Day of Atonement

The Hebrew and the Greek that is typically translated as “Day of Atonement” in English is translated in Hiligaynon as Day of Redeeming the People from Their Sins” (source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) and in the German Jewish translation by Buber and Rosenzweig it is translated literally as as “day of coverings” (Tag der Bedeckungen).

Paul

The term that is transliterated as “Paul” in English means “little.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In American Sign Language it is translated 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

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that is based on contemporary depictions and refers to the presumed baldness of the top of his head. The description originates from the 2nd-century apocryphal text titled Acts of Paul and Thecla , which represents the earliest and most detailed physical characterization of the apostle in Christian tradition (see also the icon below). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)


“Paul” in Hungarian Sign Language — note that only the first part refers to “Paul,” the second part refers to “apostle” (source )

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 )

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

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Paul .

complete verse (Acts 27:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 27:9:

  • Uma: “Because already much time was past, it was past the big day of the fasting-time of the Yahudi people, and the cold time had almost arrived. Usually at that time all ships must stop, because the blowing of the wins is dangerous/frightening, and the ships no longer travel well. That’s why Paulus warned them not to continue-on, he said:” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Because we (excl.) had been already quite-a-long-time on the way, it was already dangerous if we (excl.) would still continue/proceed, because it was season for strong winds (habagat) already. Paul instructed/warned the people, he said,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And since we had been traveling for a long time, the bad time for travel had arrived because it was rainy season and it was already dangerous for ships to travel. Therefore Paul advised them, he said,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Since we (excl.) had been delayed a-long-time on-account-of the wind, it was dangerous to ride in a ship, because it was typhoon-season. So Pablo advised them saying,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because the delaying of our voyage was already big, we reached the time when it is dangerous to sail. Proof was, the day of the most important fast had passed already. Therefore Pablo tried-to-arrange-with them. He said,” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

    • Lalana Chinantec: “We got very late. The day passed by when the Israel people are accustomed to making a fast. Therefore it was evident that it had completed the season when people stop walking on the boat trail. The season had arrived when it is very dangerous, therefore Paul spoke, he said to the people what he thought.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

Translation commentary on Acts 27:9

A long time is a vague expression of time, as is several days in verse 7. In both instances Luke uses one of his favorite expressions (literally “sufficient days” and “sufficient time”). This reference to time is better rendered as “many days” rather than being a reference to weeks. “Many weeks” would certainly have involved a couple of months or so, and by that time no one would have set out on a journey to Rome by ship.

It became dangerous to continue the voyage because the end of the sailing season was approaching. According to one ancient source, not much sailing was done after the middle of September, and it stopped entirely after November 11.

The exact date on which the day of Atonement (literally “the fast”) was celebrated differed from year to year, though it would it would have been either in September or October. Some commentators believe that this was the year A.D. 59, and that the fast came in this year on October 5. In any case, all the men considered that it was dangerous to continue the voyage to Sicily at this time. It is important in translating the final clause of this verse not to suggest that there was some religious factor involved in the danger of continuing the voyage. It was purely a matter of the season of the year. Therefore, in some languages one must translate: “because it was so late in the year, the day of Atonement was already passed.”

It may be very useful at this point to have some brief marginal note explaining the significance of the day of Atonement. However, even in translation some meaningful equivalent should be employed—for example, “the day on which atonement was made for sins,” “the day when there was a special ceremony for the atoning for sins,” or “the day which celebrated the forgiveness of sins.”

So Paul gave them this advice may be rendered as “so Paul advised them with the following words” or “so Paul warned them,” since the advice given is essentially in the form of a warning.

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 27:9

Paragraph 27:9–12

27:9a

By now much time had passed: There are two ways interpret this clause:

(1) It refers to the whole voyage so far. The trip so far had taken many more days than they had hoped. For example:

A great deal of time had been lost (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, English Standard Version)

(2) It refer to much time spent at Fair Havens. For example:

We spent a long time there (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the rest of 27:9 refers generally to the voyage.

They had moved very slowly toward Italy, so it was probably a month or two after they started in Caesarea instead of a week or two with good winds. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Since much time had passed, (English Standard Version)
-or-
We had lost a lot of time. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
It took many days ⌊to arrive there⌋.

27:9b

the voyage had already become dangerous: In this part of the world, sailing during this time of the year (October or November) was dangerous because often a storm would come and make strong winds and big waves that could destroy ships. Other ways to translate this clause are:

The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
sailing was no longer safe (Contemporary English Version)

27:9c

it was after the Fast: This clause in Greek is literally “even/also the Fast had already passed.” This clause indicates that the Fast had occurred earlier. This fact is added to 27:9a, which emphasizes that much time had gone by. Other ways to translate this clause are:

even the Fast was already over (English Standard Version)
-or-
even the Great Day of Forgiveness was past (Contemporary English Version)

the Fast: This refers to the Jewish Day of Atonement (reconciling with God). They call it Yom Kippur. It was a day of fasting, prayer, and worship. It was and is one of the most important holy days for the Jews. It occurs in late September or early October. In many languages people will not be familiar with what the Fast refers to. If so, you may want to:

• Explain it in your translation. For example:

the ⌊Jewish⌋ ⌊Holy⌋ ⌊Day of⌋ Fasting

• Describe the purpose of the Fast. For example:

the Day of Atonement (Good News Translation)
-or-
the Great Day of Forgiveness (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the Day of Cleansing (New Century Version)

You may then want to explain the literal words. For example:

Literally “the Fast.” This refers to the Jewish holy Day of Reconciling with God.

• Translate literally and explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

This refers to the Jewish holy Day of Reconciling with God. They call it Yom Kippur. It was a day of fasting, prayer, and worship. It was and is one of the most important holy days for the Jews.

27:9d

So: The Berean Standard Bible and many English versions add the conjunction So. It is the implied connection in the Greek.

Paul advised them: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as advised refers to recommending or urging something. For example:

Paul warned them: (New International Version)

them: This verse does not say what group of people this refers to. The group could be:

(1) all the people on the ship,

(2) all the sailors and the pilot and the owner of the ship,

(3) all the leaders: the pilot, the ship owner, the centurion, possibly others not named.

If possible, do not say which group. But in some languages the group must be mentioned. It is probably the same group of which the majority voted to sail (27:12b). If so, follow interpretation (1). For example:

the people

The centurion heard this advice (27:11) either directly from Paul or indirectly through others.

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