26:26a
For: Here at 26:26a in the Greek, Paul continued to speak to Festus here. The Greek conjunction, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as For, introduces this verse. It introduces an explanation why Paul spoke as he had in 26:2–23 and why he was not insane. In some languages it may be more natural to omit the Greek conjunction.
knows about: This phrase refers to knowing about something. Agrippa was a descendant of King Herod. He lived in Rome and was only a few years old when Jesus died. Later the Roman emperor made him king of a small kingdom north of Judea and he began to live there. The Roman emperor also made him the political ruler over the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. So Paul spoke to him as if he knew about what had happened to Jesus and his followers.
these matters: Here this phrase refers to the life and death of Jesus, as well as the claims of his followers that he was the Christ. In some languages a literal translation here would wrongly refer only to the deeds of Paul. If so, you may want to explain it in your translation. For example:
these things ⌊regarding the Christ⌋
-or-
these events ⌊about the Christ⌋
-or-
these controversies
26:26b
I can speak freely to him: King Agrippa supported the Jews. He probably knew about the Jewish culture and religion. Paul expected that he would not have to explain his words like he would with Festus the Roman. Other ways to translate this clause are:
I can speak so plainly to him (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I speak to him also with confidence (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
to him I speak boldly (English Standard Version)
26:26c
I am confident that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner: The conjunction because introduces a reason. In some languages, it is more natural to have the reason first. For example:
none of this was done in a corner, so I am convinced that it has not escaped his notice
none of this has escaped his notice: This clause emphasizes that King Agrippa knew about the controversy among Jews about Jesus being the Christ. Other ways to translate this clause are:
these events are all familiar to him (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
nothing of all this comes as a surprise to him (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
he has heard about all of these things (New Century Version)
it was not done in a corner: This is an idiom. It indicates that something was well known. The life and death of Jesus did not occur in a small village far away. Jesus did his miracles in several regions and his death occurred in the capitol city of the Jews. News of his life and death spread to many regions. Other ways to translate this idiom are:
• Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
This indicates that the life and death of Jesus was well known.
• Explain the idiom in your translation. For example:
it was not done in an ⌊obscure⌋ corner/part ⌊of the country/world⌋ ⌊where no news comes from⌋
• Translate using an idiom in your language with the same meaning. For example:
it did not occur in a cave
You may then want to indicate the literal words here in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Literally “it was not done in a corner.”
• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:
it was not an obscure event
-or-
it was well known
You may then want to indicate the literal words here in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Literally “it was not done in a corner.”
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