15Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and, after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left him.
“Timothy” is the anglicized form of Timotheus, meaning “honoring God,” “honored of God,” “worshiping God,” “valued of God.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
It is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that combines the signs for the letter T and “young,” referring to 1 Timothy 4:12 et al. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Timothy” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
The Greek that is transliterated as “Silas” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign depicting “chains falling off,” referring to Acts 16:26. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The term that is transliterated as “Paul” in English means “little.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In American Sign Language it is translated with a sign that signifies the many letters he wrote. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Paul” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting putting away a sword, referring to his conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a Christian leader. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that is based on contemporary depictions and refers to the presumed baldness of the top of his head. The description originates from the 2nd-century apocryphal text titled Acts of Paul and Thecla , which represents the earliest and most detailed physical characterization of the apostle in Christian tradition (see also the icon below). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
“Paul” in Hungarian Sign Language — note that only the first part refers to “Paul,” the second part refers to “apostle” (source )
Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )
The following is a contemporary stained glass window from the Messiah Episcopal Church in St. Paul, Minnesota by Peter Dohmen. Individual glass pieces were made in Germany in accordance with Dohmen’s design, using a technique first developed by Irish monks in the 9th and 10th centuries.
“This window is dedicated to St. Paul, the great apostle and missionary, for whom our city is named. At the top of the window is a ship which symbolizes the many missionary journeys of Paul — the Church is our ship, which carries us over the way of life. In the lower section we see Paul on the road to Damascus when he saw a great light and heard our Lord’s voice, which called him to discipleship.”
Stained glass is not just highly decorative, it’s a medium which has been used to express important religious messages for centuries. Literacy was not widespread in the medieval and Renaissance periods and the Church used stained glass and other artworks to teach the central beliefs of Christianity. In Gothic churches, the windows were filled with extensive narrative scenes in stained glass — like huge and colorful picture storybooks — in which worshipers could ‘read’ the stories of Christ and the saints and learn what was required for their religious salvation. (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum )
Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Paul (source: Bible Lands 2012)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 17:15:
Uma: “The people who escorted Paulus escorted him to in the town of Atena. After that, Paulus said to them: ‘Go back to Berea, and tell Silas and Timotius to come quickly here to me.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Paul was accompanied to the city of Aten. Then the ones who had taken him (there) returned to Berea carrying instructions from Paul that Silas and Timoteo should follow him soon.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for the men who went along with Paul who guided him, they went with him as far as the village of Athens. And then they went back to Berea, and they told Silas and Timothy that they should quickly go to be with Paul.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Pablo’s companions, they escorted (him) as-far-as Athens, then they went-home to go tell what Pablo had-instructed that Silas and Timoteo should hurry to go join (lit. find) him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “The ones arranged with to accompany Pablo delivered him as far as Atenas. When they left, he sent word that Silas-and-companion follow on soon.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
In the choosing a verb for taking, one should not suggest that Paul was being in any way escorted against his will. These men were simply “accompanying him.”
In languages which clearly specify different means of travel, it may be necessary to employ here “sailed as far as Athens.” Otherwise there would have been no point in Luke having commented about Paul going to the coast.
The word here translated instructions is often translated “command,” a rendering which is too strong for the present context. The final clause of verse 15 must be rendered as direct discourse in a number of languages—for example, “went back to Berea with words from Paul, Silas and Timothy must join me as soon as possible.”
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 .
Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens: The word escorted indicates that the men went with Paul. The word brought indicates that they showed him the way to go to Athens. Other ways to translate this clause are:
The men who were taking Paul went with him as far as Athens (Good News Translation) -or-
The men who accompanied Paul took him as far as Athens (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English) -or-
The people leading Paul went with him to Athens. (New Century Version)
From whatever coastal city they went to, they may have gone to Athens by ship or by road. It was about a 500 kilometer (310 miles) trip by ship. This would take three to six days in good weather. The trip by road to Athens was about 450 kilometers (280 miles). This would take seven to twelve days on foot.
Athens: Athens was a famous city at that time and an important city for Greek art and science. The scholars of Greece lived there and had a great reputation for learning in the Roman empire. Athens is a seaport on the Saronic Gulf which leads to the Aegean Sea.
17:15b
then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible: This clause indicates that Paul told the men to tell Silas and Timothy to come and join him in Athens as soon as they could. The men returned with that message. Other ways to translate this clause are:
receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed (Revised Standard Version) -or-
went back with instructions for Silas and Timothy to rejoin Paul as soon as they could (New Jerusalem Bible) -or-
he instructed them to tell Silas and Timothy to come and join him as soon as possible, and they returned with that message
as soon as possible: Paul wanted Silas and Timothy to leave for Athens immediately after hearing the message. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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