centurion

The Greek that is translated as “centurion” in English is translated in Noongar as “boss of the Roman soldiers (lit.: ‘men of fighting’)” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang), in Uma as “Roman army warchief” (source: Uma Back Translation), in Western Bukidnon Manobo as “a person who was not a Jew, the captain of a hundred soldiers” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation), and in Mairasi “leader of Roman warriors” (source: Enggavoter 2004).

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 22:25)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 22:25:

  • Uma: “Arriving there, Paulus was fastened to a post to be beaten. That’s why he said to the warchief next to him: ‘Can a Roman citizen be beaten if his case has not-yet been tried [lit., sat-upon]?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When Paul had been bound by them and was about to be whipped, Paul said to the lieutenant who was standing there, ‘Are you obeying the law when you beat a person/man of Roma like myself, and-what’s-more I have not yet been judged/tried?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when they had tied Paul up because they were ready to beat him, Paul said to the sergeant there, he said, ‘Does the law permit that you beat me, a subject of the town of Rome, before you have investigated me?'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But when they tied-him-up-against-something to whip-him, Pablo spoke to the captain who was standing there and said, ‘Isn’t it against the law that you whip a person who is a Romano if you don’t try-him first?'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But when Pablo had been secured to the securing-place, he spoke to a captain of soldiers who was standing near him. He said, ‘Isn’t it so that it’s against the law of the Romano to whip a person who has Romanoship when he hasn’t yet been passed sentence on?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 22:25

The phrase rendered to be whipped may be taken in the sense “with leather straps.” That is, Luke may either be telling the reason that Paul was being tied up or the means by which Paul was being tied up. The New English Bible accepts the same interpretation that the Good News Translation does, though it provides a footnote giving the alternate possibility.

The term lawful may be rendered as “according to the law,” “is this what the law says,” or “does the law allow you.” In some languages, of course, law may always be rendered as “laws” to indicate the body of laws.

The phrase a Roman citizen may, in this context, be rendered as “a person who has all the rights of the people who live in Rome” or “a person who is just like those in the city of Rome.”

Who hasn’t even been tried for any crime translates a Greek word which is also used in 16.37. The word may indicate one who has not been tried or one who has been tried and found innocent. In the present context, the emphasis is clearly on the former of these two possibilities. This final clause may be translated in some languages as “a person whom a judge has not passed sentence on,” “a man who has not been condemned in court,” or “a man to whom the judge has not yet said, You are guilty of a crime.”

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 .