Translation commentary on Acts 16:15

The word translated the people of her house (most translations “household”) has as its basic meaning “house” (see latter part of this verse), but it may also mean “family” (see 10.2). Since Lydia was the head of the house, it is assumed that she was either unmarried or a widow; and because her marital status is unknown, the people of her house perhaps suits the present context better than “family.” In rendering the expression the people of her house, it may be necessary to stipulate “the people who lived with her in the house.” In general this would include not only relatives but also servants and slaves.

If you have decided that I am a true believer in the Lord translates a conditional sentence in Greek that presupposes that the “if” clause is true to fact. That is, Lydia was saying, “Since you have decided….” True believer is literally “faithful,” which in the context describes one whose faith is genuine, and so is “a true believer.” In rendering true believer into another language there may, however, be a number of complications. In the first place one may need to place this into a verb expression “that I genuinely believe” or “that I really believe.” A term for true must refer to the quality of faith, not simply to some person who is “true” in character or who “tells the truth.” In combining the final phrase in the Lord with an expression for belief, one may have in some languages “that I truly trust the Lord” or “that I am one who truly trusts the Lord.”

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 16:15

16:15a

And when she and her household had been baptized: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. The verse does not say who baptized them. Probably Paul or one of his companions baptized them. For example:

When ⌊we⌋ baptized her and the members of her household

her household: This phrase would include her servants and children if she had any still living at home. This might include her husband, but the phrase “her household” probably indicates that she was a widow. Other family members may have lived in her house. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the people who lived with her
-or-
the people of her house (Good News Translation)

baptized: Here this word refers to the Christian ritual that uses water. Christians differ about what baptism is and what it accomplishes. Two major beliefs are that through Christian baptism:

(a) God unites and identifies a person with Christ so that his sins are forgiven and he becomes a follower of Christ.

(b) A person declares or shows that he has decided to follow Christ and he believes that God forgives his sins through Christ.

There are two usual ways that water is used in this ritual:

(a) A person is put completely under the water and then brought out of the water.

(b) Water is poured, sprinkled, or put on a person’s head.

Because of these different beliefs and practices concerning baptism, it is recommended that you use a word or phrase that is general enough to be acceptable to all Christians.

See how you translated this word in 1:5 or 11:16.

16:15b

she urged us: This clause in Greek is literally “she urged/begged us, saying.” What she said (16:15c–d) indicates that Lydia wanted to feed them, give them beds for sleeping, and generally take care of them. Other ways to translate the Greek clause are:

she invited us
-or-
she said to us

16:15c–d

If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house: This If-clause is used rhetorically. Paul and the others knew that she was a believer, because they baptized her. Lydia knew they would say “yes” to If you consider me a believer in the Lord. Then they would feel they should also say “yes” to staying at her house. This saying obligates them to agree to stay with her. Using If is also more polite than saying “since,” because using If makes this sentence a request, but using “since” would make this sentence a demand.

In some languages, using an “if” clause would have a different meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

You consider me a believer in the Lord. So please, come and stay at my house.
-or-
Do you consider me a believer in the Lord? ⌊Certainly!⌋ So would you consider to come and stay at my house?

16:15c

If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house: The Greek words are literally “saying, ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord.’” With the words of 16:15c–d, Lydia urged/begged them (16:15b). For example:

saying, “If you think I am truly a believer in the Lord… (New Century Version)

In some languages the clause in 16:15b is all that is needed to introduce the spoken words. For example:

“If you think I really do have faith in the Lord (Contemporary English Version)

a believer in: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as believer here has two meanings:

(1) Here it means a believer. For example:

a true believer in (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, REV, New Century Version)

(2) Here it means faithful. For example:

to be faithful to (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because Lydia began believing in Jesus only a short time ago, so it would be hard to show faithfulness in that short a time.

Lord: Here Lord probably refers to Jesus. In some languages it is more clear to include the name. For example:

Lord ⌊Jesus⌋

16:15d

stay at my house: Lydia wanted to feed them, give them beds for sleeping, and generally take care of them. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

let me be hospitable to you at my house
-or-
allow me to take care of you at my house

16:15e

she persuaded us: The Greek tense may indicate that Paul and the others did not immediately agree, but Lydia continued urging them until they did. The New Jerusalem Bible implies this in its translation:

she would take no refusal (New Jerusalem Bible)

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