18:3a–b
and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was: The word because introduces the reason for Paul to stay and work with Aquila and Priscilla (18:3b). For example:
He was also a tentmaker as they were, so he stayed and worked with them.
-or-
and stayed and worked with them, because he earned his living by making tents, just as they did (Good News Translation)
18:3a
he stayed and worked with them: The Greek tenses indicate that Paul did these things for some time.
he stayed: The word stayed indicates that he lived at Aquila and Priscilla’s house. For example:
he lodged with them (New Jerusalem Bible)
18:3b
they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was: At that time tents were made of leather or goat hair cloth. To make a tent, a tentmaker would buy the leather or cloth, cut it, sew the pieces together, attach ropes, buy poles, and other things. He would then sell his tents. Other ways to translate this clause are:
they made tents to earn money
-or-
they made tents to sell
In some languages this kind of temporary shelter is not known. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Use the word for “temporary shelter” and indicate that this kind was made of leather. For example:
leather shelter
-or-
animal skin ⌊temporary⌋ house
• Use the common language word. If the word is not well known, you may want to include a picture or explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
At that time tents were made of leather or goat hair cloth.
-or-
At that time tents were made of leather or goat hair cloth. To make a tent, a tentmaker would buy the leather or cloth, cut it, sew the pieces together, attach ropes, buy poles, and other things. He would then sell his tents.
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