SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 28:28

28:28a

Be advised…that: The Greek clause is a third person command: “It must be known to you that.” Another way to translate this is the Revised Standard Version which says:

Let it be known to you…that (Revised Standard Version)

This clause indicates that Paul wanted the Jewish leaders in Rome to know something. Other ways to translate this clause are:

You are to know (Good News Translation)
-or-
You need to know that (God’s Word)

28:28b

God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

God⌋ has sent his salvation to the Gentiles
-or-

God⌋ has sent people to tell the Gentiles that he saves them too

God’s salvation has been sent: This refers to telling people about God’s salvation. In some languages it is not natural to send salvation. If so, refer to the message of salvation. For example:

God’s message of salvation has been sent (Good News Translation)

God’s salvation: This phrase in Greek is literally “this, the salvation of God.” It emphasizes the fact that what God sent was his salvation. For example:

this salvation of God (Revised Standard Version)

This phrase refers to God having his Son Jesus die on a cross to redeem people from their sins. Some languages must use a verb for the correct meaning. For example:

the action/deed of God that saves ⌊people

to the Gentiles: Paul emphasized the phrase to the Gentiles by putting it first in the clause. In English this can be done poetically or with a focus shift. For example:

to the Gentiles God’s salvation has been sent
-or-
it is to the Gentiles that God’s message about saving people has been sent

But your translation should not imply that God no longer intends to save Jews. See also the note on “God’s salvation has been sent” above.

Gentiles: The word Gentiles refers to non-Jewish people. See how you translated this word in 4:27 or 26:23.

28:28c

and they will listen!: Here the Greek pronoun they emphasizes the clause. The Berean Standard Bible indicates that by using an exclamation mark. Other ways to translate this clause are:

They will listen! (Good News Translation)
-or-
Indeed, they will listen!

listen: Here the word listen implies that the Gentiles will also accept the message of God’s salvation. It does not imply that they listen then ignore it. In some languages the implied information must be included in the translation for the correct meaning. For example:

listen ⌊and accept/believe

© 2001, 2021 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments