complete verse (Acts 9:23)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 9:23:

  • Uma: “Some time from there, the Yahudi people planned to kill Saulus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When he had been there for some time the Yahudi planned that they would kill Saul.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And it was not long after that that the Jews agreed that they would kill Saul.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When how-many days had gone, those-aforementioned Jews agreed-together as to how they would kill Saulo.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “After a long time, the Jews there agreed-together that they would kill Saulo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 9:23

After many days had gone by is another expression of indefinite time. Some try to stress the linear or progressive action in the verb by translating “as the days mounted up” (New English Bible) or “as time went on” (Lake’s commentary). However, the Greek verb tense represented by gathered and made plans (the verb has both of these ideas rather than merely “make plans” or “plot”) indicates that the Jewish gathering did not take place until after many days had gone by.

In many languages one cannot speak of “days going by.” One can, however, say “many days later,” “after the sun had gone down many times,” or even as in some languages “after many moons” (often not a reference to months but to nights).

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 .