Western Bukidnon Manobo: “high sacrificer” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Tagbanwa as “Most-important Priest of God” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Bariai: “Big leader of offerings” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
In Khoekhoe the translation for “high priest” is only capitalized when it refers to Jesus (as is Hebrews 2:17 et al.). (Source: project-specific notes in Paratext)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 4:6:
Uma: “They gathered with the Big Priest Hanas and with Kayafas, Yohanes, Aleksander and with the other relatives of the Big Priest.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Also there were Annas the leader priest, Kayapas and Yahiya, and Iskandal, and there were yet other relatives of the leading priest.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Also there were Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and others of the relatives of Annas.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “And they met-with Annas the highest priest and Caifas, Juan, Alexander and their companions who were Annas’ relatives.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Included among them were Anas who was the Most-important Priest, Caifas, Juan, Alejandro and other relatives of Anas.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
The name that is transliterated as “Alexander” in English means “defending men,” “one who turns away evil.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that combines “Annas” (high priest and Alexander’s father) and “taking care” (derived from the meaning of “Alexander” or “defender of men”). (Source: Missão Kophós )
The name that is transliterated as “Annas” in English means “grace of Yahweh,” “humble.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that combines the letter A and a combination of the letter C (for “cetro,” Portuguese for “scepter”) and the sign for “scepter,” indicating power. (Source: Aline Martins and Paul Fahnestock)
Annas actually functioned as High Priest from A.D. 6-14, though he can be called the High Priest since it was customary for a man who had once held that position to maintain that title throughout life. Actually at this time Caiaphas, the son-in-law of Annas, was the High Priest, and held this office from A.D. 18-36. Nothing is known of John and Alexander, but it is possible that John was one of the sons of Annas who later became High Priest. Some manuscripts read “Jonathan” in place of John, and this text is followed by the New English Bible and the Jerusalem Bible. The manuscript evidence is in favor of the reading John, and since the Jewish historian Josephus states that Jonathan, son of Annas, was appointed high priest in A.D. 36 in succession to Caiaphas, it appears likely that the reading “Jonathan” is an attempt by some scribe to make Luke conform.
One may render this passage as “they met with Annas, the High Priest” or “with Annas who was the High Priest,” and show the relationship of the other persons to this event by repeating the verb “they also met with Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and others who belonged to the clan of the High Priest.”
In very few languages can one use an attributive such as “high” to indicate superior rank. One must more often be spoken of as “the big priests” or “the great priest.” In other instances he is “the boss of the priests” or “the one who controls the priests.” In still other languages one can simply employ “the chief of the priests.”
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 .
along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander:
This verse in Greek just lists the names: “and Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander.” But these people were some of the rulers (4:5). The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as along with can also mean “namely” or “that is.”
high priest: The high priest was the leader of all the Jewish priests. In New Testament times, he was also the leader of the Jewish supreme court. He was the chief judge and had great power and influence. All Jewish priests offered sacrifices on behalf of the people, but the high priest offered certain special sacrifices that no other priest could offer. In a special way, he represented the Jewish people to God. Here are some other ways to translate high priest:
the chief/leader of all the priests -or-
the main/principal priest -or-
the highest/leading priest
John: This John is a different person than the disciple named John.
4:6b
and many others from the high priest’s family: This phrase probably indicates that Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men were all related to Annas. (John 18:13 tells us that Caiaphas was actually Annas’ son-in-law.) Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
the other men who were Annas’ relatives -or-
the other relatives of the Big Priest
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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