he found a Jew named Aquila

The Greek in Acts 18:2 that is translated as “he found a Jew named Aquila” in English is translated in Tzotzil as “he found one of his own people called Aquila” because a more literal translation would have implied that Paul is non-Jewish (source: Callow 1972, p. 35)

In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it says Aquila war ein Judenchrist or “Aquila was a Jewish Christian.”

See also the Jews plotted to kill him.

Paul

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)


“Paul (and Saul)” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

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 )

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

Following is a Georgian Orthodox icon of Paul the Apostle from the 14th century (located in the Art Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi).

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.

Source for the image and description below: The Stained Glass Windows of Messiah Episcopal Church

“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)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Paul .

complete verse (Acts 18:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 18:2:

  • Uma: “In Korintus, Paulus met a Yahudi man named Akwila. The town of his birth was in the land of Pontus. This Akwila with Priskila his wife, had just arrived in the town of Korintus themselves, because they had just moved from the land of Italia. This move of theirs from the land of Italia, was because there was a command of King Klaudius expelling all the Yahudi people from the town of Roma in the land of Italia. So, when Paulus arrived in Korintus, he went to visit this Akwila and Priskila,” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “There he met with a Yahudi named Akila, born in the land of Pontus. That Akila had newly arrived in Korinto from the country Italiya together with his wife, Pirisila. They left Italiya because King Kalaudi had commanded all the Yahudi to leave Roma, the big city in Italiya. Then Paul went to visit Akila and company.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And there he came upon two Jews, a married couple from Pontus, Aquila and his wife Priscilla. They had just arrived there from Italy because there was a law of King Claudius causing all of the Jewish people to go out from the town of Rome. Paul went to visit them,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There he came-upon a Jew from-Pontus named Aquila and his spouse Priscilla. They had-just-arrived from Italia, because Emperor Claudius had commanded that all Jews leave Roma which was the capital of Italia. Pablo went to go visit them,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “There he met/saw a man who was a Jew named Aquila. As for that person, Ponto was where he was born but he had moved to Roma, the main city in Italia. From there, he and his wife Priscila had moved because of the law sent down by the Impiradur Claudio, saying, ‘All Jews in Roma must now leave.’ Therefore they were now there in Corinto for that’s where they’d moved to. It wasn’t yet long since they had arrived there. After Pablo had met him, he went to their house.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 18:2

Aquila is further mentioned in verses 18, 19, and 26, as well as in Romans 16.3; 1 Corinthians 16.19; 2 Timothy 4.19.

Pontus was a Roman province which, along with Bithynia, formed a single administrative unit under the Roman government.

Just translates an adverb which originally meant “freshly killed,” but then had the derived meaning of “recently” (see New English Bible, Phillips).

His wife Priscilla is again mentioned in connection with Aquila in verses 18, 19, and 26. The “Prisca” of the Greek in Romans 16.3; 1 Corinthians 16.19; and 2 Timothy 4.19, each time mentioned in connection with “Aquila,” is undoubtedly the same person, since the form Priscilla is simply a diminutive of Prisca. Aquila is never mentioned alone. It is almost certain that the same pair is referred to in each case.

The order from Emperor Claudius for all the Jews to leave Rome was given about A.D. 49, but very little is known about the circumstances which provoked it. From indications outside the New Testament, it would seem as if there had been a squabble between Christian Jews and non-Christian Jews in Rome, and the trouble caused by their disagreements led to their banishment.

A verb such as ordered may require direct discourse in some languages—for example, “had ordered, All you Jews must leave Rome.”

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 18:2

18:2a

There he found a Jew named Aquila: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as found is literally “found.” Here the word means “made the acquaintance of.” Paul did not know Aquila before, therefore he found…Aquila for the first time. Other ways to translate this clause are:

There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
There he came upon a Jewish man named Aquila

a Jew: Aquila’s ancestors were from Israel. He probably also followed the Jewish religion growing up. So Aquila was a Jew by ethnic group and religion. His name is a Latin name, not a Jewish name. So Luke made it clear here that Aquila was a Jew. But it is not clear if he and his wife were Christians at this time, because Luke did not call them believers here.

a native of Pontus: Pontus was a region north of the province of Galatia. It was the eastern portion of the Roman province of Bithynia and Pontus. His parents lived in Pontus and Aquila was born there. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

he was from Pontus
-or-
he was born in Pontus
-or-
a Pontus man

The Greek phrase translated a native of is translated “from” in 4:36, but the meaning is the same.

18:2b

who had recently come from Italy: This clause tells the reader more about Aquila. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Luke was thinking of other men named Aquila and only this one had recently come from Italy. If that is true in your language, translate this information in a way that tells more about Aquila. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

He had recently come from Italy

Italy: Italy was the native country of the Romans. Their capital city was Rome. 18:2c clearly implies that Aquila and Priscilla lived in Rome but were forced to leave.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that they lived in Italy but not Rome. If that is true in your language, you may want to include the implied information. For example:

⌊Rome,⌋ Italy
-or-

⌊Rome, the capital of⌋ Italy

18:2c

Claudius: Claudius was the emperor of the Roman empire at that time. In some languages people are not familiar with who Claudius was. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain who he was in your translation. For example:

Emperor Claudius (Good News Translation)

• Explain who he was in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Claudius was the emperor/ruler of the Roman empire at that time.

18:2d

Paul went to visit them: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as went to visit is literally “approached.” It indicates that he went to ask something. He probably went to ask if he could stay in their house. Other ways to translate this clause are:

He came to them, (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Paul went to them to ask ⌊about a place to stay⌋

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