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 22:28)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 22:28:

  • Uma: “The head said: ‘Much was my payment so that I entered Roma citizenship.’ Paulus said: ‘As for me, from my birth I have been a Roma citizen.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The colonel said, ‘Me, I had to spend much money to the Roman government in order to become a man of Roma.’ ‘But me,’ Paul said, ‘I have been a person of Roma since my birth.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the captain said, ‘I had to give lots of money in order that I might become a subject of Rome.’ And Paul said, ‘As for me on the other hand, since I was born, I’ve been a subject of Rome.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘Even I, but large is what-I-paid, then I was considered a Romano also,’ said the commander. ‘But I by-contrast, I have been a Romano since my birth (lit. coming-out),’ said Pablo.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “‘As for me,’ said that highest-ranking-officer, ‘a really big amount is what I gave so that I could have Romanoship.’ ‘But as for me,’ said Pablo, ‘it’s like I am a native Romano, for I inherited my Romanoship from my parents.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 22:28

In some languages it may be necessary to state to whom the amount of money was paid. This can be “to the government,” “to officers of the government,” or “to government authorities.” A large amount of money may simply be “very much money.”

But I is a very strong emphatic construction in Greek. Paul does not state how his father or his earlier ancestors obtained Roman citizenship, and speculation is of no value for the translator. The expression one by birth may be rendered simply as “my parents were Roman citizens before me” or “I am a Roman citizen because my parents were also.”

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 22:28

22:28a

“I paid a high price for my citizenship,”: Someone could not buy Roman citizenship. The commander paid a bribe to someone who put his name on a list of people to become citizens.

In some languages, it is more natural to say who the money was paid to. If that is true in your language, refer generally to a person. For example:

I had to pay ⌊someone⌋ a big price for my citizenship

for my citizenship: The word citizenship means “being a citizen.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:

to become a Roman citizen (God’s Word)
-or-
to be called Roman
-or-
for the privilege to be named a citizen of Rome

22:28b

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied: The Berean Standard Bible placed the phrase Paul replied after the spoken words. Place it where it would be most natural in your language.

But I was born a citizen: Paul became a citizen because his father or both his parents were citizens of Rome.

In the Greek clause, the words But and I are emphasized. It implies that the way Paul became a citizen was superior to the way the commander became a citizen. Some ways to indicate the emphasis are:

But I myself was born a citizen.
-or-
However, as for me, I have been a citizen from birth.

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