19:6a
Paul laid his hands on them: The purpose of placing hands on them was to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. In some languages a literal translation would not imply that. If that is true in your language, you may want to include the implied information. For example:
Paul laid his hands on them ⌊and prayed⌋
-or-
Paul laid his hands on them ⌊and prayed for the Holy Spirit to live in them⌋
Paul probably laid his hands on their heads. Some languages must say where Paul put his hands. For example:
Paul laid his hands on each of their ⌊heads⌋ ⌊and prayed⌋ ⌊for each of them⌋
the Holy Spirit came upon them: This clause indicates that the Holy Spirit came in order to be with them. He would guide them and enable them to live as God wanted them to. Other ways to translate this clause are:
the Holy Spirit entered/indwelt them
-or-
the Holy Spirit joined ⌊himself⌋ to them
-or-
The Holy Spirit was given to them (Contemporary English Version)
19:6b
and they spoke in tongues and prophesied: The context implies that the Holy Spirit caused these men to speak in tongues and prophesy. The Greek grammar indicates that they spoke in tongues and prophesied more than once. For example:
they began speaking with tongues and prophesying (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
they began to talk in other languages and to speak what God had revealed (God’s Word)
tongues: This word may refer to:
(1) other human languages that they did not know but the Holy Spirit enabled them to speak (2:4–6);
(2) some other language inspired by the Holy Spirit (10:46, 1 Corinthians 12:10).
In either case, the men themselves and any people listening could not understand the words. Consider how to translate this word in a way that allows both interpretations. For example:
strange tongues (Good News Translation)
-or-
unknown languages (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
other languages (God’s Word)
-or-
words/language ⌊they couldn’t understand⌋
prophesied: This verb means “spoke a message from God.” God gave them messages to say at this time and they spoke them. Other ways to translate this word are:
spoke on God’s behalf
-or-
spoke messages from God
-or-
made known messages that God revealed to them
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