Barnabas

The term that is transliterated as “Barnabas” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a combination of the signs for the letter B and “encourage” (referring to Acts 11:23). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Barnabas” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Barnabas (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also son of encouragement.

complete verse (Acts 11:25)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 11:25:

  • Uma: “After that, Barnabas went to the town of Tarsus looking for Saulus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then, this Barnabas went to the place Tarsus to look for Saul.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Barnabas went to Tarsus in order to look for Saul.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to go look-for Saulo.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When it was now like that, Bernabe continued on to Tarso to look for Saulo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 11:25

To look for represents a Greek verb which in the papyri is used of searching for persons and usually implies difficulty. Saul is last mentioned in 9.30, representing a lapsed period of time of some ten years.

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 .