apostle, apostles

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The Greek term that is usually translated as “apostle(s)” in English is (back-) translated in the following ways:

Scot McKnight (in The Second Testament, publ. 2023) translates it into English as commissioner.

In American Sign Language it is translated with a combination of the signs for “following” plus the sign for “authority” to differentiate it from disciple. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


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

complete verse (Acts 4:35)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 4:35:

  • Uma: “And the money from the sale they took and handed over to the apostles of Lord Yesus. That money they divided to whomever had need.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “to the commissioned ones. And the money was divided among them to help the need of each one.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “and he gave the proceeds to the apostles and the apostles gave to anyone who was in difficulty.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “and they were-turning-over the price of it to the apostles so that they would then distribute it to the other believers according to the needs of each one.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “they would take it to the apostles. And then the apostles would distribute it to those believers who were in difficulty.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 4:34 – 4:35

The verb tenses in these two verses are such as to suggest continued or repeated action on the part of the Christian community: whenever the believers would sell a field or house they would bring the money they received and “place it at the feet of the apostles,” that is, they turned the money over to (the authority of) the apostles (see 4.37 and 5.2). Then the money would be distributed by the apostles to each one according to his need.

It is generally impossible to employ the idiom “placed it at the feet of the apostles,” since it might not imply entrusting it to their care. It is also important to be careful in the choice of the word for “give,” since this might indicate that it was merely a gift to the apostles rather than something entrusted to them to be used for the believers. In some instances this must be made specific, for example, “gave it to the apostles for the believers.”

The agents of was distributed were the apostles. Therefore, in the active form one can have “the apostles distributed the money to each one as that person had need.”

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 4:35

4:35a

lay them at the apostles’ feet: This clause indicates that the believers gave control over the money to the apostles. In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

gave it to the apostles
-or-
bring the money to the apostles (New Living Translation (2004))

4:35b

for distribution: This phrase in Greek is literally “and it was distributed.” In Greek, this clause is passive. For example:

and it was distributed (New International Version)

Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

they would give the money (Contemporary English Version)

distribution: This word indicates that the apostles gave some of the money to one person, then another part of the money to another person. They did not give all the money to one person.

divided
-or-
split up and given out

had need: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as need refers to a lack of something. Here it means that someone lacks food or clothing or shelter. It refers to the same kind of situation described by “needy ones” in 4:34a.

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