30When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 23:30:
Uma: “After that, I heard that the Yahudi people had an evil intention towards him. That is why I am-having-him-sent to Father Governor. And I said to his enemies here that they have to go to Governor if they want to accuse him. End here.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “So-then it was told to me that the Yahudi had a plan/agreement that they would kill this man. That’s why I immediately commanded that he be brought to you. I also told those who are accusing him that it should be there to you where they should state their accusation against him. Until here only. Wassalam.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when I found that the Jews were going to ambush him, I decided to send him there to you, and I told those who are accusing him that they should come before you.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “When then someone reported-bad-news to me that the Jews had agreed-together to kill him, I didn’t delay to send-him to you (sing.). I also instructed his accusers to go present-charges-against-(him) to you (sing.). That is all.’ That’s what he wrote.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Today, since someone informed me that the Jews had agreed together to kill this person, that’s why I now had him delivered there to you. I have said to the ones here who have a case against him that before you is where they should bring it up. That’s all.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Spanish uses a formal vs. informal second-person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Spanish Bibles all use only the informal second-person pronoun (tú), with the exception of Dios Habla Hoy (third edition: 1996) which also uses the formal pronoun (usted). In the referenced verses, the formal form is used.
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.
The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “send” or similar in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-okuri (お送り), combining the verb “send” (okuri) with the respectful prefix o-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
The Good News Translation has inverted the Greek sentence order of verse 29 to make it easier for the English reader. The Greek sentence construction of verse 30 is quite difficult, though the meaning is clear.
For which he deserved to die or be put in prison may be translated as “which would cause him to be killed or be put in prison” or “which would justify us in killing him or putting him in prison.”
The accusation against him may be rendered as “they accused him.”
Here the Good News Translation has made the pronominal reference “them” explicit by rendering some Jews, and has translated “the man” by him. The last sentence of verse 30 may be rendered as “I told those who accused Paul, You can go to see Governor Felix and there make your accusations against Paul.”
At the end of verse 30 some manuscripts add, as a closing salutation to the letter, an expression which may be rendered as “best wishes” or “farewell.” If this closing greeting had been a part of the original text, it is difficult to see why it was dropped. It may, however, have been added through the influence of 15.29.
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 .
I was informed that there was a plot: This clause in Greek is literally “a plot was revealed to me.” This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
⌊someone⌋ revealed a plot to me
Some languages must use direct speech here. For example:
⌊someone⌋ told me, “There is a plot to kill this man.” -or-
⌊someone⌋ told me, “Some people/Jews have plotted to kill this man.”
plot: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as plot means “a plan to secretly act.”
23:30b
I sent: The Greek word uses the past tense here because when Felix read the letter, the commander had already sent Paul. The commander wrote what would be easiest for Felix to understand. But when the commander wrote this letter, he had not yet sent Paul. Consider how to translate naturally here. For example:
I have sent (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English) -or-
I decided to send (Good News Translation) -or-
I am sending (Revised English Bible)
23:30c
I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you:
The commander’s order is in indirect speech. In some languages it must be direct speech. For example:
I also ordered/told his accusers, “Present your case against him to Felix.”
instructed: Here this word means “commanded.” The commander had the authority to tell the Jewish leaders that they must go to Felix and present their case against Paul there.
accusers: This word refers to people who accuse someone of doing something wrong.
to present their case against him before you: The Greek words are literally “to tell these (things) against him to you.” It indicates that the Jewish leaders must accuse Paul before Felix. For example:
to tell you what they have against him (New Century Version)
General Comment on 23:30c
This is the end of the letter. However you began to indicate in 23:26 that this was a letter, it should end at the end of 23:30c. Some ways to do that are:
I have said to the ones here who have a case against him that before you is where they should bring it up. That’s all.” -or-
I also instructed his accusers to go present-charges-against-(him) to you. That is all.” That’s what he wrote.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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