centurion

The Greek that is translated as “centurion” in English is translated in Noongar as “boss of the Roman soldiers (lit.: ‘men of fighting’)” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang), in Uma as “Roman army warchief” (source: Uma Back Translation), in Western Bukidnon Manobo as “a person who was not a Jew, the captain of a hundred soldiers” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation), and in Mairasi “leader of Roman warriors” (source: Enggavoter 2004).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Roman Centurion .

complete verse (Acts 10:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 10:1:

  • Uma: “In the town of Kaisarea there was a man, his name Kornelius. That Kornelius, his rank was captain who commanded one hundred Roma soldiers in a group called ‘Italia Soldiers.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “There in the place Kesarea, there was a man named Korneliyus. He was a captain of a company of Roman soldiers called ‘Italian Company.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Now in the village of Caesarea there was a person who was not a Jew, and his name was Cornelius. He was a captain of a company of Roman soldiers, that one which was named The Company of Those from Italy.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There was in Cesarea a captain of one hundred soldiers named Cornelius. He and his soldiers were part of what was called the Company of those-from-Italia.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “At Ceserea there was a person named Cornelio. He was a captain of soldiers belonging to the big group of soldiers called Italiano Group.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 10:1

As so frequently in Luke’s writings, a new person is introduced into the story by the Greek particle tis attributive to the word man and, in traditional translations, often translated as “a certain man.”

Caesarea, the city which was rebuilt by Herod the Great in honor of Caesar Augustus, was the headquarters of the Roman governor and of the Roman garrison. Cornelius was an especially frequently used name. Captain appears in most other translations as “centurion.” The word itself refers to an officer in the Roman army who was in command of one hundred men. In most languages there is an equivalent for the word captain since the use of soldiers, under the leadership of this type of officer, is common in all areas of the world. However, if a term for captain is not available, one can always use a general expression such as “one who commands soldiers” or even a more specific phrase “one who commands a hundred soldiers.”

A regiment (or “cohort”) was one of the basic divisions in the Roman army, consisting of six hundred men (one-tenth of a legion), and was commanded by an officer of higher rank than the centurion. Where there is no equivalent term for regiment, one may use simply a term for “group of soldiers” or even “many soldiers.” It is also possible to borrow a term such as regiment and then explain its meaning in a marginal help.

The title the Italian Regiment can be translated as “the regiment from Italy.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .