John (the disciple)

The term that is transliterated as “John (the disciple)” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign for the letter J and the sign signifying “beloved,” referring to John 13:23 et al. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“John” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts John’s head resting on Jesus’ chest, referring to John 13:23.


“John” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with with the sign for “young.” This refers to the traditional belief that he was the youngest of the apostles and the fact that he was younger than his brother James (see relative age of James and John. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“John” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also John the Evangelist (icon).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: The Apostle John .

Peter

Following is a Armenian Orthodox icon of Peter (found in the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shusha, Azerbaijan).

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 )

Following is a hand colored stencil print on momigami of Peter by Sadao Watanabe (1970):

Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe. For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “key” (referring to Matthew 16:19). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Peter” or “Cephas” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “rock,” referring to the meaning of the Greek word for “Peter.”


“Peter” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Peter – rock.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Peter .

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Acts 3:4)

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 man who was lame) or the dual (Peter and John).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

complete verse (Acts 3:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 3:4:

  • Uma: “Petrus and Yohanes stared at that lame person. Petrus said to him: ‘Look at us (excl.)!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Petros and Yahiya looked at him intently. Then Petros said, ‘Look at us (excl.).'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Peter and John looked at him and Peter said, ‘Friend, look at us.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Whereupon they looked-straight-at him and Pedro said, ‘Please look at us (excl.).'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “They two looked straight at that person and then Pedro spoke. He said, ‘Look at us (excl.).'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 3:4

The Greek form of 3.4 focuses upon Peter and therefore introduces John in a subordinate prepositional phrase. In most languages it is essential to indicate clearly that both Peter and John looked upon the lame man. One must, however, also indicate that it is Peter who does the speaking.

They looked straight at him translates the same verb as was used in 1.10; there it is translated they … had their eyes fixed on.

In a number of translations, problems have been encountered in the expression Look at us!—not because this cannot be readily said, but simply because it seems rather strange. One would assume that Peter and John would ask permission to look at the lame man rather than tell the lame man to look directly at them. Due to the unexpectedness of such an expression, and also the shift in subject which occurs in the next verse, it is essential that the meaning of Peter’s statement be perfectly clear.

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 3:4

3:4a–b

Peter looked directly at him, as did John: Peter and John responded to the man’s request by looking directly at him. This action showed that they wanted to talk to him. It does not mean they stared at him in disapproval.

In some languages a literal translation would have a wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

Peter looked at him, as did John
-or-
Peter turned to speak to him, and John turned too

The grammar here indicates that Peter is more important to the story than John. It is Peter who talked to the man, healed him, and spoke to the crowd.

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