complete verse (Acts 25:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 25:1:

  • Uma: “Festus had only been ruling three days in that province, [when] he departed from the town of Kaisarea and went to Yerusalem.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “After three days from the time Pestus arrived in that place where he was governor, he went from Kesarea up to Awrusalam.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Three days after Festus came to the province of Judea, he left the town of Caesarea and he went to Jerusalem.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Three days went-by starting from when-Festus -began to-be-governor in Cesarea, then he went to Jerusalem.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “From when Festo arrived in Cesarea, three days is how long he was there, and then he went to Jerusalem.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Jerusalem

The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:


“Jerusalem” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

Translation commentary on Acts 25:1

It should be pointed out that the first three verses are actually one sentence in Greek. By specifying three days, Luke intends for his readers to understand that the new governor attended to Paul’s case as soon as possible after he had assumed his authority. Arrived in the province may be taken geographically as in the Good News Translation and most other translations, or administratively as in the New English Bible (“taking up his appointment”) and Phillips (“taken over his province”).

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 .