complete verse (Acts 18:20)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 18:20:

  • Uma: “On their journey, they stopped-in at the town of Efesus, and Paulus entered the house of prayer and exchanged words with the Yahudi people gathered there. They requested of him that he be rather long with them, but he did not want to. However when he left, he said to them: ‘If God wants, I will come back here later.’ Priskila and Akwila stayed [emphatic] in Efesus, but Paulus continued his journey, boarding a ship going to the land of Siria.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “They urged him to stay there longer but he did not want to.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “They begged him that he quickly leave them, however Paul did not obey” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When they stopped at Efeso, Pablo went to the synagogue and discussed-with the Jews. They persuaded (lit. hung-onto) him to stay-with (them) there, but Pablo refused. ‘If that’s what God wants, then I will return,’ he said. Then he left Aquila and Priscilla at Efeso, and he rode again in a ship.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The Jews wanted Pablo to stay there a long time, but he asked to be forgiven for he didn’t want to delay.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 18:19 – 18:20

Ephesus was located near the mouth of the Cayster River. It was the capital of the Roman province of Asia and one of the most important commercial centers.

Paul left Priscilla and Aquila is literally “he left them,” but for the English reader it helps to make the pronominal references explicit. This reference to Paul leaving Priscilla and Aquila goes most naturally with the last clause of verse 21, and so he sailed from Ephesus. In fact, this is no doubt the intent. One must certainly not give the impression that Paul left Priscilla and Aquila on the boat going on to Syria while he stopped off in Ephesus. It is Priscilla and Aquila who remained in Ephesus and were able to instruct Apollos (see v. 24). The second clause of verse 19 may, however, be made more satisfactory by translating “where Paul later left Priscilla and Aquila.” This, then, makes it possible to combine this clause with the last clause of verse 21.

It is not clear who the subject of asked him is. Grammatically it would be the Jews, but it is difficult to imagine that they asked Paul to return to their synagogue if he had argued with them. Possibly Luke intends for the reader to understand that some of the persons in the synagogue were receptive, or at least not opposed, to the message of Paul, and these were the Jews who invited him back. Because of the obvious difficulties of relating they to the immediately preceding term Jews, it may be necessary to translate “some of them asked him to stay.” On the other hand, one may employ “the believers asked him to stay.”

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 18:20

18:20

When they asked him to stay for a while longer, he declined: These two clauses indicate speaking but the actual words were not written. In some languages actual words of speech must be used. For example:

When they asked him, “Could you spend more time with us,” he said “⌊Sorry,⌋ I cannot.”
-or-
They asked him, “Could you spend more time with us?” But he said “⌊Sorry,⌋ I cannot.”

he declined: This word indicates that Paul said no to the request to stay longer. Other ways to translate this word are:

would not consent (Good News Translation)
-or-
he said that he could not

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