Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Acts 4:28)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 4:28:

  • Uma: “This planning of theirs, was to kill Yesus. But in fact what they did fulfilled what you (sing.) had already decided [made certain] from-the-first! As a result everything happened according to your (sing.) power and your (sing.) own desire, Lord.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “They do this because formerly yet you planned from/by your will and your power that this should happen.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And they have agreed on what they will do to him according to what you foreordained that they would do.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And they did all that you (sing.) previously because of your (sing.) power had already-decided should be fulfilled.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But well, all which they have decided to do is all in harmony with what you indeed determined would happen.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • San Mateo del Mar Huave: “Thus they did because you have stated from before that thus it would be.”
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “They carried out all that you decreed would have to come to pass.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “Because this is what you ordained in the beginning that would happen.”
  • Chuj: “But they just did like you had said long ago how that those things must be done.” (Source of this and three above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 5:29)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 5:29:

  • Uma: “Petrus answered with the other apostles of the Lord Yesus, they said: ‘We(excl.) still follow the command of God, not the command of man.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Petros and the other commissioned ones answered, they said, ‘What we (excl.) must obey is the command of God, not the command of man/humans.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then Peter and the other apostles answered saying, ‘It is necessary that we obey the commands of God, not the commands which are made by people.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Pedro and his fellow apostles answered and they said, ‘It-is-emphatically -necessary that God is the one we (excl.) obey, not people.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But Pedro and his fellow apostles replied. They said, ‘It’s essential that the will of God is what we (excl.) obey, not the will of men which is contrary to what he instructed us (excl.) to do.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • San Mateo del Mar Huave: “So Peter said, together with the other apostles, they say, ‘It is more necessary that we believe that which Father God has commanded us to do, rather than that which the people command us.'”
  • Isthmus Mixe: “Then Peter and Jesus’ sent ones answered: ‘By all means we are going to obey what God commands. If people command otherwise, we will not obey.'”

    • Morelos Nahuatl: “We must obey God before we obey men.”

  • Teutila Cuicatec: “We obey God’s commands for this is more important than the commands of the people of the world.”
  • Chol: “We (excl.) must obey God even though in doing this we (excl) disobey the commands of men.” (Source for this and four above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 5:31)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 5:31:

  • Uma: “and lifted him up and set him on his right side, and he made him Leader and King who lifts us from the punishment of our sins, so that we the people of Israel may repent from our sins and obtain forgiveness.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And God exalted (made-high) Isa at his right (hand), the most important place. Now he is the Leader/Lord and he is the Savior, in order that the people of Isra’il would regret and leave their sins so that they will be forgiven.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “He made him immortal, and he is now at the right side of God. As for us (incl.) descendants of Israel, he is our (incl.) master and he is the one who will free us from our (incl.) punishment. And he causes us to have done with bad customs. And he will forgive us.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “and raised-him/made-him-great to/at his right-side so-that he would be the one to rule-over and save us. God did that so-that we descendants of Israel would have time/opportunity to repent so-that he would forgive our sins.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “After this coming alive again of his, he went-home to heaven for he was given by God far-from-ordinary importance there on his right. And he is the one who is our Ruler and Savior, who gives to us descendants of Israel to be able to repent and let go of our sins so that they may be forgiven.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

    • San Mateo del Mar Huave: “So now Father God has placed him to be the chief, he is at his right hand in order to command and to save people, and also to cause Israel to remember that they have not done good in order that they might do good and in order that their sins might be forgiven.”
    Eastern Highland Otomi: “But God put there his right to be chief and to be savior. He made it so that they would change their hearts the people of Israel and he will forgive their sins.” (Source for this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 5:40)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 5:40:

  • Uma: “After that, they called back those apostles of the Lord Yesus, and they beat them. They said to them: ‘Don’t you teach people any more naming the name Yesus!’ And after that they[contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url” /][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea” /][/contact-form] released them.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “They summoned/called again the commissioned ones and commanded them to be whipped. Afterwards they instructed them they commanded them strictly not to speak about Isa again. Then they let them go.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However, they brought in the apostles and had them beaten, and they said to the apostles that they should not teach faith in the name of Jesus. And then they let them go.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The leaders of the Jews followed that-aforementioned that Gamaliel said. They had-the apostles -called again and had-them -repeatedly-whipped (i.e. many strokes). Then they commanded that they never again (lit. not repeat to) tell concerning Jesus, and they released them.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When they heard that, they were indeed agreeable. But they caused those apostles to come in again and caused them to be beaten. And before they released them, they again forbade them to teach again concerning Jesus.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “What he said appealed to them. They called the apostles and beat them. They said to them with strong words not to talk about Jesus Christ and they let them go.”
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “All the authorities liked what he said and they summoned the apostles and beat them. They prohibited them from teaching what Jesus commanded them and then released them.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “They heard well what he said the Gamaliel and when they had brought them again the disciples they beat them and they told them not to teach again about Jesus. They let them go free.”
  • San Mateo del Mar Huave: “So then they believed his speech. Then they called the apostles. They were whipped and they were told they could not speak more in regard to the name of Jesus. Then they were released.”
  • Desano: “They were all in agreement when he said this. They called God’s chosen ones and commanded to beat them with ropes. They prohibited them from speaking about the power of Jesus. Then they let them go.” (Source for this and four above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 5:41)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 5:41:

  • Uma: “Those apostles went away from the gathering. Their hearts were very glad, they said: ‘We are blessed/fortunate, because God has chosen us to be persecuted and reviled because of our following of Yesus.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then the commissioned ones departed from those councilors and they were very glad because they were now considered worthy by God to suffer/endure persecution for their faith/trust in Isa.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the apostles left, and they were very happy because they were considered by God to be able to endure their being shamed because of their trust in Jesus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When the apostles left, their happiness was great because God had counted them worthy to be publicly-shamed for Jesus.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well since like that had happened to the apostles, they were very happy as they left the Sanedrin, for they had been given honor by God, for he had allowed/caused them to experience shame because of their being united/tied-together with Jesus.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • San Mateo del Mar Huave. “So the apostles when they left the big meeting they were very happy because Father God had caused them to suffer at the hands of the authorities there for Father Jesus.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “When they went out from the council they were happy in their hearts because they had seen suffering because of Jesus.”
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “The apostles went from the junta with much joy. They rejoiced because God gave them the opportunity to suffer for Jesus’ sake.”
  • Isthmus Mixe: “Then Jesus’ sent ones came out from before the authorities. They rejoiced that God was pleased with their lives even to considering it appropriate for them to suffer for Jesus.” (Source for this and three above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 20:11)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 20:11:

  • Uma: “After that, he went back up going to the top, broke bread [into small pieces], and we (excl.) ate together. Paulus spoke further until it got light. After that he departed.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then he went up into the house again to break the bread (into pieces) and he ate. He still spoke to them until early morning and then he left with his companions.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Paul went up again into the house and he got some food and ate. He talked with them for a long time and when it was morning he left.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then Pablo again climbed-up and we (excl.) ate. After-we (excl.) -had-eaten then, he continued conversing until daylight, then we (excl.) left.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, we (excl.) went upstairs again and then just had something to eat. After eating, Pablo continued relating things to them. His talking reached sun-rise. And then he set out.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “Then Paul went up again. He ate. Then he continued talking with the believers until it dawned. Then he went.”
  • Isthmus Mixe: “Then Paul went up again. Then he celebrated Holy Communion, they thus ate. Then he talked more until morning. When it became morning he left.”
  • San Mateo del Mar Huave: “Then Paul went upstairs again. There they ate. When they were done eating, then they continued talking until morning. Then he left there.” (Note: this verse is taken either to refer to the Lord’s Supper, or to ordinary eating, or to both, or to a fellowship meal plus communion. Also can be Paul alone, or whole group.) (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 17:31)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 17:31:

  • Uma: “For he has made-certain one time later to decide/judge the cases of people all over the world justly. That work of deciding he has handed over to a person whom he chose ahead of time. That person he caused to live again from death, so that it would be clear to all mankind that he is indeed the one he chose to be the Judge of all mankind.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “For God has already appointed the day when he will judge all mankind, and his judgment is straight. And he has already chosen the man who will judge. God has-made-certain-to/assures all mankind that he is the one he has chosen, in that he made this man alive again from his death.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “He has set a day in the future upon which he will inspect all of mankind, and his inspection will be righteous also by means of the person whom he has chosen. He has shown that this which he will do is true because as for that person, he died and God raised him from the dead.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because there is a day that God has designated when-he-will-judge all people in the world. There is also a person whom he chose to properly judge them, and he confirmed that he is the one whom he chose by-means-of his bringing-him -to-life again.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For he has already determined the day when he will judge all people for their sins. There is a person whom he has set up to do the judging, and this judging of his is just/righteous. The proof that he is the one set up by God is, he died and then God made him alive again.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “Thus God wants that we repent because he set apart a day in order that all people be before him. He chose a man named Jesus in order that on that day which God set apart Jesus would say which people are good and which people are bad. God chose Jesus for that work because Jesus says only what is true. God made Jesus alive from the dead ones and in that way he showed us that he chose Jesus for that work.”
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “He has already established a day when he will judge with complete fairness all the people of the world. He has already chosen a man who will judge in his stead and he raised that person back to life from among the dead’. By this he has given all people to understand that this is how things are established.”
  • San Mateo del Mar Huave: “‘For Father God has appointed a day in which to judge all the people of the world. That will be when Jesus will judge. For that reason Father God, when he raised Jesus from the dead, then it was manifested that it was the truth all that he had said that he would do.’ he says.” (Source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)