soldier

The Greek that is translated as “soldier” in English didn’t have a direct equivalent in Enlhet so it was translated with “those that bind us” (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1969, p. 24ff. ) and in Noongar it is mammarapa-bakadjiny or “men of fighting” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

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 23:31)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 23:31:

  • Uma: “From there, after he wrote that letter, he ordered his soldiers to take Paulus to the Governor. That night they took him to the town of Antipatris.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then the soldiers took Paul as they had been commanded. That night they brought him to the place Antipatir.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then after the captain had finished his letter, the soldiers obeyed his command to them and they got Paul and left. On that night they arrived there in the town of Antipatris.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When it was night, the soldiers obeyed what their leader had commanded, and they escorted Pablo as-far-as Antipatris.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Without anything further, the soldiers at once obeyed what they had been ordered to do. When night came, they fetched Pablo and then set out. When day came they were in Antipatris.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 23:31

In Greek, verse 31 is one sentence with carried out their orders and got as two participles dependent upon the main verb took. However, most translators tend to make at least one of these participles (usually “took”) into a finite verb; the Good News Translation has made both of them into finite verbs for ease of comprehension.

From Jerusalem to Antipatris would have been a journey of about 40 miles, a difficult distance for foot soldiers to cover during a night’s march. The usual march for a group of soldiers was set at 24 miles, but during the cool of the night they could possibly have covered more distance than they could during the heat of the day on a normal march.

It is important in terms such as got and took to preserve the appropriate geographical point of view. Since in verse 32 the soldiers returned to the fort (that is, to Jerusalem), it would seem that the point of view of the narration was certainly Jerusalem.

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 .