complete verse (Acts 15:34)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 15:34:

  • Uma: “But as for Silas, he said: ‘I will not-yet return to Yerusalem. I’ll stay here in Antiokhia for now.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However, Silas did not go along, but he stayed there.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But as for Silas, he stayed behind at Antioquia.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 15:34

This verse was evidently not a part of the original text (it is omitted or placed in the margin by New English Bible, Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt, An American Translation*, Phillips, Barclay), and it has been placed in brackets by the Good News Translation. Apparently verse 34 was added by some scribe on the assumption that verse 40 makes it impossible to conclude that Paul went to Jerusalem to get Silas or sent a message for him to come to Antioch. However, this assumption is without foundation, and the addition of verse 34 contradicts the plain meaning of verse 33.

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 15:34

15:34

There is a textual issue here. The words of Acts 15:34 was added in some of the later Greek manuscripts. The person who labeled the verses did so based on these later Greek manuscripts. Only the King James Version includes this verse in their translation, while the New American Standard Bible includes it in brackets. Many English versions include the words of 15:34 only in a footnote. Include this verse only as a footnote, as many English versions do. An example footnote is:

Only some of the later Greek manuscripts include 15:34, which reads: But Silas decided to remain there.

If the common language version in your area includes this verse in their translation, you may want to include it in brackets. The New American Standard Bible does this.

If you put 15:34 in a footnote, here are several ways to number the verses:

• Put the number 34 after the number 33, and put the footnote before 15:35. For example:

33–34After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. * 35But Paul and Barnabas remained…

• Put the number 34 after the last word of 15:33, and put the footnote after it. For example:

33After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. 34* 35But Paul and Barnabas remained…

• Do not include the number 34, and put the footnote before 15:35. For example:

33After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. * 35But Paul and Barnabas remained…

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