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).

complete verse (Acts 4:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 4:3:

  • Uma: “That is why they caught/arrested those two apostles, and they put them in jail. Because it was almost dark, that is why they detained them there until the next morning.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore, they seized Petros and Yahiya. Because that was already evening/late afternoon, they imprisoned them until the morning.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And they arrested Peter and John, and since it was already quite late in the afternoon, they put them in prison because they would have them wait until morning.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “That being so, they held-them -tightly and took them to the prison so that on the next day (lit. its-tomorrow) they would then try them, because it was already getting-to-be-night.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore what those who had arrived did was, they arrested Pedro and Juan, and because it was already late afternoon, they just jailed them. They would interrogate them next day.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Sierra de Juárez Zapotec: “They put them in jail the night before hearing the complaint against them because it was late in the day when they laid hold on them.”
  • Desano: “They put them in jail and left them there because it was already very late in the day, and they were going to bring them out the next day.”
  • Lalana Chinantec: “They put them in jail for one night, because it was nightfall-there was no longer time to judge them.” (Source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

Translation commentary on Acts 4:3

A transitional item to show the conclusion or result of a previous situation is effectively expressed by so.

Since the process of arresting is so common all over the world, there are usually no problems involved. However, in some languages it is literally “they grabbed hold of them,” “they tied them up,” or “they surrounded them.”

The institution of jails is likewise widespread in the world, but in some so-called primitive areas a number of interesting idioms are employed, for example, “the house of darkness,” “the house of iron,” or “the house with chains.”

The clause since it was already late must, of course, refer to the time of day. This is expressed in a number of languages as “since the sun was already going down.”

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 .