complete verse (Acts 5:38)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 5:38:

  • Uma: “So, relatives, here are my words: let’s not do anything to those followers of Yesus out there. Just leave them alone. Because if their teaching and plans are just from mankind, they will of course collapse of themselves.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “That’s why I am advising/instructing you now about this matter/problem,’ Gamaliel said. ‘Do not fight these men. Leave them alone. Because if their thoughts and this they are doing is from man/humans, it will not prosper (lit. it will have no future).” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Therefore, my advice to you now is: let’s not do anything to these people, but rather let’s pay no attention to them. Because if what they are doing and teaching only comes from man, it will come to nothing also.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore what I say to you now, why-don’t we (lit. even if we) release and leave-them -alone, because if it’s just people’s thoughts/minds that their purposes and actions are coming from, it cannot-continue.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore now, this is what I say to you that you don’t interfere with these people. Just leave them alone. For if this which they are persevering in is only from man, of course this also won’t come to anything. Just like that in the past.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 5:38

In this case now translates a Greek expression which means “now” or “as far as the present situation is concerned.” It is the same phrase which is translated “now” in 4.29; and it appears in 17.30; 20.32; 27.22. A related expression appears in 24.25.

Do not take any action against is equivalent to “do nothing against” or “do nothing to harm.”

The clause if this plan and work of theirs is a man-made thing is often not easy to translate, since man-made can only be expressed by making people the subject of the clause, for example, “if only people have made these plans and do the work” or “if it is only a man who is commanding this plan and their work.”

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 .