Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )
The Greek that is transliterated as “Silas” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign depicting “chains falling off,” referring to Acts 16:26. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The term that is transliterated as “Paul” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the many letters he wrote. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Paul” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting putting away a sword, referring to his conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a Christian leader. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 17:4:
Uma: “There were some Yahudi people who believed those words and they followed Paulus and Silas. There were also many Yunani people who submitted to the Lord God and also many women with big names, they also believed in the word that Paulus brought.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Some of the Yahudi believed and joined Paul and Silas. And many Girik people who worshiped God also joined. And many prominent women also joined.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then some of the Jews believed, and they followed Paul and Silas. There were also many Greeks who believed who had worshipped God before, and also there were some high women of the village who believed.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “There were Jews who were persuaded by what he was saying, and they followed Pablo and Silas. Many Gentiles who joined-in-worshipping God and rich women also believed.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “When they heard the teaching of Pablo and Silas, many believed what they were saying. There were indeed some Jews who believed, but those who were very numerous were those who although not Jews were indeed devout-worshippers of God. Even the women of high/important blood, many of them also believed in Jesus.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Convinced may be rendered as “believed that what Paul had said was true” or “believed Paul’s words.” The term joined must not be understood in the technical sense of joining an association but in the more informal meaning of “counted themselves one with Paul and Silas,” “took the part of Paul and Silas,” or “identified themselves as being companions of Paul and Silas.”
The Greeks who worshiped God were persons who had not been fully converted to Judaism, but who believed in and who worshiped the God of Judaism. The phrase translated as leading women (so most translations) may be translated as “important women in the town.” However, it may be understood to mean “the wives of the leading men” (Barclay).
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 .
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