Paul in Damascus

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complete verse (Acts 22:11)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 22:11:

  • Uma: “From there, because I was blind, blinded by what was shining earlier, my companions led me [implied, by the hand] to the town of Damsyik.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then I was blind due to the glare of that light,’ Paul said, ‘Therefore my companions led me by the hand going to Damaskus.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And I was blind there because I was blinded by that which was very bright. For this reason my companions led me by the hand into Damascus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But I was not able-to-see, because I was dazzled by what-had-flashed, so my traveling-companions took-me -by-the-hand to lead (me) to Damascus.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When I stood up, I could no longer see for the dazzling of that far-from-ordinary light had-caused-a-lasting-effect on me. Without anything further, going on to Damasco I was just led-by-the-hand by my companions.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 22:11

On this verse see 9.8.

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 22:11

22:11a

Because the brilliance of the light had blinded me: This clause in Greek is literally “I was not seeing from the brilliance of that light.” It indicates that the light was so bright that it caused Paul to not be able to see. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I could not see because of the brightness of that light (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I was blind because of the bright light (Good News Translation)
-or-
I was blinded by the intense light (New Living Translation (2004))

the brilliance of the light: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as brilliance is often translated as “glory.” Here it probably refers to the light being very bright. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the bright light (Good News Translation)
-or-
the light had been so dazzling that (New Jerusalem Bible)

The Greek word would also imply “glory” here. If possible, imply “glory” here. For “glory,” see 7:2 or 7:55.

22:11b

It is implied that Paul arose from the ground before the men with him led him. In some languages it is more natural to include that implied information. For example:

⌊I got up and⌋…

my companions led me by the hand into Damascus: The men traveling with Paul held Paul’s hands and took him into town. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
my companions took me by the hand and led me into Damascus (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 22:11a–b

In the New International Version, the reason (22:11a) comes after the result (22:11b). In some languages it is more natural here to have the reason first, as the Berean Standard Bible does. Here is another way to translate this:

11athe brilliance of the light had blinded me, so 11bmy companions led me by the hand into Damascus

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