Stephen

The term that is transliterated as “Stephen” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that combines “S” and the sign for “stoned” or “rocks,” referring to Acts 7:58. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Stephen” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a signs for “see” + “heaven” + “open,” referring to Acts 7:55. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Stephen” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

See also the stoning of Stephen (image) and more information about Saint Stephen .

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

complete verse (Acts 22:20)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 22:20:

  • Uma: “So also, when your (sing.) witness Stefanus was killed, I was also there rejoicing that he was killed, and I was the one who watched the clothes of those who killed him.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And when the people killed Estepan, your witness, I was also there agreeing to that their deed and I was yet the one who watched over the clothes of the people who killed him.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when they killed Stephen, that person who did not cherish his life here on the earth because of you, I was there because I agreed also to his being killed. I am the one whom the ones who killed him had watched their shirts.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “They also know that I was made-happy at their killing of Esteban who confirmed-concerning you (sing.), because I was there guarding the clothes of the ones-who-killed-him,’ I said to the Lord.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And that killing of Esteban, your testifier, I was indeed there for I was also one of those agreeing with that sentence of theirs which was death. I also was the one who took care of the clothes of those who killed him.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Lalana Chinantec: “‘When the blood of Stephen your witness poured out, I was standing alongside watching. They were doing well, they were doing the right thing, I thought back then. I guarded the clothes of the people who killed Stephen.’ That’s what I told the Lord.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

Translation commentary on Acts 22:20

When your witness Stephen was put to death is literally “when the blood of Stephen your witness was poured out.” But in biblical language “to pour out someone’s blood” is to have someone put death. It seems possible that this passage moves in the direction of using the word “witness” in the sense of “martyr.” It may be necessary to employ an active expression at this point, “when people killed your witness Stephen.” In this type of context, your witness may be rendered as “Stephen who told people about you.”

Approving of his murder may be rendered as “I agreed with them when they killed him,” “I said yes to their killing him,” or “I favored their killing him.”

The cloaks of his murderers are simply “the coats which belonged to those who killed Stephen.”

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 22:20

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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