brother (fellow believer)

The Greek that is translated in English as “brother” or “brother and sister” (in the sense of fellow believers), is translated with a specifically coined word in Kachin: “There are two terms for brother in Kachin. One is used to refer to a Christian brother. This term combines ‘older and younger brother.’ The other term is used specifically for addressing siblings. When one uses this term, one must specify if the older or younger person is involved. A parallel system exists for ‘sister’ as well. In [these verses], the term for ‘a Christian brother’ is used.” (Source: Gam Seng Shae)

In Matumbi is is translated as alongo aumini or “relative-believer.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)

In Martu Wangka it is translated as “relative” (this is also the term that is used for “follower.”) (Source: Carl Gross)

In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is often translated as Mitchristen or “fellow Christians.”

See also brothers.

Judas Barsabbas

The name that is transliterated as “Judas Barsabbas” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that combines “Sabbath ” (the meaning of “Barsabbas” is possibly “born on Sabbath”) and “chosen” because he was chosen to accompany the apostle Paul and Barnabas (see Acts 15:22). (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Judas Barsabbas” in Libras (source )

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

Translation commentary on Acts 15:22

It is important to have some kind of transitional device represented in the Good News Translation text by then. In other the languages the equivalent may be more appropriately “as a result” or “so” since what follows refers to the preceding discussion.

It may be somewhat awkward to introduce the expression together with the whole church, but is important to indicate that this action was not merely the decision of the apostles and the elders. In some instances one may translate as “the apostles and the elders decided, and all the believers together also decided” or “the apostles and the elders as well as all the church decided.”

Although the word translated decided (so also Moffatt, Barclay, Jerusalem Bible) may have the technical sense of “voted” (see Lake “it was voted by the apostles and elders with the whole church”), most translations are not so specific and prefer to have a more general term (An American Translation*, New English Bible “resolved”; Phillips “agreed”). To choose is in reality a participle rather than an infinitive, and so the expression may be rendered “decided to send chosen men”; but most translators prefer to take the participle as active rather than passive and therefore refer it back to the apostles and elders, the apostles and the elders … decided to choose some men. Some men from the group may be limited to the apostles and the elders, though it seems more natural to assume that the whole church is indicated.

Some persons have conjectured that Judas, called Barsabbas is the brother of Joseph Barsabbas mentioned in 1.23, and may New Testament scholars are of the opinion that Silas is to be equated with the Silvanus mentioned in the Pauline Epistles. In some languages there are complications in an expression such as Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas. This might imply that Judas had two different names, Barsabbas and Silas. Therefore, in some instances it is necessary to reverse the order of names and say “Silas and Judas, who was also called Barsabbas.”

Highly respected translates a participle which has been rendered “leading men” by most other translations. Although “leading men” or simply “leaders” appears to be a more natural translation of the participle, highly respected is possible if one assumes that the participle is passive rather than middle. The passive sense, reflected in the use of respected, may be made active by “the fellow believers regarded these two men very highly” or “the fellow believers thought these two men were very good.”

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 15:22

Section 15:22–29

The leaders in Jerusalem wrote their decision in a letter

In this section, the apostles and elders in Jerusalem decided what to tell the Gentile believers. It was similar to what James suggested. They chose two men, Judas and Silas, to go with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. They then wrote a letter to send with them that explained the decision.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers (New International Version)
-or-
A letter to non-Jewish believers
-or-
The apostolic letter (New Jerusalem Bible)

Paragraph 15:22–29

15:22a

Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided: Probably, the apostles and elders…decided and all the believers at the meeting agreed with them. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Then, with the agreement of the whole church, the apostles and elders resolved (Revised English Bible)

the apostles and elders: See how you translated this phrase in 15:2.

the whole church: This phrase indicates that all the believers at the meeting agreed with what the apostles and elders decided to do. This included those Jewish believers who at first wanted the Gentile believers to follow the law of Moses. Not every believer from every town was there, but this phrase indicates there was no disagreement among the believers. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

all the church members (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
all the believers

decided: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as decided refers to thinking or believing something. The apostles and elders believed it was right to follow what James suggested. The Greek word was often used for an official decision of a group or leader. Other ways to translate this word are:

agreed
-or-
thought it right

15:22b

men from among them: This phrase refers to some of the believers who lived in Jerusalem. They would go with Paul and Barnabas to confirm that the letter was from the leaders in Jerusalem. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

some of their own men (New International Version)
-or-
some men from the group (Good News Translation)
-or-
delegates from among themselves (New Jerusalem Bible)

15:22c

send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Paul and Barnabas had probably planned to return to Antioch. So these believers from Jerusalem would go with them.

15:22d

They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas: Some people called this Judas Barsabbas. People only hearing this clause read might think that Judas had two other names: Barsabbas and Silas. To avoid that you may want to list Silas first. For example:

They chose Silas and Judas (called Barsabbas)

two leaders among the brothers: Judas and Silas were leaders in the church at Jerusalem.

the brothers: Here the word brothers refers generally to men and women believers. For example:

the believers (Good News Translation)

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