22:20a
when the blood of…Stephen was shed: This clause in Greek is literally “when the blood of Stephen was being poured out.” Both the Greek clause and the English phrase “shed blood” refers to killing someone.
This clause is passive. Some languages must translate it as an active or intransitive clause. If possible, translate in a way that does not accuse the Jews of murdering Stephen. For example:
when ⌊they/people⌋ shed the blood of Stephen
-or-
when ⌊they/people⌋ killed Stephen
-or-
when Stephen died
Your witness: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as witness:
(1) It means witness here. It indicates that Stephen told others about Jesus and his gospel. For example:
your witness (Good News Translation)
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, English Standard Version, King James Version)
(2) It means martyr here. A martyr is a person who is killed because he told others about his belief in Jesus.
(New International Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the meaning of the Greek word as “martyr” probably occurred after Luke wrote Acts.
Other ways to translate this word according to interpretation (1) are:
told people about you
-or-
proclaimed your message
22:20b–c
I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him: The Greek words are literally “I was standing and agreeing…and protecting…” Paul was doing all three things while other Jews killed Stephen. For example:
I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him. (English Standard Version)
22:20b
I: This word in Greek is literally “even/also I myself.” It emphasizes the meaning I in two ways. Other ways to translate this emphasis are:
I also (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
even I myself
-or-
I myself (Good News Translation)
stood there: The word stood indicates that Paul was already standing. For example:
was standing (Revised Standard Version)
giving my approval: The Greek word is literally “agreeing.” Paul agreed that the other Jews should kill Stephen. Some languages must say what was agreed to. For example:
I approved of his death (God’s Word)
-or-
agreeing ⌊with what they were doing⌋
22:20c
watching over the garments of those who killed him: Paul watched over the clothes so that no one would steal them. Other ways to translate this clause are:
guarding the clothes of those who were killing him (New International Version)
-or-
kept the coats they took off when they stoned him (New Living Translation (2004))
garments: The men who killed Stephen by stoning first removed their outer robes. These are sometimes called “cloaks” in the New International Version. These covered their inner robes. They removed these outer robes so they could better throw stones. Other ways to translate this word are:
cloaks (NET Bible)
-or-
outer garments (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
Wearing only their inner robes, these men were still full clothed. Underneath their inner robes were their undergarments. The outer robe/cloak protected them from cold and protected their inner robes from mud and dust.
See how translated this word in 7:58.
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