with great pomp

In Gbaya, the notion of coming with great pomp in Acts 25:23 is emphasized with the ideophone suɗuɗu that refers to a parade, the movement of a crowd.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

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 25:23)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 25:23:

  • Uma: “The next day, Agripa and Bernike indeed came, and they were met with many kinds of respect. They entered into the meeting house with the warchiefs of the soldiers and the city elders. Festus commanded for Paulus to be brought to their meeting.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The next day, Agarippa and Bernike arrived there. They were dressed in their most-expensive clothes so that they would be honored by the people. They entered the judgment room together with the captains and the important people in that place. Then Pestus commanded Paul to be brought in.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the next day King Agrippa and Bernice arrived dressed in their king and queen’s clothing, and they went into the court. The captain of the soldiers went in also and also the respected people there in their village. And then Festus commanded that Paul be brought in. And when Paul was already there,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore the next-day, King Agrippa and Bernice went to the place-of-trial showing-off their highness/importance. The commanders of the solders and the rich-people of the town went-along also. When they had all entered, Governor Festus had-Pablo -called.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore, next day king Agripa and Bernice went to the legal-hearing-place. There clothing was really ornate and the salute sounded for them was far-from-ordinary. The highest-ranking-officers of the soldiers and all the important people in Cesarea also assembled there. When all were assembled, Festo then had Pablo fetched.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 25:23

In Greek this verse is one sentence, but it has been broken into two by the Good News Translation. With great pomp and ceremony depicts the great fanfare with which oriental kings would have entered a public gathering. The phrase with great pomp and ceremony may be translated in some languages as “and were honored very much with ceremonies” or “and people honored them very much by what they did.”

The audience hall was used not only for times such as this, but could also be used as a place for public trial. In some languages, the audience hall would be “a large hall” or “a large building for people to assemble in.”

Military chiefs translates a word which may be rendered as “men in charge of a thousand soldiers,” while leading men may be taken in the sense of “the most prominent men.”

Festus gave the order is literally a participial clause: “Festus having given the order.” It may, however, be necessary to stipulate “and soldiers brought Paul 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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 25:23

Section 25:23–26:32

Paul defended himself before King Agrippa

In this section, Festus told Agrippa that he wanted advice about what to write to Caesar regarding Paul. Paul told his story about becoming a Christian to Agrippa. He also defended his actions and explained why the Jews were upset with him. Then he urged Agrippa and the other people there to believe in Jesus as the Christ.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Paul explained his ⌊faith and⌋ actions to King Agrippa
-or-
Paul ⌊came and⌋ stood before Agrippa and told his story
-or-
Paul Brought before Agrippa (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Paul Before Agrippa (New International Version)

Paragraph 25:23–27

25:23a

The Greek conjunction often translated as “therefore” introduces this verse. It introduces the result of Festus promising King Agrippa to have Paul speak before him.

Agrippa and Bernice came: They came from where they stayed in the palace to the audience room in the palace.

Bernice: See how you spelled this name in 25:13.

with great pomp: This phrase refers to people doing things as the king arrived to show the importance of the king and to honor him. The king also wore expensive clothing, jewelry and such things to show that he was important. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

with a lot of fanfare (God’s Word)
-or-
with much splendor and ceremony
-or-
with a great celebration of the king’s coming
-or-
made a big celebration/ceremony of his position as king

25:23b

the auditorium: This phrase refers to a large room where many people could gather and listen to someone or have a meeting. It was probably not the same room as the courtroom, or if it was, it was not used as a courtroom at this time. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the audience room (New International Version)
-or-
the meeting room (Contemporary English Version)

25:23c

along with the commanders and leading men of the city: The words along with here indicate that the commanders and leading men of the city were less important to the story than King Agrippa and Bernice. So Luke used along with rather than “and.” Indicate this in your translation. For example:

accompanied by high-ranking officers and prominent citizens (Revised English Bible)

the commanders: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as commanders refers to the five officers in Caesarea who each commanded a large group of soldiers. Each group numbered between five hundred to one thousand soldiers. These officers were two ranks below general and one rank above centurion. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the military tribunes (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the high ranking officers (New International Version)
-or-
senior military officers (NET Bible)

leading men of the city: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as leading is literally “prominent.” This refers to the important men of Caesarea. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the city leaders
-or-
the important men of Caesarea (New Century Version)

leading men: Here the word men probably refers to only men. In this society, usually only the men were leaders.

25:23d

Paul be brought in: This clause is passive. Festus may have commanded one of his servants, an official of the court, the head jailer, or a soldier to bring Paul. Who exactly Festus ordered is not important to the story. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊someone⌋ ⌊went and⌋ brought Paul
-or-

⌊a soldier⌋ brought Paul into the room
-or-

⌊a servant⌋ fetched Paul

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