Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Acts 5:38)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 5:38:

  • Uma: “So, relatives, here are my words: let’s not do anything to those followers of Yesus out there. Just leave them alone. Because if their teaching and plans are just from mankind, they will of course collapse of themselves.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “That’s why I am advising/instructing you now about this matter/problem,’ Gamaliel said. ‘Do not fight these men. Leave them alone. Because if their thoughts and this they are doing is from man/humans, it will not prosper (lit. it will have no future).” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Therefore, my advice to you now is: let’s not do anything to these people, but rather let’s pay no attention to them. Because if what they are doing and teaching only comes from man, it will come to nothing also.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore what I say to you now, why-don’t we (lit. even if we) release and leave-them -alone, because if it’s just people’s thoughts/minds that their purposes and actions are coming from, it cannot-continue.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore now, this is what I say to you that you don’t interfere with these people. Just leave them alone. For if this which they are persevering in is only from man, of course this also won’t come to anything. Just like that in the past.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Acts 5:39)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 5:39:

  • Uma: “But if their teaching is actually from God, we will not be able to defeat them. Because if [you do] like that, it will look like [lit., its appearance] we are just opposing God.’ So, those words of Gamaliel were accepted by the judges.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But if this is from God, you will really not be able to stop them. You may perhaps even be fighting/opposing God.’ So-then the councilors heeded that advice of his.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However if it comes from God, we can’t overcome it. And that’s not all, because it is possible that we might be opposing God,’ said Gamaliel. And then the leaders went along with the advice of Gamaliel.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But if God is where-it-is-from, we have no way to defeat them, because God is the one whom we are opposing.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But if it’s coming from God, of course you won’t be able to prevent it, but on the contrary it will turn out that you are opposing God.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

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 5:42)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 5:42:

  • Uma: “Every day in the House of God or in other houses, there was no cessation of them announcing the Good News, that Yesus was the Redeemer King.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And every day they persistently taught there in the temple and in the houses of the people. And they continued proclaiming the good news about Isa Almasi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And everyday they were there just the same in the church and in the houses teaching the good news about Jesus, the one whom God chose so that he might rule.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Every-day they persevered in teaching and preaching in the Temple and in the many-houses that Jesus is the Messiah.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore instead of stopping that which they were doing, they continued it (emph.). Every day they were there in the Templo, and also in the houses, teaching concerning Jesus that he was the Cristo who was the Savior King promised by God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “They did not close their mouth but every day they taught. They talked about Jesus Christ in the big church and from house to house.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 6:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 6:1:

  • Uma: “As-time-went-on the more-and-more people who followed Yesus. At first, the followers of Yesus were all Yahudi people. But part of them spoke Yunani and another part spoke Yahudi. At that time, the followers who spoke Yunani complained about their companions who spoke Yahudi, they said: ‘Our(excl.) women who are widows, they are not receiving the portion that is divided every day to the pitiful/poor.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “At that time, when the followers of Isa were increasing in number, Yahudi born in other countries, whose language was Girik were opposing/quarreling with the Yahudi who had not moved from their country, whose language was Hibrani. The Yahudi from other countries complained because they said that their widow-women had been forgotten/neglected and not been given a share of the money distributed every day.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And at that time the people who believed in Jesus increased very much in number. And as for the believers who were Jews who spoke Greek, there was that which made their breath bad toward the other believers who were Jews. The Grecians said that their widow women were not given anything when that which is used to help was distributed every day to the widow women.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “That being so, those who believed in Jesus increasingly became-many. But-then the Jews whose language was Griego, they grumbled concerning the Jews who spoke Hebreo. Their grounds-for-complaint, they said that the many-widows who were their companions were being left-out in the daily distribution of money.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, at that time, when the number of believers kept on increasing, it happened that there were hard-feelings felt by the Jews whose language was Ginirego against the Jews whose language was Hinebreo. They were saying that when the widows were distributed aid to every day, why were the widows whose language was Ginirego being passed over?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Acts 6:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 6:2:

  • Uma: “That’s why the twelve apostles of the Lord Yesus called all the followers of Yesus to gather together, and they said to them: ‘It is not good if we (excl.) are the ones to organize the distribution of food, because we (excl.) will not have enough time to carry the Word of God.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So the twelve commissioned ones summoned/called all the followers of Isa to gather. And they said to them, ‘It is not suitable/right if we (excl.) leave the proclaiming of God’s word/message in order that we (excl.) will distribute/divide the money for expenses.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then the apostles gathered together all the believers, and they said, ‘It is not good if we, the apostles, we abandon teaching the word of God so that we might divide up that which is given to help.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore the apostles, they gathered-together all the believers in Jesus and they said to them, ‘It is inappropriate if we (excl.) are distributing the money and we (excl.) are ignoring our (excl.) work of preaching the word of God.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore what those twelve apostles did was, they assembled all the believers and they said, ‘It isn’t possible/acceptable that we (excl.) apostles turn our (excl.) backs on teaching the word of God to give attention to the distributing of aid.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Acts 6:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 6:3:

  • Uma: “So, relatives, it is better that we choose from our companions seven people with good actions, who are controlled by the Holy Spirit, and who are wise [have clear hearts], so that to them we (excl.) give the work of supervising this matter of food.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So brothers,’ they said, ‘you must/should choose seven men from among you, men whom you really know are controlled/ruled-over by the Holy Spirit and who have deep knowledge. We (excl.) will give them this work.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Therefore, brethren,’ they said, ‘it would be good if you choose seven of our companions who are respected. It is necessary that the ones you choose must be men who are wise whom you know are thoroughly inspired by the Holy Spirit. And we will give to them the authority to divide up.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore you siblings, choose seven intelligent men who are full of the power of the Holy Spirit and whose behavior is well spoken-of. It is they to-whom-we (excl.) -will-entrust the distribution of money,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore now, it would be good for you to choose seven men whom we (excl.) will set up in this job/responsibility of being distributors. It’s necessary that those you choose are people recognized by all of you as being very obedient to the Espiritu Santo who indwells them and their wisdom/understanding is mature/full-strength.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Isthmus Mixe: “Then the twelve sent ones of Jesus ordered that the brethren gather together. Then they said: ‘It is not proper that we (excl.) distribute food. We will thus not be able to teach God’s word well.'”
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “Then the twelve apostles gather all those who believed in our Lord Jesus and said: ‘It is not right that we should discontinue proclaiming God’s word in order to feed people.'” (Source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)