Acts chapter10 records some marvelous events leading up to the conversion
of the Gentiles. Peter fell into a trance and God used the opportunity to prepare
him for the journey to the household of Cornelius. Acts 10:17 tells us about
Peter's response to the vision he had when he went up on the roof to pray.
There is a word that is used in the Greek text of Acts 10:17 that tells us of
the degree of Peter's bewilderment regarding the vision and its meaning. The
word is dieporei. It is imperfect active in form and means to "be greatly
perplexed, be at a loss." (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament
and Other Early Christian Literature, page 235) In the Greek text
Acts 10:17 says "Now as Peter was greatly perplexed within himself, what
the vision he saw might mean, behold the men who had been sent by Cornelius
found Simon's house by asking, they stood at the gate."
I compared several English translations to the Greek text of Acts 10:17
in order to see which ones rendered dieporei in a way that accurately conveyed
the depth of Peter's bewilderment.
The RSV says, "Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed..."
The ESV says, "Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed..."
The NIV 2011 says, "While Peter was wondering about the meaning..."
The NASB says, "Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind..."
The HCSB says, "While Peter was deeply perplexed..."
The NRSV says, "Now while Peter was greatly puzzled..."
The ASV says, "Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself..."
Of the translations listed, the NIV 2011 rendering is the most bland,
followed by the RSV and the ESV. The remaining four do well in translating
dieporei . I especially like the NRSV's "greatly puzzled." It is a bit more
modern than the NASB and the HCSB. The ASV rendering "much perplexed"
is somewhat antiquated but can be understood. As expected, the ASV's rendering
is not only literally accurate, but it is virtually a word for word translation of
the Greek text in Act 10:17.
When compared to the Greek text, the NASB, HCSB, NRSV, and the ASV
accurately convey the meaning of dieporei in Acts 10:17. They phrase their
interpretation differently, but each exhibits good exegetical precision. This
shows the value of comparing translations, and it shows that just because a
translation is accurate in one place does not mean it maintains accuracy
throughout its text. All translations must be examined on a passage by passage
basis.
RD
Copyright 2011
of the Gentiles. Peter fell into a trance and God used the opportunity to prepare
him for the journey to the household of Cornelius. Acts 10:17 tells us about
Peter's response to the vision he had when he went up on the roof to pray.
There is a word that is used in the Greek text of Acts 10:17 that tells us of
the degree of Peter's bewilderment regarding the vision and its meaning. The
word is dieporei. It is imperfect active in form and means to "be greatly
perplexed, be at a loss." (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament
and Other Early Christian Literature, page 235) In the Greek text
Acts 10:17 says "Now as Peter was greatly perplexed within himself, what
the vision he saw might mean, behold the men who had been sent by Cornelius
found Simon's house by asking, they stood at the gate."
I compared several English translations to the Greek text of Acts 10:17
in order to see which ones rendered dieporei in a way that accurately conveyed
the depth of Peter's bewilderment.
The RSV says, "Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed..."
The ESV says, "Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed..."
The NIV 2011 says, "While Peter was wondering about the meaning..."
The NASB says, "Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind..."
The HCSB says, "While Peter was deeply perplexed..."
The NRSV says, "Now while Peter was greatly puzzled..."
The ASV says, "Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself..."
Of the translations listed, the NIV 2011 rendering is the most bland,
followed by the RSV and the ESV. The remaining four do well in translating
dieporei . I especially like the NRSV's "greatly puzzled." It is a bit more
modern than the NASB and the HCSB. The ASV rendering "much perplexed"
is somewhat antiquated but can be understood. As expected, the ASV's rendering
is not only literally accurate, but it is virtually a word for word translation of
the Greek text in Act 10:17.
When compared to the Greek text, the NASB, HCSB, NRSV, and the ASV
accurately convey the meaning of dieporei in Acts 10:17. They phrase their
interpretation differently, but each exhibits good exegetical precision. This
shows the value of comparing translations, and it shows that just because a
translation is accurate in one place does not mean it maintains accuracy
throughout its text. All translations must be examined on a passage by passage
basis.
RD
Copyright 2011
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