wonder

The Greek that is often translated as “wonder” into English is different from the term that is translated as “miracle” (see miracle) since it “usually involves some unusual phenomena in nature which are a portent of dire woe or extraordinary blessing.” In Huichol these are “awe-inspiring things,” in Yucateco they are “things which show what is coming,” and in Eastern Highland Otomi the expression must be cast into the form of a verb phrase “they will amaze the people.”

soul

The Hebrew, Greek, Ge’ez, and Latin that is translated as “soul” in English is translated in Chol with a term that refers to the invisible aspects of human beings (source: Robert Bascom), in Yagaria with oune or “shadow, reflection” (source: Renck, p. 81), and in Elhomwe as “heart” (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext).

The Mandarin Chinese línghún (靈魂 / 灵魂), literally “spirit-soul,” is often used for “soul” (along with xīn [心] or “heart”). This is a term that was adopted from Buddhist sources into early Catholic writings and later also by Protestant translators. (Source: Zetzsche 1996, p. 32, see also Clara Ho-yan Chan in this article )

In Chichewa, moyo means both “soul” and “life.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

See also heart, soul, mind.

sign

The Greek that is typically translated in English as “sign” is translated in Huehuetla Tepehua as “thing to be marveled at” (source: Larson 1889, p. 279) and in Mairasi as “big work” (source: Enggavoter 2004).

apostle, apostles

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The Greek term that is usually translated as “apostle(s)” in English is (back-) translated in the following ways:

Scot McKnight (in The Second Testament, publ. 2023) translates it into English as commissioner.

In American Sign Language it is translated with a combination of the signs for “following” plus the sign for “authority” to differentiate it from disciple. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“apostles” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

complete verse (Acts 2:43)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 2:43:

  • Uma: “Many powerful things and amazing signs were done/made by the apostles of Lord Yesus. That’s why the crowds were very much afraid.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Many works of power and works causing-wonder were done by the persons/men commissioned by Isa, that’s why the people really feared God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There were many miracles and signs which were done by means of the apostles. That’s why the people were filled with the fear of God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There were many amazing miracles that God was having-the apostles -do, and the many-people were greatly amazed.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Many were the signs which were amazing things which the apostles were being able to do, that’s why everybody respected/honored God with fear.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 2:43

Miracles and wonders is the same expression which was discussed in 2.19. The force of the Greek verb is such as to indicate that the apostles were continuously causing miracles and wonders and that the people were constantly filled with awe.

One should note that the apostles are not spoken of as the primary agents of the miracles, but only as the secondary ones. God himself is the initiator, and he works through the apostles. In some instances this type of secondary agency can be expressed as “many miracles and wonders happened because of (or, through) the apostles,” but obviously not in the sense of “for their sake.” However, one can also translate as “the apostles did many miracles and wonders,” especially in those receptor languages which have no convenient devices for indicating secondary agency.

And this caused everyone to be filled with awe, the second clause in the English sentence structure, is the first clause in the Greek sentence, which has been inverted by the Good News Translation. This inversion of the order of the Greek text is made so as to follow the temporal sequence (first the miracles and then the awe), and in order to employ a cause-and-effect sequence (the events and the reactions to them). The phrase to be filled with awe is equivalent in some languages to “had great respect for” or “were deeply impressed by”; idiomatically, “their heads were bowed” or “they saw them (that is, the miracle) with open mouths.”

Everyone (literally “every soul”) may refer either to the believers (as the Good News Translation understands it) or to the nonbelievers. If everyone is taken to refer to the believers, then awe perhaps describes best their response; if everyone refers to nonbelievers, then the best description of their reaction may be that of “fear.”

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 2:43

Section 2:43–47

The apostles did miracles, and all the believers shared what they owned

In this section, everyone in Jerusalem was in awe because of the miracles that the apostles were doing. The believers were together, sharing everything they owned with each other. The Lord continually caused more people to believe in Jesus as the Christ.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Life among the Believers (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
The Believers Share (New Century Version)
-or-
The followers of Jesus are united

Paragraph 2:43–47

2:43a

A sense of awe came over everyone: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as A sense of awe came over everyone is literally “And every soul became/was afraid.” Here, the word awe probably refers to everyone in Jerusalem being amazed and perhaps a bit fearful at the miracles and deeds of the believers. In 2:4–12 they are amazed and perplexed. They probably also honored God because of the miracles. The Greek tense indicates that this occurred for some time. Here are some other ways to translate this Greek phrase:

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Everyone continued being awed/amazed

everyone: The Greek is literally “every soul.” It probably refers to everyone in Jerusalem. It is recommended that you translate literally and do not describe who everyone refers to, because it is possible that it refers only to believers or only to non-believers. But some languages must explain. For example:

everyone ⌊in Jerusalem⌋

2:43b

and: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and can indicate a relationship between two clauses. It is possible that the people of Jerusalem were awed because they saw the wonders and miracles mentioned here. For example:

Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. (New Revised Standard Version)

But the Berean Standard Bible and many English versions translate the Greek word as and.

the apostles performed many wonders and signs: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the apostles performed many wonders and signs is literally “many wonders and signs by/through the apostles were/happened.” The Greek word “by/through” indicates that God told the apostles to do the wonders and miracles and empowered them to do them. The apostles did them but God was responsible for the wonders and miracles occurring.

Although the Berean Standard Bible translates this Greek clause with an active English sentence, in Greek, the clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause, as the Berean Standard Bible models. Another way to translate this clause is:

⌊God⌋ did many wonders and miraculous signs through the apostles

apostles: See how you translated this word in 2:37b.

performed: The Greek tense indicates that the miracles were done over a period of time. They were not done all at one time.

wonders: This word refers to an amazing action or event that indicates something. Unusual things will happen that would cause people to be amazed. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

amazing occurrences/events
-or-
portents

See how you translated this word in 2:19a.

signs: Here this phrase refers to the kinds of miracles which are regarded as having some special meaning. In Matthew 12:38 the Pharisees wanted Jesus to do a special miracle to make it plain that God had sent him. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

miracles ⌊with special meaning⌋
-or-
supernatural occurrences/events ⌊with special meaning⌋

See how you translated this word in 2:19a.

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