complete verse (Acts 1:23)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 1:23:

  • Uma: “From there, two men were pointed-out. The name of one, Yusuf Barsabas, and one was Matias. (This Yusuf, there were also those who called him Yustus.)” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then two names were mentioned for them to choose from. One was Yusup, also named Barsabbas, (also called Justus) and one was Mattiyas.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And they chose out to males. Joseph Justus and Matthias. (One of the names here of this Joseph was Barsaba.)” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then they told the names of two people to choose between, Jose Barsabbas who was also named Justus and Matias.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore two people were chosen by them to be chosen between as to which was possible/acceptable, Matias and Jose Justo, who was called Barsabas.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 1:23

Following Peter’s speech two men are nominated by the group: Joseph, who was called Barsabbas…, and Matthias. After the election of Matthias neither of these men is again mentioned in the New Testament.

The pronoun they refers undoubtedly to the entire group of believers. Accordingly, it is probably necessary to introduce the nominal expression at this point, for example, “the believers spoke the names of two men” or “the believers suggested the names of two men.”

The additional names of Joseph may need to be introduced in a somewhat different way in some languages, for example, “people also called him Barsabbas and they also called him Justus.” In other languages one may say, “he was also known as Barsabbas and some people called him Justus” or “he had two other names, Barsabbas and Justus.”

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 .