21:32a
soldiers and centurions: This phrase in Greek has the order “soldiers and officers.” The Berean Standard Bible and some English versions have the order as soldiers and centurions although this order is less common in English.
These centurions were probably the leaders of these soldiers. In some languages this must be made clear. For example:
soldiers and ⌊their⌋ centurions
-or-
centurions and ⌊their⌋ soldiers
centurions: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as centurions means “leader of one hundred.” The Berean Standard Bible also translates it as “centurion” in 10:1. You may want to:
• Translate the meaning literally. For example:
officers of one hundred men ⌊each⌋
• Use the term for a low-ranking officer in the army in your country. For example:
captain
• Use a general word for an officer.
See how you translated the word “centurion” in 10:1.
ran down: The word down indicates that the fortress where the soldiers were was above the temple area. They ran down a set of steps to reach the temple area.
the crowd: The Greek word is literally “them.” It refers to all the people throughout the city who gathered around Paul outside of the temple area.
21:32b
the people: The Greek just has a word ending that means “they.” It refers to the same group as “the crowd” in 21:32a. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
they (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the rioters (New International Version)
the soldiers: Here the word soldiers includes the officers.
21:32c
they stopped beating Paul: Here the word beating probably refers to hitting with fists. 21:31a implies that the crowd began beating Paul soon after they left the temple area. Another way to translate this clause is:
they stopped hitting Paul
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