21:38a–b

Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the ‘Assassins’ into the wilderness?: There are two ways to interpret this clause:

(1) The commander asked if Paul was that Egyptian and expected Paul to answer “yes.” The position of “not” in the Greek indicates this kind of question. The question in the Berean Standard Bible expects the answer “yes I am that Egyptian.” For example:

Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt…? (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, English Standard Version, King James Version)

(2) The commander asked believing that Paul was not that Egyptian. The word “not” together with the word “then” indicates “not” is emphasized. For example:

Then you are not that Egyptian fellow who some time ago started a revolution…? (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, NET Bible, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation. It is supported by the Greek grammar.

Other ways to translate this question according to interpretation (1) are:

You are the Egyptian who started a revolt and led 4000 men into the desert some time ago, are you not?
-or-
You must be the Egyptian who started a revolt and led 4000 men into the desert some time ago. ⌊Am I right?⌋

21:38a

The Greek conjunction that probably means “then” here introduces this verse. It indicates that the commander concluded that Paul was that Egyptian because he spoke Greek and the Jews were beating him. For example:

Therefore
-or-
Then (New Revised Standard Version)

But the Berean Standard Bible and many English versions omit the conjunction and allow the context to indicate that meaning.

the Egyptian: Here the word Egyptian refers to a man from the country of Egypt. He was probably a Jew that was born there.

Some languages do not use an ending meaning “person of” like the English “-ian.” For example:

the person/man/one from Egypt
-or-
the Egypt man

incited a rebellion: This phrase refers to trying to overthrow a government. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

started a revolution (Good News Translation)
-or-
led a rebellion (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
battled the government

some time ago: This phrase probably refers to three to five years before this time. Translate in a way that implies or allow that amount of time.

21:38b

four thousand: Some languages do not have large number words like thousand. If so, you may want to use numerals from the common language. For example:

4,000 (New Living Translation (2004))

members of the ‘Assassins’: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ‘Assassins’ describes extreme Jewish nationalists. They opposed Roman rule over the Jews and assassinated Jews who favored Roman rule. Their name was sicarii, “men of the sica dagger.” This dagger was curved and had a blade about 40 centimeters (16 inches) long.

To translate this word you may want to:

• Use their original name. For example:

Sicarii/Sikari

You may then want to explain this name in a footnote. An example footnote is:

The group of men called “Sicarii/Sikari” opposed Roman rule over the Jews and assassinated Jews who favored Roman rule. Their name means “men of the sica/sika dagger.” This dagger was curved and had a blade about 40 centimeters long.

• Translate the meaning of the name. For example:

assassins (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
cut-throats (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
murderers/killers
-or-

⌊men of the group called⌋ the Dagger Men/Killers

Some English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, capitalize the first letter to indicate it was the name of a specific group. For example:

the Assassins (Revised Standard Version)

wilderness: The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as wilderness refers to a place that is empty, desolate, or uninhabited. Other ways to translate this word are:

desert (New International Version)
-or-
desolate region
-or-
empty land

This word occurs in Matthew 3:1, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:2, and John 1:23. If you have translated any of these verses, see how you translated the word there.

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