complete verse (Acts 25:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 25:16:

  • Uma: “I answered them: according to Roma law, a person who is accused cannot be handed over to his enemies just like that, if he has not-yet been made to meet with his enemies and not-yet been given a chance to say his defense.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But I answered them that it was not the custom of us (excl.) Romans to sentence any person unless he is first brought face to face with his accusers, in order that he can answer the accusations against him.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And I said to them that as for us Romans, we do not turn an accused person over to anyone if he has not yet been able to come before his accusers and present his arguments to them.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I answered therefore that it wasn’t our (excl.) custom as Romano to hand-over a charged person to others to be punished if/when he had not yet been tried. It was necessary that he have opportunity first to face those who were accusing him so that he would have a way to answer them.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “However, I replied to them that that isn’t what the Romano do, simply sentencing anyone when he and the ones accusing him haven’t been in each other’s presence.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 25:16

In a number of languages it is difficult to translate the relationship of the various events mentioned in this verse, if they are kept in their present order and employ a conjunction such as before. However, with some shift of order it is possible to translate quite accurately and idiomatically—for example, “but I told them that it was the practice of the Romans first to have an accused man meet face to face those who accuse him and so have a chance of defending himself against what he has been accused of. I told him it was not the practice of Romans to hand over a man accused of a crime unless this had been done.” By breaking up this verse into two different sentences, one can often reproduce the meaning far more satisfactorily.

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 25:16

25:16a

it is not the Roman custom: The word custom here refers to the way that the Romans did things in their legal system. The proper Roman procedure for someone accused of a crime was to have a chance to face their accuser and defend themselves. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Romans are not in the habit of (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
It is not the manner of the Romans (King James Version)
-or-
That’s not the Roman way of doing things. (God’s Word)
-or-
it was not Roman practice (Revised English Bible)

25:16b

hand a man over: This phrase in Greek is literally “give any man (to someone) as a favor.” The Greek verb used here is the same as in 25:11. See how you translated the verb (“to hand me over”) there.

a man: Here the word man refers generally to people. For example:

anyone (English Standard Version)

25:16c

before: This word introduces what must happen first. Paul was in Roman custody/hands, so Festus did not want to give Paul over to his enemies before a Roman trial. For example:

until (New Jerusalem Bible)

he has had an opportunity to face his accusers: The word face refers to being in the same room so that one person can see his accusers. He can hear what they say to the judge about him. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the accused confronts his accusers (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
they have met their accusers face-to-face (Good News Translation)

has had an opportunity to: In a Roman trial, the judge always allowed the accused person to defend himself. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

have had the chance of (Good News Translation)
-or-
the judge allows him to

25:16d

and defend himself against their charges: This phrase implies that the person hears his accusers tell the judge what they accuse him of. He also hears what they say to explain why they think he is guilty. He can then defend himself. In some languages, a literal translation would not imply the person hears all that. If so, include the implied information in the phrase. For example:

⌊and has heard all they tell the judge and⌋ and has had an opportunity to defend himself against their charges

defend himself against their charges: The phrase defend himself refers to responding to the charges/accusations and explaining that he had not done as charged/accused. Other ways to translate the whole phrase are:

make a defense against the charge (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
speak in defense concerning the things they accused him of ⌊doing⌋

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