47-00

Paul and Silas in Philippi

This title can also be translated as: “About what happened to Paul and Silas in Philippi” or “What happened to Paul and Silas in Philippi?”

47-01

As Saul traveled throughout the Roman Empire, he began to use his Roman name, “Paul.”

This is background information about why Saul was now called Paul. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])

One day

This introduces a new event. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])

proclaim

This could mean teach or preach.

they met a woman named Lydia

This introduces Lydia as a new character in the story. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])

who was a merchant. She loved and worshiped God.

This is background information about who Lydia was. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])

merchant

This could also be translated as: “seller” or “business owner.”

47-02

She invited Paul and Silas to stay at her house

This was the normal custom of the day for people to provide hospitality to visitors in their homes. There were no immoral motives in this arrangement.

47-03

a slave girl

This introduces the unnamed slave girl as a new character in the story. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])

her masters

In this case, this could also be translated as: “her owners.”

a fortuneteller

This could mean as someone who told people what would happen to them in the future. A fortuneteller tried to get information from spirits in the supernatural world. A person who does this is sometimes called a diviner or soothsayer. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-unknown/01.md]])

47-04

the way to be saved

How a person can be saved is spoken of here as if it were a way or path that a person walks on. Alternate translation: “how you can be saved” or “how God saves people” or “God’s plan for saving people” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-metaphor/01.md]])

47-05

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]])

turned to her

This could mean turned around and looked at her.

In the name of Jesus

This could mean by the authority of Jesus. Here name stands for speaking with the authority or as the representative of Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus’ authority, Paul could command the demon to leave. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-metonymy/01.md]])

come out of her

This could mean leave her or go away from her.

Right away the demon left her

the demon came out immediately (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])

47-06

The men who owned the slave girl became very angry!

This exclamation emphasizes how angry the men who owned the servant girl became at Paul and Silas. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-exclamations/01.md]])

without the demon

This could mean without the power from the demon or now that she did not have the demon.

the future

This could mean what would happen to them in the future.

This meant that

This could also be translated as: “Because of this” or “Therefore.”

47-07

So the owners of the slave girl

The connecting word So introduces a reason and result relationship. The reason was the owners could no longer make money. The result was they took Paul and Silas to the Roman authorities. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])

They beat

They refers to the Roman authorities, not the owners of the slave girl. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-pronouns/01.md]])

threw them

This could mean put them.

47-08

But in the middle of the night

The connecting word But introduces a contrast relationship. Paul and Silas had been beaten, put in prison with their feet locked into wood. You would expect them to be crying or protesting, but instead of doing that, they were singing songs of praise to God. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])

in the middle of the night

This could be translated as: “very late at night” or “very early in the morning.” This was when it was completely dark outside, when people would normally be asleep.

singing songs of praise to God

This can also be translated as: “praising God by singing” or “singing songs to praise God” or “singing songs that gave praise to God.”

47-09

Suddenly

This introduces a new event. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])

the chains of all the prisoners

The possessive of all the prisoners here refers chains that were holding the prisoners in place. They did not belong to the prisoners—they belonged to the Roman government. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-possession/01.md]])

fell off

This could mean suddenly came off or suddenly came apart so that the prisoners were released.

47-10

the jailer

This could mean the official in charge of the jail.

so he got ready to kill himself

The connecting word so introduces a reason and result relationship. The reason was the jailer was afraid of the Roman authorities because he thought the prisoners had escaped. The result is he intended to kill himself. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])

But Paul saw him and shouted

The connecting word But introduces a contrast relationship. You would expect that the prisoners had escaped and that the jailer will kill himself. Instead Paul stops him from killing himself, and tells him that all the prisoners are still in the jail. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])

We

Some languages have a special form of the word We which does not include the person being talked to. Here the We does not include the jailer, only Paul and the rest of the prisoners. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-exclusive/01.md]])

47-11

What must I do to be saved?

The question refers to salvation from being punished by the God who caused the earthquake. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “what must I do for God to save me from my sins?” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-activepassive/01.md]])

Believe in Jesus, the Master

This was addressed to both the jailer and his family, who all then believed and were baptized. Some languages may use a grammatical form of the verb believe to indicate that Paul is speaking to the group.

you and your family will be saved

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “God will save you and your family” or “God will save you and your family from eternal punishment for your sins.” Make sure it is clear that the salvation referred to here is spiritual, not physical. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-activepassive/01.md]])

47-12

so Paul and Silas baptized them

The connecting word so introduces a reason and result relationship. The reason was the jailer and his whole family believed in Jesus. The result was that Paul and Silas baptized all of them. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])

47-13

the leaders of the city

This refers to the officials of the city or the authorities of the city.

and then left the city

This indicates that end of the story. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-endofstory/01.md]])

The good news about Jesus kept spreading

This could mean People in more and more places were hearing the good news about Jesus.

the Church kept growing

This could mean more and more people were becoming part of the Church or more and more people were believing in Jesus.

47-14

A Bible story from

These references may be slightly different in some Bible translations.