high priest

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “high priest” in English is translated in the following ways:

  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “the ruler of the priests of our nation”
  • Chol: “very great priest” (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Ayutla Mixtec: “first over the priests”
  • Desano: “chief of the priests” (source for this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.).
  • Uma: “Big Priest” (source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “high sacrificer” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa as “Most-important Priest of God” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “Big leader of offerings” (source: Bariai Back Translation)

In Khoekhoe the translation for “high priest” is only capitalized when it refers to Jesus (as is Hebrews 2:17 et al.). (Source: project-specific notes in Paratext)

See also priest and chief priest.

brother (fellow believer)

The Greek that is translated in English as “brother” or “brother and sister” (in the sense of fellow believers), is translated with a specifically coined word in Kachin: “There are two terms for brother in Kachin. One is used to refer to a Christian brother. This term combines ‘older and younger brother.’ The other term is used specifically for addressing siblings. When one uses this term, one must specify if the older or younger person is involved. A parallel system exists for ‘sister’ as well. In [these verses], the term for ‘a Christian brother’ is used.” (Source: Gam Seng Shae)

In Matumbi is is translated as alongo aumini or “relative-believer” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext), in Martu Wangka as “relative” (this is also the term that is used for “follower”) (source: Carl Gross), and in Mairasi as “in-law” (source: Enggavoter 2004).

In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is often translated as Mitchristen or “fellow Christians.” The German translation by Roland Werner (publ. 2009-2022) alternates between “brothers and sisters,” “sisters and brothers,” and “siblings” (Geschwister).

See also brothers.

complete verse (Acts 22:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 22:5:

  • Uma: “The High Priest himself and all the religious leaders can testify for me, that I am not lying. Because they are the ones at that time who gave me letters of authority to our Yahudi relatives in the town of Damsyik. My intention in going to Damsyik was to arrest the followers of Yesus that were there, tie them and carry them back here to be punished.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The leading priest and all the members of the council can witness/testify that what I am saying is true. I had been given letters for our (incl.) fellow Yahudi there in Damaskus. Therefore I went to Damaskus in order to seize the disciples of Isa that I could find there and bring them bound here to Awrusalam to be punished/persecuted here.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for the High Priest, and all of our elders, they can testify that what I’m saying is true, because they gave me letters which they caused me to take to their companions in the town of Damascus. The reason I went there is so that I might arrest there the believers in Jesus, because I would bring them here to Jerusalem so that they might be punished.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And it is of-course possible for the highest priest and all of our leaders to confirm that it is true, because they were the very ones who sent-via me a letter so that I would take it to our brothers in Damascus. Therefore I went there to go arrest the believers in Jesus, to bring-them here to Jerusalem handcuffed in order that they be punished.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The Most-important Priest and his companion leaders of the Jews could testify to this which I am saying. For when I set out to go to Damasco, they indeed are the ones who made my authorizing writings which I would show to the overseers of the Jews there, so that I might arrest the people there who were believers in Jesus. I would bring them all tied-up here to Jerusalem so that they would be sentenced with a heavy judgment (usually means death).” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 22:5

The word rendered Council (Greek “presbyterion”) is not the technical term used throughout Acts to refer to the Jewish Council, but in light of the way that Luke uses this word in Luke 22.66, the commentators agree that this is its meaning in the present passage. The parallel passages do not mention the Council, though they do refer to the High Priest (9.1) and chief priests (26.12). The High Priest and the whole Council can prove that I am telling the truth translates the Greek clause “as also the High Priest is bearing witness to me and the whole Council.” In Greek it is not uncommon for a compound subject to have a verb which agrees with the first subject, to which the second subject is joined by the connective “and.”

In the present context, “to bear witness” means “to give evidence in support of (what Paul is saying).” Moreover, since the High Priest and the whole Council are not there to give their testimony in behalf of Paul, it is evident that the verb means “they can give testimony.” In light of these observations, the Good News Translation has translated the verb phrase “are bearing me witness” as can prove that I am telling the truth. (See also Barclay “can provide evidence,” Moffatt and Jerusalem Bible “can testify,” and An American Translation* “will bear me witness.”) Can prove that I am telling the truth may be rendered in some languages as direct discourse—for example, “can tell you, This man Paul is telling the truth.”

Obviously, “the brothers in Damascus” are Jewish brothers (see Barclay “brother Jews”; New English Bible “fellow-Jews”).

I received from them letters may also be rendered as “they gave me letters,” and the Jewish brothers are “fellow Jews” or “those who are also Jews.”

There may be some slight ambiguity in the expression these people. Therefore, in some languages it may be necessary to say “the people of the Way” in order to make it perfectly clear that this is likewise a reference to those who are mentioned the first part of verse 4.

In a number of languages one does not “bring people back in chains” but “bring them back bound with chains.”

The passive expression to be punished may be rendered as “so that the officers would punish them” or “so that the Council would cause them to suffer.”

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 22.5

22:5a

the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me: The Greek words are literally “the high priest testifies to me and all the council of elders.” About twenty-four years earlier the high priest and council gave Paul written permission to persecute Christians. Since then the Romans named someone else high priest. But the high priest of this time may have been on the council at that time. Certainly many of the council from twenty-four years ago were still on the council. So in that way they could testify to what Paul said here. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the high priest is my witness and so are all the council of elders
-or-
the high priest and all the council of elders know of these deeds of mine and can speak of them

the high priest and the whole Council: The high priest was the leader of the Council (it is also called “the Sanhedrin” in Scripture). To make this clear, you might want to say:

the high priest and all the ⌊other⌋ members of the Council
-or-
the high priest and all the ⌊rest⌋ of the Council

high priest: This phrase refers to the priest who was the leader of all the Jewish priests. Other ways to translate this word are:

the leader of the priests
-or-
the priest who was the leader of all ⌊Jewish⌋ priests

See how you translated this phrase in 4:6 or 9:1.

priest: A Jewish priest was a religious leader who:

(a) sacrificed animals and other things to God for the people,

(b) did other rituals for the people,

(c) led the people in worshiping God,

(d) taught the people about God.

Some ways to translate priest are:

• Use a descriptive term that focuses on the function of a priest. For example:

sacrificer
-or-
man/person who offers sacrifices to God
-or-
one who represents people to God

• Use a local word for priest. This option may be acceptable if the duties of a local priest are similar to those of a Jewish priest. You may need to indicate that the word refers to a Jewish priest. For example:

Jewish ⌊people’s⌋ priest

If possible, you should choose a term that can be used in both Old Testament and New Testament contexts. Notice that in the book of 1 Peter believers are called priests because they serve God with their whole lives and Christ is called our high priest.

the whole Council: This phrase refers to the council of elders that ruled all the Jewish people and made decisions. In Scripture is it sometimes referred to as “the Sanhedrin.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the whole council of elders (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the whole council of older Jewish leaders (New Century Version)
-or-
the whole Sanhedrin

See how you translated the word Council in Luke 22:66 (“council of the elders”) or “Sanhedrin” in Matthew 26:59, Mark 14:55, or Acts 5:27.

22:5b

I even obtained letters from them: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as obtained usually means “take” or “receive.” The leaders in Jerusalem gave these letters to Paul. For example:

I received from them letters (Good News Translation)
-or-
they gave letters to me

The context probably implies that Paul asked for these letters.

letters: These letters officially permitted and authorized Paul to persecute the Christians in Damascus. In some languages a different word than letters is used for such official documents. For example:

writs
-or-
decrees
-or-
written orders

In some languages a literal translation would not indicate the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain these letters in your translation. For example:

letters ⌊giving permission⌋ ⌊to persecute Christians⌋
-or-
letters ⌊of authority⌋
-or-
letters ⌊which authorized me to arrest followers of The Way⌋

• Translate literally and explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

These letters officially permitted and authorized Paul to persecute the Christians in Damascus.

See how you translated this word in 9:2.

from them: The word them refers to the high priest and Council of elders (22:5a). Here, it refers to the man who was high priest and the men who were on the Council twenty-four years earlier.

their brothers: Here the Greek phrase is literally “the brothers.” It refers to Jews whom the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem would consider leaders of the Jewish community in Damascus. It does not refer to fellow Christians here. For example:

the Jewish brothers (New Century Version)
-or-
fellow Jews (Good News Translation)
-or-
the Jewish community (God’s Word)

22:5c

I was on my way to…bring: In 22:6 Paul continued the story about his journey to Damascus. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

I set off to bring (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
I…started off…in order to bring (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
I was on my way to make arrests there (Revised English Bible)
-or-
I was going there to arrest (New Century Version)

bring: The purpose of Paul going to Damascus was to bring people who believed in Jesus to Jerusalem so that the Jewish leaders could punish them. But Paul began believing in Jesus on the way there, so he no longer tried to capture believers. Your translation should not indicate or imply that he captured believers and brought them to Jerusalem. For example:

intending to arrest any followers of the way I could find there (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

to apprehend: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as apprehend is literally “having been tied.” Here it would imply tied with ropes or chains. It can also mean “arrest (people) and make (them) prisoners.” Both meanings are appropriate here. Paul planned to arrest the Christians in Damascus and fasten ropes or chains to their wrists so that he could take them to Jerusalem. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

in chains (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
to arrest these people and bring them back (New Century Version)
-or-
handcuffed

See how you translated this phrase in 9:2, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “as prisoners.”

these people: This phrase refers to Christians. In some languages who this phrase refers to will be unclear to readers even reading 22:4–5 together. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it here. For example:

the Christians (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
any followers of the way (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
any people who believed in Jesus

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