John the Evangelist (icon)

Following is a Bulgarian Orthodox icon of John the Evangelist from the 14th century (found in Rila Monastery, Bulgaria).

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 John (the disciple).

John (the disciple)

The term that is transliterated as “John (the disciple)” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign for the letter J and the sign signifying “beloved,” referring to John 13:23 et al. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“John” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts John’s head resting on Jesus’ chest, referring to John 13:23.


“John” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with with the sign for “young.” This refers to the traditional belief that he was the youngest of the apostles and the fact that he was younger than his brother James (see relative age of James and John. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“John” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

See also John the Evangelist (icon).

Peter

Following is a Armenian Orthodox icon of Peter (found in the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shusha, Azerbaijan).

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 )

Following is a hand colored stencil print on momigami of Peter by Sadao Watanabe (1970):

Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe. For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “key” (referring to Matthew 16:19). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Peter” or “Cephas” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “rock,” referring to the meaning of the Greek word for “Peter.”


“Peter” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

See also Peter – rock.

complete verse (Acts 3:11)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 3:11:

  • Uma: “So, that lame person that was had just been healed kept following Petrus and Yohanes. When they arrived at the porch [lit., place-to-get-fresh-air] called Salomo’s Porch, many people came gathering to throng them, because they were surprised.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The man was still holding on to Petros and Yahiya there at what they called Sulaiman’s Porch. So-then the people ran to them there wondering greatly.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And while he was still causing himself to be led by the hand by Peter and John, all the people there gathered together and surrounded them because they were so surprised. And they were near the church in the sheltering place called the Sheltering Place of Solomon.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When that was so, Pedro and Juan went to the Temple area called Solomon’s Roofed-Shelter. The formerly lame-one hung-onto them while the many-people all-ran to go where they were, because they were amazed.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When the crowd saw that that man kept holding on to Pedro and Juan still, they hurried to approach them there in that roofed part of the like-a-yard of the Templo called Portico of Solomon. They really were very amazed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 3:11

The introductory clause as the man held on to Peter and John forms an excellent transition from the preceding paragraph, since it introduces all the principal participants and shows the continuing relation between the lame man, Peter, and John.

Though the Greek text introduces the concept of amazement by an adjective at the end of verse 11, it may be more satisfactory to change the order, as has been done in the Good News Translation, to indicate clearly the temporal sequence and the implied cause and effect.

The phrase ran to them may in some languages be better rendered as “ran to where they were.”

Solomon’s Porch was a type of roofed colonnade or portico. It is usually conjectured that it was the colonnade that ran the length of the east side of the outer court, but identification cannot be made with certainty. It is mentioned again in 5.12 and also in John 10.23.

The expression Solomon’s Porch may require a certain degree of elaboration if it is to be fully comprehended, for example, “a porch which was known as Solomon’s” or “a porch called by the people Solomon’s Porch.”

In some relatively primitive areas there is no construction which immediately parallels this type of colonnade. One can sometimes use a more general term such as “a long shelter” or “a roofed-over shelter.” In many areas such a shelter is constructed for special festivities and therefore the name of this type of even temporary construction can probably be employed as the closest natural equivalent. If the differences are too great then some type of marginal note is necessary.

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 .