complete verse (Acts 16:26)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 16:26:

  • Uma: “At that time all of a sudden there was unexpectedly a big earthquake, with the result that the foundation-stones of the jail moved/shook. All the doors immediately opened and the chains binding all the prisoners opened/loosened by themselves.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Suddenly there was a very strong earthquake so that the foundation (lit. for-placing-on) of that prison was shaken. Immediately all the doors opened and the chains of all the prisoners dropped off.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then it suddenly earthquaked very strongly, and the prison was thoroughly shaken, and then and there the doors of the prison came open, and the chains on the prisoners dropped off.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When that was so, there was right-then a fearful earthquake that severely shook the prison, and the doors all-opened, while the chains that were handcuffed to the various-prisoners abruptly-came-off.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And then suddenly/unexpectedly the earth quaked strongly. Without anything further, all the supports of that jail swayed, at the same time the doors opened and what was fastening each one came undone.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 16:26

There was a violent earthquake may be rendered in some languages as “the earth shook very much.” In practically all areas there are earthquakes, and some equivalent expression is normally well known. In some instances, however, it is highly idiomatic—for example, “the volcano snored,” “mother earth had a fit,” or “the giant rolled over.”

Shook the prison to its foundations may be rendered as “even shook the foundations of the prison” or “even shook the ground on which the prison was built.”

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 .