Cilicia

The name that is transliterated as “Cilicia” in English means “hair cloth,” or “the land of Celix.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that depicts a natural wall just behind the seashore, which existed in that area. (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Cilicia” in Libras (source )

For more on Cilicia, see here .

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

complete verse (Acts 23:34)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 23:34:

  • Uma: “After the Governor read the letter, he asked Paulus: ‘Where is the village of your (sing.) birth?’ Paulus answered: ‘In the land of Kilikia.’ When the Governor knew that,” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The governor read the letter and he asked Paul from what land/place he was. When the governor knew that he was from Kilikiya,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And he read the letter, and he asked Paul which province he was a subject of. And when Paul answered that he was a subject of the province of Cilicia,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The governor read the letter, then he inquired of Pablo what province he was from. When Pablo said that he was from-Cilicia,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When the governor had read that letter, he asked Pablo which place he was from. When he knew that he was a taga Cilicia, which was indeed under the jurisdiction of that governor,” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 23:34

The Governor read the letter translates a participle which has neither an explicit subject nor a given object (literally “having read”). Phillips has translated in a way very similar to the Good News Translation: “when the Governor had read the letter.”

In a number of languages a verb of “asking” must introduce direct discourse: “he asked Paul, What country do you come from?” or “… What province are you from?”

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 23:34

23:34a

The governor read the letter: At that time, the custom was to read aloud.

asked what province Paul was from:
Some languages prefer direct speech here. For example:

asked, “What province are you from?”

province: Here this word refers to a large area of land that the Romans conquered or ruled, that is not in Italy. It may refer to land that used to be ruled by another country, an independent country or to a group of countries. The Roman rulers put another Roman as the ruler over that province. Consider how to translate this word here.

23:34b

Learning that he was from Cilicia: This clause implies that Paul told him that he was from Cilicia.

Some language prefer direct speech here. For example:

Paul answered, “I am from Cilicia.”

Cilicia: See how you spelled this name in 6:9 or 22:3.

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