Σταθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος σὺν τοῖς ἕνδεκα ἐπῆρεν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπεφθέγξατο αὐτοῖς, Ἄνδρες Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες Ἰερουσαλὴμ πάντες, τοῦτο ὑμῖν γνωστὸν ἔστω καὶ ἐνωτίσασθε τὰ ῥήματά μου.
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.
Illustrations by Swiss artist and storyteller Annie Vallotton, as taken from the Good News Translation © 1976, 1992 American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
For permissions, please visit American Bible Society . You can also purchase framed art by Annie Vallotton .
For other images by Annie Vallotton on Translation Insights & Perspectives, see here.
The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “listen” or “pay attention” or something similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with the idiom tcherani khutu, literally “you set ear.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
Following is a Armenian Orthodox icon of Peter (found in the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shusha, Azerbaijan).
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 )
Following is a hand colored stencil print on momigami of Peter by Sadao Watanabe (1970):
Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe. For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.
In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “key” (referring to Matthew 16:19). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)
“Peter” or “Cephas” in Finnish Sign Language (source )
In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “rock,” referring to the meaning of the Greek word for “Peter.”
“Peter” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz
For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .
See also Peter – rock.
Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Peter .
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 2:14:
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 of appropriate suffix title referred to as keishō (敬称) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017 by either using -san or –sama with the latter being the more formal title.
In these verses, the Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “everyone” or similar in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as mina-san (皆さん), combining the word for “everyone” (nī) and the suffix title –san. This creates a higher sense of familiarity and equality than for instance the same term with the more respectful title –sama at young people (Japanese honorifics). (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).
(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
It is important at the beginning of verse 14 to have some type of transitional expression, which will help to shift the attention from what the crowd has said to what Peter is now going to reply, for example, “then,” “in response,” or “in answer to them.”
With the other eleven may be taken as the Good News Translation has translated it, or the phrase may be understood as a title (see New English Bible and Jerusalem Bible). In some languages it is necessary to state more precisely the relation of Peter to the other apostles. Did all of the twelve stand together, or was Peter, as one with the eleven, the only one to stand? He was certainly the only one to address the crowd. It would probably appear more natural to say, “Peter, who was with the eleven apostles, stood up.”
To “lift up one’s voice” (literally in the Greek) may merely mean “to begin to speak in a loud voice.” In a loud voice is more often rendered simply as “to speak loudly to” or “to shout to.”
It is interesting that the Greek verb which Luke has chosen for speak is one which places emphasis upon the high quality and articulate nature of the words spoken (see 2.4). The word occurs here, following the charge of drunkenness, and in 26.25 after the charge of madness.
The rendering fellow Jews is quite appropriate for this passage, since it not only identifies the audience but indicates a degree of identification between the speaker and the audience. In some languages the equivalent is “you who are Jews with us.” However, in some languages one cannot employ this type of vocative, except when one is actually calling to a person or group. Hence, such a reference must be related more specifically to the subject of the verb listen, for example, “You who are fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me.”
The two verbal expressions listen and let me tell you are really only emphatic supplements one of the other; they do not actually introduce any new information. Accordingly, in some languages only one verb is used, but it is often reinforced with some intensifier, for example, “pay very close attention to,” “listen well,” or idiomatically “open your ears well,” “track down closely my words.”
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 .
Section 2:14–42
Peter preached, and many people believed in Jesus
In this section Peter spoke to the crowd. His speech began with a one-paragraph introduction. In the introduction, he greeted the crowd, asked them to listen carefully, and told them that the believers were not drunk. He also quoted Joel 2:28–32. In the main part of the speech he spoke about Jesus and God’s plan for him. He told them some of King David’s words about the Christ. He told them that those words applied to Jesus. Peter gave his main point at the end of his speech, that Jesus is the Christ.
The people asked Peter what they should do, so he told them to repent and believers would baptize them. Many people became believers and joined the other believers.
Here are other possible headings for this section:
Peter Talks to the Crowd (God’s Word)
-or-
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost (English Standard Version)
-or-
Peter explains the fulfilment of God’s promise (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
Paragraph 2:14–21
2:14a
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: Someone needed to explain the miracle, because those people didn’t know what to think about it. Also, the people in 2:13 tried to explain it in a wrong way. So Peter spoke for all of the apostles and other believers.
stood up: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stood up indicates that he moved to a place where he could easily speak to the whole crowd. Peter and the other believers were probably not sitting at this time. They probably left the house or room (2:1) when the Holy Spirit came upon them. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
taking his stand (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
stepped forward (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
went and stood ⌊before the crowd⌋
the Eleven: This phrase refers to the other eleven apostles. For example:
the other eleven apostles (Good News Translation)
The word Eleven probably only refers to a number. It is probably not a title like the Berean Standard Bible makes it by capitalizing it. Many English versions do not capitalize this word.
lifted up his voice: This phrase indicates that he spoke loudly so that all of the crowd could hear him. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
raised his voice (New International Version)
-or-
in a loud voice (Good News Translation)
-or-
loudly
addressed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as addressed is literally “declared.” It implies he had something important to say. Here are some other ways to translate this word:
declared (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
spoke in a…clear voice (Contemporary English Version)
the crowd: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the crowd is literally “them” (as in the Revised Standard Version). But it refers to the crowd of 2:6–13.
2:14b
Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem: It was customary at that time and place to name the people spoken to when beginning a speech. Peter did so here. This address is polite and respectful. Consider how to indicate that in your language.
Men of Judea: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Men of Judea is literally “men, Jews/Judeans.” There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase:
(1) It refers to those Jews who lived in Judea. For example:
Men of Judea (Revised Standard Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, God’s Word, NET Bible, King James Version)
(2) It refers to Jews in general. For example:
Fellow Jews (Good News Translation)
(New International Version, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), New American Bible, Revised Edition, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because this meaning fits better with the next phrase.
all who dwell in Jerusalem: This phrase probably refers to all the rest of the crowd. This would be Jews and converts to Judaism who were not born in Judea but lived in Jerusalem at that time. It probably included those who were just visiting Jerusalem because they probably stayed for the whole week of the Jewish holy day and festival. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
everyone else living in Jerusalem (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
all the others here in Jerusalem
2:14c
let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words: The Greek verbs that the Berean Standard Bible has translated as let this be known to you and listen carefully, are commands. They are polite requests to get their attention. Consider how to translate these commands as polite requests to listen and hear the explanation of the earlier event. For example:
Allow me to explain this ⌊event⌋ to you. ⌊Please⌋ listen carefully to what I say
The word this refers to 2:15a–36b. It does not refer to listen carefully to my words. In some languages it is more natural to have the second command first. For example:
listen carefully to what I say. Let me explain this to you:
let this be known to you: The Berean Standard Bible literally represents the Greek here. The word this refers to the events of 2:1–4. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
let me explain that to you
-or-
let me tell you what this means (Good News Translation)
listen carefully to my words: The Greek is literally “give ear to my words” (as in the Revised Standard Version). This clause encourages the listeners to listen well. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
give heed to my words (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Listen carefully (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
pay attention to what I say (God’s Word)
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