Revised Standard Version does not start a new paragraph here, but Good News Bible feels that the subject matter changes, thus requiring a new paragraph (so also Contemporary English Version). This Handbook recommends that translators follow Good News Bible.
And on the twenty-fifth day of the month: The meaning of this phrase is not certain. Some commentators take it to mean that what is described here happened ten days after the events of verse 54. It would be exactly three years later that Judas Maccabeus rededicated the Temple’s sacrificial altar (see 1Macc 4.52-54). Others (for example, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, and Goldstein) take it to mean that these things happened on the twenty-fifth day of each month, the same day of the king’s monthly birthday celebration (see 2Macc 6.7). This explains the phrase “month after month” in verse 58. Also, the events described in verses 54-57 sound more like things that happened over a long period of time rather than in the short space of ten days. It is impossible to be certain about this, but we suggest interpreting this phrase to mean “on the twenty-fifth day of each month.”
They offered sacrifice on the altar which was upon the altar of burnt offering: The pronoun they refers to King Antiochus’ officials again. Offered sacrifice is better rendered “offered sacrifices,” since this was done repeatedly. The altar which was upon the altar of burnt offering refers to an altar to Zeus that had been built on top of the sacrificial altar in the Temple courtyard. The fact that the real altar is the altar of burnt offering is less important than the fact that it is the legitimate altar, so Good News Bible says “the pagan altar erected on top of the altar in the Temple.” New English Bible is similar with “the pagan altar which was on top of the altar of the Lord,” but translators should avoid using the word “Lord” as the author does. Another possible model is “the altar to a foreign god that was erected on the top of the Jewish altar.”
Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.