complete verse (Acts 25:20)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 25:20:

  • Uma: “So, I was confused about how to decide that case. That is why I asked Paulus, I said to him: ‘Do you (sing.) want to go to Yerusalem so that there your (sing.) case can be decided?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And because I was at a loss as to how I could investigate those things,’ Pestus said, ‘therefore I asked Paul if he was willing to go to Awrusalam to be judged there about those cases/problems of his.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And since I knew of no way to settle this, I asked Paul if he would like to go to Jerusalem so that I could investigate him there.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Since my experience is lacking in rendering-verdicts in complaints like that, I asked Pablo if he wanted his case to be tried in Jerusalem.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, since I know nothing concerning those things, I asked him whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem for there is where this legal-hearing of theirs would be finished up.” (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 25:20

I was undecided renders a verb that indicates Festus felt thoroughly confused about what to do. Both Phillips (“I did not feel qualified”) and the New English Bible (“finding myself out of my depth”) express this idea on a rather high level of language.

Get information on these matters may be rendered as “learn more about these matters” or “find out exactly what was involved in these matters.”

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 .