complete verse (Acts 19:38)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 19:38:

  • Uma: “So, if Demitrius with his one-work friend want to accuse anyone, they must definitely bring it up to the judges of the village. There is are times set, times for the judges to judge cases.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “If Demetiri and his companions want to accuse these people, there are days for judging and the ones judging are there. Let them accuse (them) there.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And if Demetrius and his party have something to accuse them of, there are set days for judging, and there are also people who are appointed to judge. It is necessary that they make their accusation there.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As for Demetrius and his fellow metal-workers, if they have evidence-to-present for a person’s crime, there are judges and rulers of the town in their offices. That’s where-they ought to go -file-charges.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore, as for Demetrio here and his companion metal-workers, if there is what they have really found fault with against other people, our judging-place is indeed open. It would be good if they submit to the governor the case they want to bring and have it judged there.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 19:38

Have an accusation against someone may be rendered as “wish to accuse someone” or “have reason to accuse someone.”

The regular days for court translates a rather unusual use of a word in Greek, but commentators and translators agree that this is the meaning. In referring to the regular days for court, one may say “the court is open regularly” or “on certain days one may come before the court.”

The authorities is literally “the (Roman) governors,” but there was only one Roman governor to a province, and so the term is best taken in a general sense, either of the governor himself or of one of his representatives who regularly held court in each of the Asian cities.

In a number of languages it may be useful to combine the two clauses there are the regular days for court and there are the authorities. One may say, for example, “on regular days the authorities sit in the court to judge cases.”

It is important that they in the last clause of verse 38 refer to Demetrius and his fellow workers and to such other persons as they may accuse. This final clause may be rendered in some languages as “there people can accuse one another.” This avoids a specific reference to Demetrius and the workers, but provides a general statement which is applicable to the immediately preceding clauses concerning the operation of the court.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 19:38

19:38a–b

if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available: The word if is used rhetorically. The city clerk knew that Demetrius was upset with Paul and had caused this uproar in the city. The city clerk explained what Demetrius should have done. He perhaps implied that Demetrius did not have a proper complaint. It is probably an implied rebuke for causing the uproar. If possible, translate this as an implied rebuke. For example:

Supposing Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls.
-or-
Do Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody? ⌊Then they should realize that⌋ the courts are open and there are proconsuls.

19:38a

So: This word introduces what the city clerk concludes should happen. Introduce the conclusion naturally in your language. For example:

So then, (New American Standard Bible)

his fellow craftsmen: This phrase in Greek is literally “the craftsmen with him.” It refers to the craftsmen in 19:24. It probably includes the workmen of related trades in 19:25. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the craftsmen he has with him (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the craftsmen who are with him (New American Standard Bible)

have a complaint against anyone: The word complaint refers to accusing someone of wrongdoing. A person with a complaint against someone can take him to court. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

have an accusation against anyone (Good News Translation)
-or-
accuse someone of breaking the law
-or-
have a charge (New Century Version)
-or-
have evidence-to-present for a person’s crime

19:38b

proconsuls: The proconsuls were governors of the province under Roman rule. They were also the highest judges in the province. The city clerk implies that such a lawsuit as Demetrius might present against Paul might go as high as the highest judge in the province.

Many languages will not have a word that refers to this kind of official. The office of judge is the important part here. For example:

⌊even⌋ the highest judges of the province
-or-
provincial judges

19:38c

Let them bring charges against one another there: This clause in Greek is literally “let (them) bring charges against one another.” It indicates that if two groups have a problem, either group can accuse the other group in court. It probably refers generally to anyone accusing someone in court. But the city clerk implies here that Demetrius and the other craftsmen should accuse Paul in court, if they want to accuse him of something. Other ways to translate this clause are:

They can press charges. (New International Version)
-or-
let the parties bring their charges and countercharges (Revised English Bible)
-or-
let them accuse each other in court

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