Paul

The term that is transliterated as “Paul” in English is translated in American Sign Language 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

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Paul (source: Bible Lands 2012)

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 )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Paul .

Jerusalem

The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:


“Jerusalem” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jerusalem .

Macedonia

The name that is transliterated as “Macedonia” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that shows pillars, a hallmark of the architecture used there in the Roman period and also prominently used today at Archaeological Museum of the Republic of North Macedonia (see here ). (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Macedonia” in Libras (source )

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Macedonia (source: Bible Lands 2012)

More information about Macedonia (Greece) .

complete verse (Acts 19:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 19:21:

  • Uma: “When that happening had passed, Paulus planned to go to the provinces of Makedonia and Akhaya, and after that he wanted to go to the town of Yerusalem. He also said: ‘After I have been to Yerusalem [lit., After I am from Yerusalem], I have to go to the town of Roma.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “After that, Paul planned to go also to the land of Makedoniya and Akaya and then he would proceed to Awrusalam. ‘When I have been to Awrusalam,’ he said, ‘I must also go to Roma.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Then Paul decided that he would leave and go to the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem. He said, ‘When I go to Jerusalem, I will continue on to the town of Rome.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When that was so, Pablo decided to walk-through the provinces Macedonia and Akaya to go to Jerusalem. He also said that when that was finished, he needed to go visit in Roma.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, Pablo then decided to travel again, going again to Macedonia and Acaya, and then to continue on to Jerusalem. He said, ‘After I’ve stayed-a-short-time/overnighted there in Jerusalem, it’s necessary that I then go to Roma.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Spirit (of God) (Japanese honorifics)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) can be used, as in mi-tama (御霊) or “Spirit (of God)” in the referenced verses.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also Holy Spirit

Translation commentary on Acts 19:21

These things may refer back either to the events described in verses 13-19, or it may refer back to the two years of verse 10. The former possibility is more probable, since two years is apparently too far removed to be the antecedent.

Paul made up his mind may also be understood in the sense of “Paul led by the (Holy) Spirit, decided” (see An American Translation* “under the Spirit’s guidance”). The problem is that the literal Greek clause “Paul decided in the spirit” may refer either to the Holy Spirit or to Paul’s own human spirit. Commentators and translators are divided in their judgment regarding the translation of this clause. If it is the Holy Spirit which is being referred to in Paul’s decision, then one may translate “the Holy Spirit caused Paul to decide.”

Must (see had to of 1.16) indicates that Paul feels that it is God’s will for him to visit Rome.

See Rome implies much more than simply being “a sightseer.” Paul’s purpose is “to visit Rome” or “to go to Rome for a while.”

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 19:21

Section 19:21–41

Demetrius started a riot against Paul

In this section, Paul decided that he would travel to Jerusalem, but he would go to Macedonia and Achaia first. He sent two believers to Macedonia so that they could tell the churches that he was coming. He stayed in Ephesus a bit longer.

In Ephesus, a man named Demetrius made small silver models of the temple of Artemis. He sold them to people who wanted to worship Artemis. While Paul stayed in Ephesus, Demetrius gathered other similar workers and complained that Paul was leading people away from worshiping Artemis. The workers became angry and caused the whole city to become upset. They grabbed two of Paul’s traveling companions and brought them to the amphitheater. Many people followed the workers there. The workers probably wanted the city leader to force Paul to leave Ephesus.

In the amphitheater, the crowd was confused and shouting various things. The Jews had Alexander step forward to address the crowd. But the crowd rejected him and would not let him speak. Finally the city clerk quieted the crowd. He reassured them about Artemis. He told them that Demetrius should take Paul to court if he wanted to accuse him about something. He warned the crowd that they could be accused of rioting. Then he dismissed the crowd.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The Riot in Ephesus (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
A riot started in Ephesus ⌊regarding Paul⌋

Paragraph 19:21–22

19:21a

After these things had happened: This phrase may refer to the events regarding the evil spirit (19:13–19) or to all of the events in Ephesus (19:1–19). Translate so that it allows either interpretation. For example:

Now after these events (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
After all this had happened (New International Version)

Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem: This clause in Greek is literally “Paul decided in the spirit to go to Jerusalem.” There are two ways to interpret the phrase “the spirit”:

(1) It refers to Paul’s own spirit. Paul himself decided to go to Jerusalem. For example:

Paul made up his mind to go back to Jerusalem (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New International Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, King James Version)

(2) It refers to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit caused Paul to decide to go to Jerusalem.

Paul felt compelled by the Spirit (New Living Translation (2004))

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia: Paul wanted to visit the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. They wanted to help the poor believers in Jerusalem. So Paul would go to the believers in Macedonia and Achaia and collect money. He would take the money to Jerusalem and give it to the believers there and in other parts of Judea.

From Ephesus, Macedonia and Achaia are in the opposite direction to that of going to Jerusalem. Paul would make a much longer journey by going to Macedonia and Achaia first.

had passed through: This phrase indicates that Paul would stop for only a short visit. Then he would go to the next place. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

travel through (Good News Translation)
-or-
visit (Contemporary English Version)

Macedonia and Achaia: These two names refer to provinces of Greece. (At this time Romans ruled Macedonia and Achaia.) For example:

⌊the provinces of⌋ Macedonia and Achaia

Luke already referred to Macedonia four times in Acts. He already referred to Achaia twice in Acts. You may have already indicated that these names refer to provinces. You may not need to indicate again that they refer to provinces here.

General Comment on 19:21a

In some languages, what Paul decided must be in direct speech. For example:

Paul said, “I have decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia.

If you do this in your language, you will not need to translate the phrase “he said” in 19:21b. You will also not need to begin 19:21b with a quote mark.

19:21b

After I have been there: The word there refers to Jerusalem.

he said: The Berean Standard Bible placed the phrase he said in the middle of the spoken words. Place it where it would be most natural in your language.

I must see Rome as well: The word must indicates that Paul knew that it was necessary for him to visit Rome.

see: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as see is literally “see.” Here it indicates that Paul wanted to go to Rome, but he was not planning to live there for a long time. He probably wanted to go there to encourage the believers, preach the gospel, and evangelize.

Rome: Rome was (and is) a large city. In some languages, people are not familiar with this name. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it in your translation. For example:

⌊the city of⌋ Rome

Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire and its most important city. It was a well-known city. The Roman people were named with this city’s name. For readers at that time, the name would not need to be explained as referring to a city. Also, Luke mentioned Rome in 18:2. So you may not need or want to explain the name in your translation.

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