complete verse (Acts 25:11)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 25:11:

  • Uma: “If for instance, I had indeed transgressed the law doing something for which I deserved to be put to death, I do not refuse to be killed. But if the accusations of the Yahudi people are not true, there is no-one who can hand me over into their hands. I appeal [lit., request-to-be-taken-up] my case to Kaisar!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “If truly I have transgressed the law or if I have done anything deserving death, I am willing/submit to be killed. But if these accusation of theirs against me are not true, no man can deliver me into their hands/holding. I want to be judged by the Leader King (emperor).'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If I had disobeyed the law by means of doing something which is worthy of my being killed, then I will not avoid my punishment. However, if the things which they accuse me of are not true, there is no one who has power to turn me over to them. Therefore I desire that the one who investigates me be Caesar, our king in Rome.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore if I have a crime that suffices for my-being-killed, I do not plead-for-mercy that I may-escape-it. But if there is indeed nothing true in what they have accused-me -of, neither does anyone have authority to hand-me -over to them in order that they will be-made-happy. I appeal therefore my case to the Emperor.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Supposing it were true that there was evil which I had done, that what was fitting for me was to be killed, I wouldn’t say no to it. But since there’s no truth to any of this which they are coming out with against me, really no-one has the authority/right to hand me over to them. Therefore I now appeal to the Impiradur in Roma.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 25:11

Broken the law may be translated variously, as “violated the law,” “done contrary to the law,” “done what the law says I should not do,” or, idiomatically as in some languages, “twisted the law,” “bent the law,” or “went around the law.”

Done something for which I deserve the death penalty may be rendered as “done something which should cause me to be killed” or “… for which I should be punished by being killed.” The following clause, do not ask to escape it, may accordingly be rendered as “do not ask not to be killed” or “do not ask to escape death.”

A number of languages have no noun such as truth, but it is possible to employ an adjective in an expression such as “if the crimes they accuse me of are not true” or “if what they say that I have done is not true.”

No one can hand me over to them may possibly mean something like “no one can make a gift of me to them,” but the idea of “making a gift of someone” is difficult to carry over into translation (note New English Bible “it is not open to anyone to hand me over as a sop to them”; in verse 16 New English Bible has “hand over” for the same verb).

In many languages one must indicate clearly that an auxiliary verb such as can implies here “the right to,” not simply “the strength or power” to do something—for example, “no one has the right to turn me over to them” or “… to cause me to come before them.”

Very little is known about the details of an appeal to the Emperor, though apparently in Paul’s day it was something that only a Roman citizen could do, and perhaps only then in the case of the threat of capital punishment. In translating I appeal to the Emperor, it may be necessary to say “I ask that the Emperor judge my case” or “I ask that I be sent to the Emperor.”

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 25:11

25:11a

If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death: The Greek clauses are literally “If I do wrong and have done (something) worthy of death.” They refer generally to wrongdoing and breaking laws that require the death penalty as punishment. Other ways to translate these clauses are:

If…I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything for which I deserve to die (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
if I were a criminal and had committed some crime which deserved the death penalty (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

If, however:
This phrase in Greek can be translated literally as “Then if, on one hand.” The Greek conjunctions here and at 25:11c indicate that either situation is possible. The conjunctions say nothing about which situation is more likely. For example:

If then (Revised Standard Version)

If: Paul knew that he had committed no crime. But he used the word If to present two options for Festus to think about.

25:11b

I do not refuse to die: This clause refers to not seeking to avoid the punishment of death. If Festus truly found Paul guilty, Paul would not try to run away or avoid being killed. He would face the punishment and accept it. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I do not seek to escape death (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I do not ask to escape it (Good News Translation)
-or-
I do not ask to be saved from death (New Century Version)
-or-
I do not ask you to prevent people from executing/killing me ⌊as punishment⌋

25:11c

But if: This phrase in Greek can be translated literally as “if, on the other hand.” This introduces the other possible condition/circumstance. 25:11a–b is the first possible condition/circumstance.

if: Paul knew that the charges were not true. But he used the word if to introduce the second option for Festus to think about.

there is no truth to their accusations against me: Other ways to translate this clause are:

the charges which these Jews brought against me are not true
-or-
those charges are not true, namely those charges which the Jews accuse me ⌊of doing⌋
-or-
that which these Jews accuse me about is not true

In some languages it is more natural to avoid the relative clause with the active verb that some English versions, such as the New International Version, use. For example:

there is nothing to their charges against me (English Standard Version)
-or-
their accusations are untrue (God’s Word)
-or-
not one of their charges against me is true (NET Bible)
-or-
I am innocent (New Living Translation (2004))

25:11d

no one has the right to hand me over to them: This clause in Greek is literally “no one can give me to them as a favor.” Festus wanted to do a favor to the Jews, so Paul used that same idea here regarding Festus putting Paul under their control. For example:

then no one can give me to them (New Century Version)
-or-
no one is able to deliver me to them as a favor
-or-
no one can make a present of me to them

But the Berean Standard Bible, many other English versions, and many scholars translate the Greek word as “hand over” here. For example:

no one can hand me over to them as a favor (God’s Word)
-or-
no man may deliver me unto them (King James Version)
-or-
no one has the right to give me over to them

25:11e

I appeal to Caesar!: This clause in Greek is literally “I call to Caesar on my behalf.” Paul probably thought that Festus would be swayed too much by the Jewish leaders, so he asked here that the trial be moved to Rome. In Rome, Caesar or his representative would decide the case against Paul. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I appeal my case to Caesar!
-or-
I now ask to be tried by Caesar himself.
-or-
I want Caesar to hear my case! (New Century Version)

In a Roman court the accused person could appeal before the Roman judge decided.

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