steps

The Greek in Acts 21:35 that is translated in English as “to the steps” is translated in Kwara’ae as “to the leg of the door of that house” (= bottom of the stairs).

soldier

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “soldier” in English didn’t have a direct equivalent in Enlhet so it was translated with “those that bind us” (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1969, p. 24ff. ) and in Noongar it is mammarapa-bakadjiny or “men of fighting” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

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 21:35)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 21:35:

  • Uma: “When they arrived at the stairs that went up into that house of the soldiers, the masses/crowds crowded-together and they were really dead-set wanting to kill Paulus. That’s why Paulus had to be lifted and carried [horizontally with their hands] by the soldiers.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Paul was still on the steps/stairs of the fort, (when) he had to be lifted by the soldiers because of the strong pushing by the people.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “When they arrived there on the steps of the fort, they lifted up Paul because the rioting of the people was very tense. The people were trying to grab Paul away” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When they arrived-with-him at the ladder/stairs, they were forced to raise-him-above-their-heads, because the many-people were violently-attacking-him in their anger” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When they reached the stairs/ladder by which one went up, Pablo was carried by the soldiers going up because he was still being grabbed at by the people.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 21:35

They got with him to the steps may be rendered as “they led him as far as the steps” or “they led him only as far as the steps.” It may be necessary to stipulate “only” in order to indicate clearly the shift to the act of carrying Paul because of the violence of the mob.

“So it was” (King James Version) translates a verb which is similar in usage to Luke’s frequently used formula “and it came to pass.” This verb is to be taken along with the verb “to be carried,” and together they are to be translated either “he was actually carried” (Revised Standard Version, Phillips) or had to carry him (Good News Translation, New English Bible, Jerusalem Bible).

The final expression the mob was so wild is rendered is some languages as “the mob was so angry.”

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 21:35

21:35a

When Paul reached the steps: This clause in Greek is literally “and when he was on/at the steps.” The commander and the soldiers were with Paul. In some languages it is more natural to refer to all of them. For example:

When they were on the steps
-or-
When Paul ⌊and the soldiers⌋ were on the steps

the steps: These steps led up to the Roman fortress and barracks. In some languages, where these steps went to must be indicated. For example:

the steps ⌊to the barracks/fortress⌋

21:35b–c

he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob: This clause in Greek is literally “he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd.” The violent crowd caused the soldiers to carry Paul. They carried him to protect him. Otherwise the crowd might have grabbed him again and began beating him again. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the soldiers had to carry him because the mob was so wild (Good News Translation)
-or-
the crowd became so violent that he had to be carried by the soldiers (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him (New Living Translation (2004))

21:35b

the violence of the mob: The word violence indicates that the crowd was forcefully trying to reach in and grab Paul or hurt him. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the crowd became so wild (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the people were trying to kill him

the mob: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mob is literally “crowd.” But the crowd had become violent, so the English word mob is more natural here.

21:35c

It is not clear if the soldiers carried Paul in their arms or on their shoulders. Translate in the way that sounds most natural in your language.

he had to be carried by the soldiers: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

the soldiers had to carry him

carried: The Greek verb indicates that the soldiers carried Paul for some time. They carried him to the top step and perhaps a little way inside the walls of the fortress. For example:

⌊began⌋ to carry

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