complete verse (Acts 1:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 1:17:

  • Uma: “That Yudas, he was indeed our companion, and Yesus himself chose him as a disciple, the same as with us.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Judas ley was hep one of our (incl.) companions and he had also been commissioned by Isa to work like this our (incl.) work.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for Judas, he was our (incl.) companion apostle because that which the Lord gave us (incl.) to do was entrusted also to him,’ said Peter.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “but previously he was our (excl.) companion, because Jesus appointed him to serve-with us (excl.) apostles.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Really as for him, he was the twelfth of us (excl.) apostles, and he did indeed have his share of this which the Lord is causing to be done.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Acts 1:17)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, translators typically select the exclusive form (excluding the attendees of the meeting who were not disciples).

In Huautla Mazatec, however, the translators selected the inclusive we.

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

Translation commentary on Acts 1:17

The only serious problem in this verse is likely to be the causal expression which precedes in time the content of the first clause. In many languages the order must be changed, for example, “because Judas was chosen to work with us, he was a member of our group.” The Greek “he was numbered among us” simply means, as the Good News Translation has expressed it, Judas was a member of our group. An idiomatic way of rendering member of our group may be “he was with us,” “he associated with us,” or “he went around with us.” In some languages the most natural equivalent is “he was a friend to us,” in the sense of a close associate.

Even though had been chosen may mean “to receive something by the casting of lots,” it is doubtful if that meaning is to be found in this present context. The passive expression he had been chosen can be rendered as active, such as “Jesus had chosen him.”

Work of the Good News Translation is rendered by most translations “ministry”; the idea is that of the service or work which the apostle performs rather than the office which he holds. To have a part in our work is too general and abstract to be translated literally in some languages. Therefore, “to work together with us” or “to be one with us in working” may be more idiomatic and accurate.

Insofar as possible it is wise to employ for work a general term which can also include service to God. In some languages the connotative values of the term for “work” require that some more adequate expression be chosen. Therefore, some translators have used “in our working for God,” since this is a direct reference to Judas’ function as an apostle and not to his activity as a laborer.

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 .