For forty days (literally “through [a period of] forty days”) may be taken to mean that Jesus did not leave the presence of the apostles throughout the entire period of forty days; while, on the other hand, it may indicate that Jesus appeared to them at intervals during that time. The Good News Translation interprets the phrase in this latter fashion and so translates for forty days … he showed himself to them many times, that is, on many different occasions.
In ways that proved beyond doubt translates one Greek word which is a very strong term meaning clear and evident proof. Proved beyond doubt may be restructured as “he showed them clearly” or “showed them so clearly that people could not doubt.”
After his death translates the expression “after he had suffered,” but in the context “to suffer” includes everything that Jesus experienced in connection with his trial, crucifixion, and death, with the primary focus upon his death.
The expression he was alive may give rise to serious complications, since in some languages a wrong form of the verb could suggest that Jesus had really not died but had just continued to live. Accordingly, one must sometimes translate as “came back to life and was alive.”
He was seen by them is rendered “he appeared to them” in most translations and represents a Greek verb form that may be either active “appear to,” or passive “be seen by.” This is the only place where this particular verb occurs in the New Testament; however, the other verb stems to which it is related suggest that this form should be translated in the active. In some languages the equivalent expression is “they clearly saw him” or “he caused them to see him clearly.”
Throughout this verse the pronoun them refers specifically to the apostles, though in reality other persons were involved.
The Kingdom of God refers to the sovereign authority and rule of God in the lives of his people rather than to the territory or the people over which God rules. In many languages the most appropriate equivalent is “the rule of God” or “God’s ruling.” The phrase is of crucial importance for the entire New Testament, and especially for the Gospels. In some languages “rule” requires a goal and this should be “people,” not “the earth,” for the Kingdom of God refers to his rule over mankind, not his control of the physical universe.
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 .
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