Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )
The term that is transliterated as “Paul” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the many letters he wrote. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Paul” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting putting away a sword, referring to his conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a Christian leader. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 22:28:
Uma: “The head said: ‘Much was my payment so that I entered Roma citizenship.’ Paulus said: ‘As for me, from my birth I have been a Roma citizen.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “The colonel said, ‘Me, I had to spend much money to the Roman government in order to become a man of Roma.’ ‘But me,’ Paul said, ‘I have been a person of Roma since my birth.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the captain said, ‘I had to give lots of money in order that I might become a subject of Rome.’ And Paul said, ‘As for me on the other hand, since I was born, I’ve been a subject of Rome.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “‘Even I, but large is what-I-paid, then I was considered a Romano also,’ said the commander. ‘But I by-contrast, I have been a Romano since my birth (lit. coming-out),’ said Pablo.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “‘As for me,’ said that highest-ranking-officer, ‘a really big amount is what I gave so that I could have Romanoship.’ ‘But as for me,’ said Pablo, ‘it’s like I am a native Romano, for I inherited my Romanoship from my parents.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
In some languages it may be necessary to state to whom the amount of money was paid. This can be “to the government,” “to officers of the government,” or “to government authorities.” A large amount of money may simply be “very much money.”
But I is a very strong emphatic construction in Greek. Paul does not state how his father or his earlier ancestors obtained Roman citizenship, and speculation is of no value for the translator. The expression one by birth may be rendered simply as “my parents were Roman citizens before me” or “I am a Roman citizen because my parents were also.”
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 .
“I paid a high price for my citizenship,”: Someone could not buy Roman citizenship. The commander paid a bribe to someone who put his name on a list of people to become citizens.
In some languages, it is more natural to say who the money was paid to. If that is true in your language, refer generally to a person. For example:
I had to pay ⌊someone⌋ a big price for my citizenship
for my citizenship: The word citizenship means “being a citizen.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:
to become a Roman citizen (God’s Word) -or-
to be called Roman -or-
for the privilege to be named a citizen of Rome
22:28b
“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied: The Berean Standard Bible placed the phrase Paul replied after the spoken words. Place it where it would be most natural in your language.
But I was born a citizen: Paul became a citizen because his father or both his parents were citizens of Rome.
In the Greek clause, the words But and I are emphasized. It implies that the way Paul became a citizen was superior to the way the commander became a citizen. Some ways to indicate the emphasis are:
But I myself was born a citizen. -or-
However, as for me, I have been a citizen from birth.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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