Paul

The term that is transliterated as “Paul” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the many letters he wrote. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


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

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting putting away a sword, referring to his conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a Christian leader. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Paul (and Saul)” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Paul (source: Bible Lands 2012)

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

Following is a Georgian Orthodox icon of Paul the Apostle from the 14th century (located in the Art Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi).

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

The following is a contemporary stained glass window from the Messiah Episcopal Church in St. Paul, Minnesota by Peter Dohmen. Individual glass pieces were made in Germany in accordance with Dohmen’s design, using a technique first developed by Irish monks in the 9th and 10th centuries.

Source for the image and description below: The Stained Glass Windows of Messiah Episcopal Church

“This window is dedicated to St. Paul, the great apostle and missionary, for whom our city is named. At the top of the window is a ship which symbolizes the many missionary journeys of Paul — the Church is our ship, which carries us over the way of life. In the lower section we see Paul on the road to Damascus when he saw a great light and heard our Lord’s voice, which called him to discipleship.”

Stained glass is not just highly decorative, it’s a medium which has been used to express important religious messages for centuries. Literacy was not widespread in the medieval and Renaissance periods and the Church used stained glass and other artworks to teach the central beliefs of Christianity. In Gothic churches, the windows were filled with extensive narrative scenes in stained glass — like huge and colorful picture storybooks — in which worshipers could ‘read’ the stories of Christ and the saints and learn what was required for their religious salvation. (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Paul .

complete verse (Acts 25:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 25:2:

  • Uma: “When he arrived there, the leading priests and the other Yahudi leaders met him and they said to him their accusations that they accused Paulus of.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When (he was) there in Awrusalam the leading priests and the leaders of the Yahudi went to him bringing their accusations against Paul.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then the leaders of the sacrificers and the bosses of the Jews, they told Festus their accusations against Paul.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When he arrived there, the leaders of the priests and the leaders of the Jews went to see-him in order to file-charges-against Pablo to him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When he arrived there, the chiefs of the priests and other leaders of the Jews told of nothing other than that they brought up before him their case against Pablo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 25:2

Brought their charges against translates the same verb which appeared in 23.15. This expression brought their charges against is rendered in some languages as “accused Paul of having violated various laws” or “told Festus, This man Paul has committed various crimes.” A term such as “various” or “some” must be introduced in some languages in order to indicate the indefinite nature of these particular charges.

The sense of the verb used in verse 2 seems to be that of begged (so also Phillips, An American Translation*, Moffatt; Jerusalem Bible “urgently asking”) rather than merely “asked” (New English Bible). The tense of the verb indicates action in progress, that is, “they were begging Festus.” Both in this verse and in the following verse the Good News Translation has made pronominal subjects explicit; here “him” has been rendered as Festus, and in the following verse “him” has been rendered as Paul. In trying to relate the verb begged to the favor which was asked of Festus, it is often useful to place the content of what was requested in the form of direct discourse—for example, “they begged Festus, Please cause Paul to come here to Jerusalem.” The use of a term such as “please” not only suggests the concept of favor but also reinforces the meaning of begged. In some languages a term such as favor is translated as “to do good for them,” “to do them a kindness,” or “to be helpful to them.”

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 25:2

25:2a

where: The Greek word is literally “and.” It introduces the meeting of Festus and the Jewish leaders. For example:

And (Revised Standard Version)

But many English versions do not translate this Greek conjunction and allow the context to indicate the connection.

the chief priests: This phrase refers to the priests who were leaders of other priests and religious leaders of Israel. See how you translated this phrase in 4:23 or 22:30.

Jewish leaders: This phrase in Greek is literally “the first ones of the Jews.” The word “first” refers to the people who were most important among the Jews, namely the leaders and other men who had status and power. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the principal men of the Jews (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the most prominent men of the Jews (NET Bible)
-or-
the other important Jewish leaders (God’s Word)

presented their case against Paul: The Greek words are literally “explained to him against Paul.” For example:

informed him of the case against Paul (New Jerusalem Bible)

The Jewish leaders told Festus about the accusations they had against Paul. They were probably the same accusations that they told Felix (24:5–6). Paul was not there, because he was in Caesarea. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

laid out their case against Paul (English Standard Version)
-or-
told him about their charges against Paul
-or-
told him what they accused Paul about

25:2b

They urged Festus: This clause appears at the end of 25:2 in the UBS4 Greek. Since it is the main verb for 25:3, some English versions put this clause in 25:3a. If possible, put this clause in 25:2b as the Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions have done. For example:

2b…they urged him, 3asking as a favor… (Revised Standard Version)

But if the common language version puts this clause in 25:3a, you can follow that.

They urged: The Jewish leaders probably wanted Festus to agree with them before he left Jerusalem, so he could send for Paul immediately. Festus was the leader whom Caesar had placed as leader to rule the Jews. Paul was under Festus’ control, so they had to try to convince him to agree. They could not demand anything from him. Translate in a way that shows that the Jewish leaders respected Festus properly.

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