more than forty

The Greek that is translated as “more than forty” in English is translated as “about 45” in Isthmus Mixe. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 23:13)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 23:13:

  • Uma: “The amount of those who vowed, [was] more than forty.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “They were more than forty who conferred/planned.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And these Jews were more than forty people that agreed to kill Paul.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When it was the next-day, there were more-than forty Jews who agreed-together to kill Pablo. They all vowed that they would not eat and drink until they had killed him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The number of those who vowed that was more then forty persons.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 23:13

Note the number forty which reinforces the requirement in some languages to employ the expression “some Jews” in verse 12.

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 23:13

23:13

More than forty of them: Some languages do not have number words or phrases as high as forty. If that is true in your language, you may want to use numerals. For example:

More than 40 of them

plot: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as plot means “a plan to secretly act against someone.” It is similar to the word translated as “conspiracy” in 23:12. Here the focus is more on the plan than the meeting.

General Comment on 23:12a–13

23:13 tells us how many Jews planned this evil deed, but 23:12 refers generally to the Jews. You may want to combine the information in both verses for a more natural reading. For example:

12–13The next morning more than forty Jewish men conspired together and promised that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul. They made an oath to fulfill that promise.

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