BIBL 104
Name:
BIBLE STUDY ROJECT BSERVATION EMPLATE P : O T
Passage: Acts 19:11-22
A. I have read Acts 19:11-22 in both a formal translation (NASB, NRSV, ESV, or CSB)
and a functional translation (NIV, NLT, or NCV). Highlight the correct answer. Please
use the translation provided in your digital library or found at Biblegateway.com.
oYes
oNo
B. Having read the passage in both formal and functional translation, list at least 2 similarities
and 3 differences between the way both translations cover this story. These similarities and
differences should be related to the text itself rather than the translation. For example, an
observation like, “The formal translation is harder to read” is not an acceptable observation
because it deals with the translation itself rather than the text. You may list as many
similarities as possible and differences that you find providing that you meet the minimum
amount for each one.
1. Similarity – Both translations recognize “evil spirits” and the Jewish priests being
responsible for the attempted removal of evil spirts. Both versions accept that the
Jewish were held accountable for a job meant for Paul, ending badly because so.
2. Similarity – Both translations recognize Paul as creating miracles with the help of
God and refer to the Lord as God.
3. Difference – Notable difference in words from ESV to NIV. Acts 19:13, “Some of
the Jews who went around driving evil spirits tried to invoke the name of Lord
Jesus over those who were demon-possessed.” (NIV) and “Then, some of the
itinerant whom Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus
Paul proclaims.” (ESV). NIV states only jew versus ESV who states itinerant Jews
(traveling Jews) were doing exorcisms and ESV adds that Jesus proclaimed only
Paul to be a miracle worker (this gives more detail to why the evil spirits are able to
overtake the Jewish high priests).
4. Difference – Acts 19:16 (NIV) “naked and bleeding” versus (ESV) “naked and
wounded”. The ESV translation never says the wounds are bloodied or internal or
Page 1 of 4
BIBL 104
external. This could later cause some to think the evil spirits damage was less or
more.
5. Difference - Acts 19:19 (NIV) “practiced sorcery” versus (ESV) “practiced magic
arts”. By connotation, one may think that sorcery is darker and evil compared to
magic arts. By denotation, sorcery implies black magic, while magic arts implies
performing arts of tricks or illusions.
C. Identify the basic elements of the story you are studying.
1. Main characters: (List them)
-Paul, Jewish chief priests (Seven sons of Sceva), Timothy, Erastus
