complete verse (Acts 25:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 25:16:

  • Uma: “I answered them: according to Roma law, a person who is accused cannot be handed over to his enemies just like that, if he has not-yet been made to meet with his enemies and not-yet been given a chance to say his defense.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But I answered them that it was not the custom of us (excl.) Romans to sentence any person unless he is first brought face to face with his accusers, in order that he can answer the accusations against him.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And I said to them that as for us Romans, we do not turn an accused person over to anyone if he has not yet been able to come before his accusers and present his arguments to them.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I answered therefore that it wasn’t our (excl.) custom as Romano to hand-over a charged person to others to be punished if/when he had not yet been tried. It was necessary that he have opportunity first to face those who were accusing him so that he would have a way to answer them.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “However, I replied to them that that isn’t what the Romano do, simply sentencing anyone when he and the ones accusing him haven’t been in each other’s presence.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 25:16

In a number of languages it is difficult to translate the relationship of the various events mentioned in this verse, if they are kept in their present order and employ a conjunction such as before. However, with some shift of order it is possible to translate quite accurately and idiomatically—for example, “but I told them that it was the practice of the Romans first to have an accused man meet face to face those who accuse him and so have a chance of defending himself against what he has been accused of. I told him it was not the practice of Romans to hand over a man accused of a crime unless this had been done.” By breaking up this verse into two different sentences, one can often reproduce the meaning far more satisfactorily.

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 .