complete verse (Acts 25:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 25:17:

  • Uma: “After that, several Yahudi leaders came with me from Yerusalem. When we (excl.) arrived here, I did not wait long. The next day I immediately ordered people to carry Paulus here, and I judged [sat-on] his case.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore when they were all gathered here, I did not delay anymore. But the next day I sat in the judgment room and commanded that Paul be brought inside.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when they came here to Caesarea, I wasted no time because the next day I sat there in the court and I commanded that he be brought before me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When they arrived here then, I didn’t delay his case but rather I began-it on the next morning. I had-the prisoner -called,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore when I returned here they accompanied me. I didn’t delay it, but on the contrary, the next day I sat down on the seat of the judge and then had Pablo fetched.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 25:17

I lost no time (see Jerusalem Bible “I wasted no time”) must be understood in the sense of “I acted as quickly as I could.” In the Greek sentence the only finite verb is ordered, with all of the other verbal forms either participles or infinitives depending upon this main verb.

As in other contexts, an expression such as I sat in the judgment court may be rendered as “I took my place as judge.” Similarly, the final clause following the verb ordered may be put into the form of direct discourse: “ordered the soldiers, Bring the man in.”

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 .