he found a Jew named Aquila

The Greek that is translated as “he found a Jew named Aquila” in English is translated in Tzotzil as “he found one of his own people called Aquila” because a more literal translation would have implied that Paul is non-Jewish (source: Callow 1972, p. 35)

See also the Jews plotted to kill him.

Paul (icon)

Following is a Georgian Orthodox icon of Paul the Apostle from the 14th century (located in the Art Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi).

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 )

See also Paul.

Paul

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)


“Paul (and Saul)” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Paul (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also Paul (icon).

complete verse (Acts 18:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 18:2:

  • Uma: “In Korintus, Paulus met a Yahudi man named Akwila. The town of his birth was in the land of Pontus. This Akwila with Priskila his wife, had just arrived in the town of Korintus themselves, because they had just moved from the land of Italia. This move of theirs from the land of Italia, was because there was a command of King Klaudius expelling all the Yahudi people from the town of Roma in the land of Italia. So, when Paulus arrived in Korintus, he went to visit this Akwila and Priskila,” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “There he met with a Yahudi named Akila, born in the land of Pontus. That Akila had newly arrived in Korinto from the country Italiya together with his wife, Pirisila. They left Italiya because King Kalaudi had commanded all the Yahudi to leave Roma, the big city in Italiya. Then Paul went to visit Akila and company.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And there he came upon two Jews, a married couple from Pontus, Aquila and his wife Priscilla. They had just arrived there from Italy because there was a law of King Claudius causing all of the Jewish people to go out from the town of Rome. Paul went to visit them,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There he came-upon a Jew from-Pontus named Aquila and his spouse Priscilla. They had-just-arrived from Italia, because Emperor Claudius had commanded that all Jews leave Roma which was the capital of Italia. Pablo went to go visit them,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “There he met/saw a man who was a Jew named Aquila. As for that person, Ponto was where he was born but he had moved to Roma, the main city in Italia. From there, he and his wife Priscila had moved because of the law sent down by the Impiradur Claudio, saying, ‘All Jews in Roma must now leave.’ Therefore they were now there in Corinto for that’s where they’d moved to. It wasn’t yet long since they had arrived there. After Pablo had met him, he went to their house.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 18:2

Aquila is further mentioned in verses 18, 19, and 26, as well as in Romans 16.3; 1 Corinthians 16.19; 2 Timothy 4.19.

Pontus was a Roman province which, along with Bithynia, formed a single administrative unit under the Roman government.

Just translates an adverb which originally meant “freshly killed,” but then had the derived meaning of “recently” (see New English Bible, Phillips).

His wife Priscilla is again mentioned in connection with Aquila in verses 18, 19, and 26. The “Prisca” of the Greek in Romans 16.3; 1 Corinthians 16.19; and 2 Timothy 4.19, each time mentioned in connection with “Aquila,” is undoubtedly the same person, since the form Priscilla is simply a diminutive of Prisca. Aquila is never mentioned alone. It is almost certain that the same pair is referred to in each case.

The order from Emperor Claudius for all the Jews to leave Rome was given about A.D. 49, but very little is known about the circumstances which provoked it. From indications outside the New Testament, it would seem as if there had been a squabble between Christian Jews and non-Christian Jews in Rome, and the trouble caused by their disagreements led to their banishment.

A verb such as ordered may require direct discourse in some languages—for example, “had ordered, All you Jews must leave Rome.”

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 .