complete verse (Acts 26:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 26:12:

  • Uma: “‘O King that I respect, with that intention I went to the town of Damsyik, commissioned [lit., sent-as-feet] and given authority from the leading priests. On my trip to Damsyik, while I was still on the road, at approximately noon, suddenly I saw a light shining from the sky, shining on me and on my companions. That light was brighter than the shining of the sun.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘That was the reason/purpose,’ Paul said, ‘why I went to Damaskus after I had been given authority and instructions by the leading priests.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “That’s the reason I went to the town of Damascus carrying a letter which was a sign of authority which the chief sacrificers gave me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘That was the reason-for-my-going to Damascus carrying a letter(s) from the leaders of the priests which gave my authority to go arrest even anyone who believed in Jesus.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “‘Well, that indeed was my purpose, once when I was going to Damasco, taking authorization written by the chiefs of the priests.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 26:12

On this verse compare 9.2 and 22.5. It was for this purpose may be understood in the sense the Good News Translation has taken the word (see Moffatt “on this business”), or in a temporal sense (see An American Translation* “once” and New English Bible “on one such occasion”), or in the sense of “under these circumstances.” Note, however, that the phrase for this purpose is important in relating the following paragraph to what has just preceded, namely, Paul’s intent to persecute the churches.

In Greek the word orders is singular and is rendered “commission” by many translators. The reference would be to a document indicating the authority given him by the High Priest. In some languages it is not possible to say I went to Damascus with the authority and orders. Since such authority and orders would be given in written form, one can only go with this type of document—for example, “I went to Damascus with a document which stated I had authority and orders from the chief priests.”

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 26:12

Paragraph 26:12–14

26:12a

In this pursuit: This phrase in Greek is literally “in which.” It refers to Paul going to various foreign cities to persecute Christians (26:11c). Other ways to translate this Greek phrase are:

On such an expedition (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
It was for this purpose that (Good News Translation)

I was on my way to Damascus: This clause refers to traveling to Damascus but not yet arriving there. For example:

I was going to Damascus (New International Version)

Damascus: This name refers to an important city in the province of Syria. At that time it was not a large city.

All the people whom Paul spoke to here probably knew about Damascus, because it was an important city in that area. So Paul would not explain that Damascus was a city to the king and the others. In some languages, people will not be familiar with Damascus. If so, you may want to explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Damascus was an important city in the province of Syria when the Romans ruled Syria. Today it is the capital of the country of Syria.

26:12b

with the authority and commission of the chief priests: The chief priests authorized and commissioned Paul to arrest and punish Christians in foreign cities. For example:

with full powers and a commission from the chief priests (New Jerusalem Bible)

the authority and commission: The word commission refers to complete power to do something. It is similar in meaning to authority. The two words together emphasize that the chief priests fully authorized Paul to do whatever he needed to persecute Christians. For example:

the power and authority (God’s Word)
-or-
with authority and complete power (NET Bible)

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