inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Acts 28:21-22)

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 the Jewish leaders in Rome).

Source: SIL International Translation Department (1999).

complete verse (Acts 28:22)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 28:22:

  • Uma: “However, we do want to hear your (sing.) teaching speaking about the Redeemer King. Because we have heard people all over rejecting that teaching of yours(s).'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But we (excl.) want to hear what you believe in, because we (excl.) know that everywhere this teaching that you follow is being opposed by the people.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “We would like to listen to your teaching so that we might investigate it, because we know that those who believe in the doctrine that you teach, people everywhere are against them.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But we (excl.) do know however that people in the various-towns/countries speak-evil-of your (sing.) companions who are following Jesus, so we (excl.) would still want to hear what is in your (sing.) thoughts.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “However, since you are here now, we want to hear what you can tell concerning this believing of yours. For all we know is that, no matter which land, the ones who believe-in/obey that teaching are really being opposed.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Honorary "rare" construct denoting God ("thinking")

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme rare (られ) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, kangaeteo-rare-ru (考えておられる) or “thinking” is used.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Acts 28:22

Your ideas may be rendered “what you think.”

The word rendered party appears in 24.5 and is the normal word used to refer to a recognized group within Judaism. The Good News Translation has made Paul’s relationship to this party explicit by the words that you belong to. In some languages one cannot speak of “belonging to a party.” One may, however, say “to be one with the party,” “to be a member of this group,” or “to be counted together with those who form this party.”

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 28:22

28:22a

we consider your views worth hearing: The Jewish leaders in Rome wanted to hear what Paul thought about Christian beliefs, which they call “a sect” (28:22b). In some languages indicating here what particular views makes the meaning more clear. For example:

22awe want to hear what your views of this sect are, 22bfor we know that people everywhere are talking against it

your views: The Greek words are literally “what you think.” It refers to opinions and beliefs. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

what you believe (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
what you have to say (Contemporary English Version)

28:22b

because: Here the word because introduces the reason for wanting to hear what Paul thought.

we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect: This indicates that the Jewish leaders in Rome had heard many stories about believers in Jesus. Those stories were probably mostly from other Jews who rejected believing in Jesus. But the leaders used the phrase people everywhere to emphasize that there were many people who spoke against the believers in Jesus. Other ways to translate this clause are:

with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
all we know about this sect is that no one has a good word to say for it (Revised English Bible)
-or-
we know that in very many places people are speaking against this sect

sect: This word refers to a group that has different beliefs from what is usually accepted as correct beliefs. It implies that they have separated themselves from the main group. The Greek word here probably implies that the speaker of this word thinks that the beliefs of that group are false. See how you translated this word in 24:5.

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