The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “soldier” in English didn’t have a direct equivalent in Enlhet so it was translated with “those that bind us” (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1969, p. 24ff. ) and in Noongar it is mammarapa-bakadjiny or “men of fighting” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).
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).
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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 .
inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Acts 28:14-16)
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 (only including Refers to Luke, Paul, and Aristarchus).
Source: SIL International Translation Department (1999).
complete verse (Acts 28:16)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 28:16:
- Uma: “When we arrived in Roma, Paulus was no longer jailed. He was given opportunity to dwell wherever he wished. But there was a soldier that guarded him.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “When we (excl.) arrived at Roma, Paul was allowed to have his own house. There was just one soldier guarding him.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Then we finally arrived in the town of Rome. And when we were there in Rome Paul was not put in prison, but rather he was allowed to live wherever he wanted, however, there was a soldier who watched him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “When we (excl.) arrived then in Roma, the rulers gave-permission that Pablo rent a house with only-one soldier to guard him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “When we arrived in Roma Pablo was permitted to have his own house to live in. He was only caused to be guarded by a soldier.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Translation commentary on Acts 28:16
This is the conclusion of the so-called “we” sections in the book of Acts, in which the author identifies himself as participating in the narrative.
Paul was not placed in prison, but he was allowed to live by himself with a soldier guarding him. From the context it is obvious that this permission was granted him by the Roman government. The passive expression was allowed may be rendered as “the Roman authorities permitted Paul to live by himself” or “… in a separate house.” The final phrase with a soldier guarding him may be translated as “only there was a soldier who guarded him” or, as in some languages, “only there was a soldier that kept watching in order that he would not escape.” It is important, in this particular context, to indicate that the soldier was to prevent Paul’s escape rather than to guard Paul from the attacks of other persons.
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 28:16
28:16a
When we arrived in Rome:
This clause in Greek is literally “when we entered into Rome.” The Greek clause here indicates that Paul, Luke, and the others entered the city at this time.
Paul was permitted: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. Either a civil official (a Roman “prefect”) or military official (the chief administrative officer over all the soldiers in Rome) permitted Paul to live by himself. For example:
⌊a Roman official⌋ allowed Paul
-or-
⌊the proper officer/authority⌋ allowed Paul
to stay by himself: This phrase indicates that Paul could live in a house or apartment. He was not put in prison to live with other prisoners. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
to have his own private lodging (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
to live in a house (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
to stay by himself ⌊rather than in prison⌋
28:16b indicates that Paul did not live alone, because a soldier always guarded him. Translate in a way that does not contradict 28:16b.
28:16b
with a soldier to guard him: The Roman official also required some soldiers to guard Paul. The soldiers guarded him one at a time, probably for four hours at a time. In some languages indicating who required the soldier to guard Paul will make the meaning more clear. For example:
⌊but⌋ ⌊the official⌋ ordered a soldier to guard him
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