how can this happen?” Mary asked the angel.

© 2009, 2010, 2013 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.