23:36a

The soldiers also mocked Him and came up: In Greek this clause is more literally, “And the soldiers also ridiculed him, approaching.” It indicates that the soldiers also mocked Jesus, as the leaders did in 23:35. The phrase came up means “came to, approached.” It indicates that they came to Jesus. Several English versions supply the word up because it is natural here in English.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him (King James Version)
-or-
The soldiers also made fun of him. They approached
-or-
The soldiers joined in the mockery and came forward (Revised English Bible)

mocked: The word mocked indicates that they ridiculed Jesus. They insulted him with both words and actions. Some other ways to translate this word are:

ridiculed him
-or-
made fun of him (God’s Word)

The same Greek word was used in 22:63b and 23:11b. You can translate it in the same or a similar way here.

23:36b

to offer Him sour wine: This clause implies that the soldiers took the wine vinegar to Jesus and offered it to him. It is not clear whether they actually gave it to him. Since his arms were nailed to the cross, he could not reach out and take it. They may have dipped a sponge in the wine vinegar and offered it to him, as one person did in Mark 15.

In this context the soldiers offered Jesus wine vinegar as a way to mock him. Psalm 69:21 says, “For my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

In some languages it may be more natural to use direct speech for the soldiers’ offer. For example:

They brought wine vinegar and said to him, “Drink some.”

sour wine: Scholars are not sure exactly what this sour wine was. It may have been a cheap sort of sour wine. The term may have referred to a drink made from vinegar, water, and egg. Some ways to translate it here are:

cheap wine (Good News Translation)
-or-
sour wine (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
some vinegar (God’s Word)

© 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.

24:12

There is a textual issue concerning this verse:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts include this verse.

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

(2) Other Greek manuscripts do not include this verse.

(Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible)

It is strongly recommended that you follow option (1) and include this verse. It is present in the great majority of Greek manuscripts and English versions.

24:12a

Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb: This clause tells what Peter did in contrast to the other apostles. Because of what the women said, Peter decided to go to the tomb himself. Translate the contrast in a natural way in your language.

Peter…got up and ran to the tomb: This clause indicates that Peter was so eager to see what had happened that he ran to the tomb. The phrase got up is implied in the action ran, and some English versions do not translate it. In Greek it adds emphasis to Peter’s eagerness. Express his eagerness in a natural way in your language.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
But Peter ran to the tomb. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
But as for Peter, he left quickly and hurried to the tomb to look.

24:12b–c

This part of the verse tells what Peter did when he arrived at the tomb. In some languages it may be necessary to say that he arrived there. For example:

When he arrived
-or-
There

after bending down: The phrase bending down implies that Peter bent or stooped down in order to see into the tomb. The opening was probably not as tall as an ordinary door. In some languages it may be necessary to make the purpose for bending explicit. For example:

Peter bent down ⌊to look inside the tomb⌋.
-or-
Stooping ⌊to look into the tomb⌋

and seeing only the linen cloths: The phrase the linen cloths refers to the linen cloths that people had wrapped around Jesus’ body. These cloths were still there in the tomb, but they were alone. Jesus’ body was not there.

These cloths were mentioned in 23:53b. In that verse a different, singular word is used, but it refers to the same linen cloth. Refer to the cloths here in a way that indicates that they were mentioned earlier. For example:

he saw only the cloth that Jesus’ body had been wrapped in (New Century Version)
-or-
saw only the strips of linen (God’s Word)
-or-
saw the empty linen wrappings (New Living Translation (2004))

24:12d

he went away, wondering to himself what had happened: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to himself in this context:

(1) It goes with the verb went away and implies that he went home (or to where he was staying in Jerusalem). For example:

Then he went back home amazed at what had happened. (Good News Translation)

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

(2) It goes with the word wondering and is redundant. It may emphasize his amazement. For example:

and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, King James Version, possibly Contemporary English Version and God’s Word, which do not translate the phrase)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most English versions. This interpretation also fits with the parallel verse in John 20:10, which says that the Peter (and John) went back home.

wondering…what had happened: The phrase wondering…what had happened indicates that Peter was amazed that the tomb was empty. He was also amazed that the linen cloths that wrapped Jesus’ body were lying empty. He did not know what had happened to cause that. This seems to imply that Peter did not yet believe that Jesus was alive again. The phrase probably implies that Peter kept thinking about what could have happened. Some ways to translate the phrase are:

amazed at what had happened (Good News Translation)
-or-
he really wondered about the happenings

In some languages there may be an idiom to describe this type of wondering. For example:

searching and searching in his mind as to what had happened

In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit what Peter was wondering about. For example:

very surprised, wondering why the body of Jesus was not there

© 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 24:44–49

Jesus gave final instructions to his followers

In this section Jesus helped his followers to understand the things that were written about him in the Scriptures. He reminded his followers that they had seen these things happen. They had to spread this good news so that people of all countries would repent and believe in him. Then he told his followers that they would receive power to preach those things, as God had promised. He told them that they must wait in Jerusalem until they received this power.

Scholars have different opinions about when Jesus spoke the words in this section. It is likely that he spoke them after some days had passed and he was about to go back to heaven. The words may also be a summary of things that Jesus said to his followers during the forty days when he was with them after his resurrection. Parallel passages show that it is unlikely that Jesus spoke all of these words on the same day that he rose from the dead.

Some other examples of headings for this section are:

Jesus’ Final Commission (NET Bible)
-or-
Jesus’ followers must preach about him to all nations

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 28:16–20, Mark 16:15–18, and Acts 1:6–8.

Paragraph 24:44–49

24:44a

Jesus said to them: In Greek this clause begins with a conjunction. In this context it introduces events that probably happened some days after the events in the preceding section. Some other ways to introduce these events are:

After that, Jesus said to his followers
-or-
Jesus also said to them

Introduce the section in a natural way in your language.

24:44b

These are the words I spoke to you: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as These are the words I spoke to you is more literally, “These are my words/matters that I spoke to you.” This clause implies that what Jesus had told them earlier was happening. (For an example of what he had told them, see 18:31–33.)

Some other ways to translate this part of the verse are:

These things that have happened, it is exactly what I had been telling you
-or-
Here and now are fulfilled the words that I told you (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

while I was still with you: The clause while I was still with you refers to the time when Jesus lived among them before his death. Jesus was with them as he was speaking, but he was no longer with them all the time as he had been before. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

When I was with you before (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
before when I was living among you

24:44c

Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me: The phrase Everything must be fulfilled means “It is necessary that everything happen.” It was necessary because God had already determined that everything that was prophesied in the OT Scriptures about the Messiah would truly happen.

In 22:37 Jesus also talked about the Scriptures concerning him being fulfilled. See how you translated that verse. For more information, see also the notes at 22:37b, 22:37c, and 22:37d.

Some other ways to translate this part of the verse are:

It is necessary for everything that was written about me to happen
-or-

⌊God⌋ decided/determined that all the things/words written about me will truly happen
-or-
everything written about me…had to come true (Good News Translation)

that is written: The phrase that is written or “it is written” is used in a special way in the New Testament. It refers to words written in the Scriptures. These words had authority because God guided people to write them. In the New Testament the phrase “it is written” usually refers to something that was written in the OT.

Your translation should indicate or imply that the phrase that is written refers to the Scriptures. In some languages you may want to include your translation of “the Scriptures” in this phrase. For example:

that is written in God’s book/word

The phrase “the Scriptures” occurs in 24:27. See how you translated it there. See also the following note on 24:44d for an example of how to refer to specific parts of the Scriptures.

24:44d

in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms: The three main sections of the OT Scriptures were the Law, the Prophets, and “the Writings.” These three sections together make up the entire Old Testament. For more information about this, see the notes on 24:27a–c. In this verse Jesus was probably referring to all of the OT Scriptures.

In some languages it may be helpful to translate 24:44d as a separate sentence or clause. For example:

⌊These Scriptures are⌋ the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.
-or-

⌊These writings about me are found in⌋ the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.

the Law of Moses: The phrase the Law of Moses refers to the first five books of the Old Testament. They contain the laws that God gave to the Israelites through Moses. See how you translated this phrase in 2:22.

the Prophets: The phrase the Prophets refers to the books of the Old Testament that were associated with a prophet. For more discussion of the Prophets as a section of Scripture, see “prophet,” sense 1(b), in Key Biblical Terms.

the Psalms: The Psalms is the first book in the section of the Old Testament that some people call “the Writings.” Here it may represent the third section of the Hebrew Scriptures. However, in this context you may use the same name as you called the book of Psalms in the Old Testament.

© 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.

1:10a

at the hour of the incense offering: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as at the hour of the incense offering refers to one of the two times during each day when a priest entered the temple alone and burned incense. One time was in the morning, and one was in the evening. The events that are described in this paragraph happened at one of these times.

In some languages it may be necessary to say who burned incense. If this is true in your language, you may be able to say:

At/during the time when ⌊Zechariah⌋ was burning incense…

1:10b

the whole congregation: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the whole congregation is literally “all the crowd of the people.” It refers to the crowd of people who gathered in the temple courts.

was praying: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was praying indicates that the people were speaking to God.

Some languages may use different words to refer to specific kinds of prayer, such as requests, thanks, or praise. Use a term that is natural in your language to refer to prayer in general. Avoid a term that may imply magical or meaningless words.

Some other ways to translate this are:

were talking to God
-or-
were asking/begging God

outside: The word outside refers to the area outside the temple building. The people were worshiping in one of the courtyards that were part of the temple area. The leaders did not allow the people to go into the temple building itself. Only certain priests could go there.

© 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.

1:42a

In a loud voice she exclaimed: Elizabeth spoke out loudly because she was very excited. She spoke to Mary, and she spoke loudly enough that anyone else in the house could hear.

1:42b

Blessed are you among women: The clause Blessed are you among women means “you are more blessed than all other women.” This clause is passive. God is the implied subject. In some languages you may need to make this explicit. For example:

⌊God⌋ has blessed you more than all other women.

Mary was the most blessed woman because God had chosen her to be the mother of his Son.

Blessed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Blessed means that God had favored Mary. God had done a good thing for Mary and would continue to do good to her. See bless, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

1:42c

blessed is the fruit of your womb: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blessed is the fruit of your womb means “⌊God⌋ has favored the child you will give birth to.” God had shown favor and would continue to show special favor to the baby who was in Mary’s womb.

the fruit of your womb: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as the fruit of your womb is a metaphor. It is a poetic way to refer to a woman’s child. Here it specifically refers to the infant Jesus, who had not yet been born.

In some languages, a literal translation of the metaphor may not be clear. If that is true in your language, some other ways to translate it are:

• Use a different metaphor or idiom that people normally use for a woman’s child or specifically for an unborn baby.

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor without the figure of speech. For example:

the child you will have (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the child in your womb (NET Bible)
-or-
the baby to whom you will give birth

© 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.

2:26a–b

The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ: This part of the verse is passive, literally “it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would see the Christ/Messiah before he died. In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this as an active sentence, as the Berean Standard Bible does. For example:

The Holy Spirit…had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. (New Living Translation (2004))

The form of the Greek verb here indicates that the Holy Spirit had already revealed this to Simeon at some time in the past.

he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ: In some languages it may be natural to reverse the clauses here and translate without the negative (not). For example:

he would see the Lord’s Christ before he died

see death: The phrase see death is an idiom. It means “to die,” and many English versions translate it that way. For example:

he would not die (New International Version)

the Lord’s Christ: In the phrase the Lord’s Christ, the word Lord’s refers to God. The word Christ refers to the person whom God appointed and promised to send as King and Savior. So the Lord’s Christ means “God’s appointed/promised one.” See Lord, Context 2, in the Glossary.

For a fuller discussion of Christ, see the note at 2:11b. See also Christ 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.