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 )
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)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 27:9:
Uma: “Because already much time was past, it was past the big day of the fasting-time of the Yahudi people, and the cold time had almost arrived. Usually at that time all ships must stop, because the blowing of the wins is dangerous/frightening, and the ships no longer travel well. That’s why Paulus warned them not to continue-on, he said:” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Because we (excl.) had been already quite-a-long-time on the way, it was already dangerous if we (excl.) would still continue/proceed, because it was season for strong winds (habagat) already. Paul instructed/warned the people, he said,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And since we had been traveling for a long time, the bad time for travel had arrived because it was rainy season and it was already dangerous for ships to travel. Therefore Paul advised them, he said,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Since we (excl.) had been delayed a-long-time on-account-of the wind, it was dangerous to ride in a ship, because it was typhoon-season. So Pablo advised them saying,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Because the delaying of our voyage was already big, we reached the time when it is dangerous to sail. Proof was, the day of the most important fast had passed already. Therefore Pablo tried-to-arrange-with them. He said,” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Lalana Chinantec: “We got very late. The day passed by when the Israel people are accustomed to making a fast. Therefore it was evident that it had completed the season when people stop walking on the boat trail. The season had arrived when it is very dangerous, therefore Paul spoke, he said to the people what he thought.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
A long time is a vague expression of time, as is several days in verse 7. In both instances Luke uses one of his favorite expressions (literally “sufficient days” and “sufficient time”). This reference to time is better rendered as “many days” rather than being a reference to weeks. “Many weeks” would certainly have involved a couple of months or so, and by that time no one would have set out on a journey to Rome by ship.
It became dangerous to continue the voyage because the end of the sailing season was approaching. According to one ancient source, not much sailing was done after the middle of September, and it stopped entirely after November 11.
The exact date on which the day of Atonement (literally “the fast”) was celebrated differed from year to year, though it would it would have been either in September or October. Some commentators believe that this was the year A.D. 59, and that the fast came in this year on October 5. In any case, all the men considered that it was dangerous to continue the voyage to Sicily at this time. It is important in translating the final clause of this verse not to suggest that there was some religious factor involved in the danger of continuing the voyage. It was purely a matter of the season of the year. Therefore, in some languages one must translate: “because it was so late in the year, the day of Atonement was already passed.”
It may be very useful at this point to have some brief marginal note explaining the significance of the day of Atonement. However, even in translation some meaningful equivalent should be employed—for example, “the day on which atonement was made for sins,” “the day when there was a special ceremony for the atoning for sins,” or “the day which celebrated the forgiveness of sins.”
So Paul gave them this advice may be rendered as “so Paul advised them with the following words” or “so Paul warned them,” since the advice given is essentially in the form of a warning.
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 .
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