45-00
Stephen and Philip
This title can also be translated as: “About how Stephen and Philip told people about Jesus” or “What happened when Stephen and Philip told people about Jesus?”
45-01
One of the leaders among the first followers of Jesus was a man named Stephen.
This introduces Stephen as a new character in the story. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])
Everyone respected him
This is background information about the kind of person Stephen was. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])
45-02
One day
This phrase introduces an event that happened in the past, but does not state the specific time. Many languages have a similar way to begin telling a true story. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])
so they went to the religious leaders and told lies about him.
The word so introduces a reason and result relationship. The reason is the Jews were very angry with Stephen because they could not win arguments with him. The result is they told lies about him. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
We heard Stephen speak evil things about Moses and God!
They used this exclamation to express how angry they were with Stephen, and to try to make the other people angry with him as well. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-exclamations/01.md]])
45-03
always reject the Holy Spirit
This could mean never obey the Holy Spirit or always refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit.
our ancestors
This could be translated as: “our ancestors, the Israelites.”
But you did something worse than they did! You killed the Messiah!
Stephen used these exclamations to accuse the Jews of murdering the Messiah whom God had sent to them. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-exclamations/01.md]])
45-04
covered their ears
This was a symbolic action to show that they did not want to hear what Stephen said. This could also be translated as: “They put their hands over their ears.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-symaction/01.md]])
yelled loudly
They were yelling in anger. Translate this in a way that communicates that they were very upset.
45-05
As Stephen was dying
This could mean Just before Stephen died.
cried out
This could mean called out in a loud voice or said very loudly.
Jesus, receive my spirit
This could mean take my spirit. It may be helpful to add please to show that this was a request. Alternate translation: “please receive my spirit”
he fell to his knees
This is an act of submission to God. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-symaction/01.md]])
do not hold this sin against them
This could mean do not consider them guilty of the sin of killing me. This can be stated in a positive way. Alternate translation: “forgive them for this sin” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-litotes/01.md]])
Then he died
This is the end of the story about Stephen. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-endofstory/01.md]])
45-06
That day, many people in Jerusalem started persecuting the followers of Jesus, so the believers fled to other places. But in spite of this, they preached about Jesus everywhere they went.
This is background information about the persecution of the believers after the death of Stephen. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])
But in spite of this
The Jewish leaders thought they could stop the spread of Jesus’ teaching by persecuting his followers. Instead, this caused them to scatter and spread the message even more widely.
45-07
There was a believer in Jesus named Philip
This introduces Philip as a new character in the story. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])
One day
This phrase introduces an event that happened in the past, but does not state the specific time. Many languages have a similar way to begin telling a true story. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])
This man was an important official from the land of Ethiopia.
This is background information about the official from Ethiopia. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a country in Eastern Africa.
45-08
the Ethiopian
That is, a person from the country of Ethiopia. See note on 45:07.
led him like a lamb to be killed, and as a lamb is silent, he did not say a word. They treated him unfairly and did not respect him. They took his life away from him.”
The pronouns he, him, and his in this quotation refer to the Messiah. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-pronouns/01.md]])
as a lamb is silent
This could also be translated as: “like a lamb that is silent even when it is about to be killed.”
45-09
“Do you understand what you are reading?”
The Ethiopian was intelligent and could read, but he lacked spiritual discernment. Alternate translation: “Do you understand the meaning of what you are reading?” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-explicit/01.md]])
Please come and sit next to me
It is implied here that Philip agreed to travel down the road with him to explain the scriptures. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-explicit/01.md]])
Was Isaiah writing about
This can also be translated as: “Was Isaiah referring to.”
45-11
some water
Use a term that means a larger body of water such as a pond, lake, or stream.
May I be baptized?
This could also be translated as: “Is there any reason that I cannot be baptized?”
45-12
So they went down into the water
The connecting word So introduces a reason and result relationship. The reason was the Ethiopian believed what Philip told him, and asked to be baptized when they saw water nearby. The result is Philip baptized him. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
carried Philip away
This could mean took Philip away or snatched Philip away.
There Philip continued to tell people about Jesus
This is the end of the story about Philip. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-endofstory/01.md]])
45-13
The Ethiopian continued traveling toward his home. He was happy that he now knew Jesus.
This is the end of the story about the Ethiopian official. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-endofstory/01.md]])
A Bible story from
These references may be slightly different in some Bible translations.