5:18a

Just then: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as Just then is literally “And behold,” as in the Revised Standard Version. Luke used these words to introduce the action of the event. He also wanted to draw attention to the action. Some ways to translate this phrase in this context are:

Then
-or-
And while he was teaching

Some English versions, such as the New International Version and New Living Translation (2004), do not translate this phrase. Connect 5:18a to 5:17b in a way that is natural in your language.

some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat is literally “men carrying on a pallet a man who was paralyzed.” The phrase introduces the paralyzed man and his friends. Introduce the friends and the paralyzed man in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

some men were carrying on a mat a man who was paralyzed (New Century Version)
-or-
Some men brought a paralyzed man on a stretcher. (God’s Word)

paralyzed man: A paralyzed man is a person who is unable to move some part or all of his body. In this context the paralytic could not walk. His legs were paralyzed.

mat: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mat means “bed, couch, cot, or stretcher.” It can refer to any piece of furniture that is used for reclining or lying on. In this context it refers to something light that could be used to carry someone. Since most people in Israel who were not rich slept on woven mats, it could have been a woven mat.

Be careful not to translate the word mat with a word that would imply something heavy and not easily carried.

5:18b

They tried to bring him inside: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tried to bring him inside is literally “were seeking to carry him in.” The men wanted to carry the paralyzed man through the door into the house. They attempted to do this but could not. Verse 5:19a explains that they could not do this because there were too many people in the house or around the door to the house.

The tense of the Greek verb for tried indicates that they tried to do this more than once. Some ways to express this in English are:

were trying to bring him in (NET Bible)
-or-

kept trying to carry him in (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

to set him before Jesus: The men wanted to take the man into the house and lay him in front of Jesus so that Jesus would heal him. Be sure that the readers of your translation understand this. If the reason for taking this man to Jesus is unclear, you may have to make this explicit. For example:

in order to lay him before Jesus ⌊so that Jesus would heal him⌋

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