Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)
The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).
For this verse, translators typically select the exclusive form (excluding the addressee).
Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 27:16:
- Uma: “Not long from there, we were sheltered somewhat from the wind in our passing to the south side of a island called Kauda. At that time, we pulled up the little boat that is usually pulled behind the ship (that is called sekoci). That work was very hard.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Eventually we (excl.) were able-to-take-shelter on-the-other-side of Kauda island, a small island. And there, even though we (excl.) had difficulty, we (excl.) were able to fasten-tightly the lifeboat that had been towed.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when we came near to the island of Cauda, we were somewhat sheltered from the wind, and there, with much difficulty, we were able to get a hold of the boat which the ship was pulling.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “When we (excl.) went-close-by the small town of (lit. at) Cauda, we (excl.) put-on-board the small-boat that the ship was-pulling, because we (excl.) were sheltered a little-bit, but we (excl.) had-a-hard-time anyway.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “When we got to the other side of the little-island called Clauda, it was a little bit sheltered. Therefore we persevered at pulling up the tender which was being towed behind.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)