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 5:26)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 5:26:

  • Uma: “So the head of the police with his companions went to the House of God to get those apostles. But they did not beat them, they carefully urged them [to go with them] because they feared the crowds, lest [the crowds] take it out on them, with the result that the crowds stone them.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Immediately the captain and his men went to get Petros and company. But they did not inflict-pain on them because they were afraid perhaps they might be thrown at with stones by the people.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the captain and the police went and got the apostles and brought them to the leaders, and they did not beat the apostles because they were afraid of the people because they might be stoned.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “That being so the guards and their captain went to go get them. But they did not force them, because they were afraid of the many-people, lest they get-angry and hurl-stones-at them.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, without anything further, the chief of the guards of the Templo went there at once, along with his personnel. When they arrived, they again caused the apostles to accompany them, but they didn’t cause them forcibly to accompany for they were afraid of that crowd of people who were listening, for maybe they’d have rocks thrown at them.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 5:26

The officer is the same word used in verse 24, the officer in charge of the temple guards.

Many languages are quite specific in the use of terms such as brought … back. In this context a rendering may be “caused them to return with them” or “commanded them to return with them.” The text clearly states that no physical force was used.

In order to indicate clearly that they did not use force, one may say in some languages “they did not grab them” or “they did not tie them up.” In other languages a common expression is “they did not beat them.”

It is important that in the final clause the goal of the stoning is the officer and the soldiers, not the apostles.

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 5:26

5:26a

At that point: This phrase introduces what happened next. The captain and his officers going to the apostles (5:26) is an implied result of the report about the apostles being in the temple courts (5:25). Here are some other ways to translate this:

Then (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
So (Good News Translation)

the captain went with the officers: This clause indicates that the captain decided to go and ordered the officers to go with him. Here are some other ways to translate this:

Taking his officers, the captain went
-or-
The captain ordered his officers to follow him and he/they went

captain: See how you translated this word in 5:24.

officers: See how you translated this word in 5:22.

5:26b

brought the apostles—but not by force: The Greek is more literally “brought them not with force.” It indicates that the captain and temple police brought the apostles back gently. They did not shove or hit them. Here are some other ways to translate this:

brought them, but without violence (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
brought them, not with force (LEB)
-or-
brought them but they did not push or force them
-or-
brought them gently

brought the apostles: In some languages only children are brought. See how you translated the word brought in 5:19.

apostles: See how you translated this word in 5:21.

5:26b–c

brought…for fear: The Greek is more literally “were bringing…were fearing.” It indicates that the temple police were not using force as they brought the apostles because the temple police were afraid.

Some languages can naturally indicate that these events occurred for some time. For example:

were(duratively) bringing…were(duratively) fearing

But many languages, such as English, cannot naturally indicate duration here. And a time phrase would imply incorrect meaning. It is more natural to use the normal past tense, like the Berean Standard Bible and many English versions do.

5:26c

the people would stone them: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stone refers to throwing stones at someone to chase away or hurt or kill them. For example:

the people might start throwing stones at them (Contemporary English Version)

them: This word refers to the captain and the temple police. It does not refer to the apostles here. Some languages will need to explain this to be clear. For example:

the officers/police

General Comment on 5:26b–c

Here, the reason (they feared being stoned) occurs after the result (they brought the apostles without violence). Some languages must put a reason before a result. For example:

26cThey feared that the people would stone them, therefore 26a–bthe captain went with the officers and brought the apostles but without force/violence at that point.
-or-

26cThey feared that the people would stone them, therefore 26a–bthe captain and his officers were not forceful/violent when they went and brought the apostles.

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