The Reverend J.A. Layman, evangelist with The Lay School here in Clinton, Tennessee, presented the results of the sbs, vbv, comparison study of the book of the Acts of the Apostles to the faculty in its weekly meeting, saying, “Dan Hopkinson, Founder and President of Sterling Ministries as well as The Lay School, has completed the comparison study on the book of Acts, and has compiled the following list of ‘differences’ between the King James Version and the eleven other English translations/versions of the New Testament included in this study, the Amplified Bible, the Douay-Rheims Bible, the American Standard Version, the Geneva Bible, the NIV, the Revised Version, the Revised Standard Version, the Bishops Bible, the Matthews Bible, the Tyndale Bible, and the Wycliffe New Testament. The results are as follows:”
Acts 1:13 The Amplified Bible, and the NIV translate “[son]” and “son” respectively for “the brother”. The American Standard Version translates “[the son]” in brackets for “the brother”.
Acts 1:15 The NIV translates “the believers” for “the disciples”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “the britheren” for “the disciples”.
Acts 2:1 The Revised Standard Version translates “they were all together in one place” for “they were all with one accord in one place”. The Tyndale Bible translates “the fiftieth day” for “the day of Pentecost.” Given these facts, exactly what words appear in the Greek that these different translations/versions render such differences.
Acts 2:10 The Tyndale Bible takes “Jews and Proselytes” and puts it at the beginning of verse 11.
Acts 2:11 The Matthew Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “Greeks” for “Cretes”.
Acts 2:23 The Amplified Bible and the Revised Standard Version translate “This Jesus” for “Him”. The NIV translates “God’s set purpose” for “the determinate counsel”.
Acts 2:30 The NIV and the Revised Standard Version translate “one of his descendants” for “Christ”. The Revised Version translates “one” for “Christ” This is a notable difference!
Acts 2:41 The Geneva Bible translates “the Church” for “them”.
Acts 2:47 The Amplified Bible translates “[to their number]” for “the church”. The Revised Version and the American Standard Version translate “them” for “the church”. The Matthews Bible translates “the congregation” for “the church”.
Acts 3:5 The Amplified Bible translates “[the man]” for “he”.
Acts 3:11 The NIV translates “Colonnade” for “porch”. The Revised Standard Version translates “the portico” for “the porch”. The Tyndale Bible translates “hall” for “porch”, but includes “{porch}” in the text as well.
Acts 3:13 The NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, and the American Standard Version translate “servant” for “Son”. This may be a notable difference! But in checking Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance “servant” is an acceptable rendering of the Greek word used here.
Acts 3:15 The NIV translates “the author” for “the Prince”.
Acts 3:19 The Douay Rheims breaks this verse between “converted” and “that” and adds it to the beginning of verse 20. The Wycliffe New Testament breaks verses 18-21 in different places than the King James Version.
Acts 3:20 The Matthews Bible translates “God” for “he” and “him” for “Jesus Christ”.
Acts 3:21 The Matthews Bible translates “Jesus Christ” for “whom”.
Acts 3:26 The NIV and the Revised Version translate “servant” for “Son Jesus”. This is a notable difference! But in checking Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance “servant” is an acceptable rendering of the Greek word used here.
Acts 4:1 The Amplified Bible adds in brackets “[Peter and John]” further explaining “they”.
Acts 4:3 The NIV translates “Peter and John” for the first instance of “them”.
Acts 4:6 The Wycliffe New Testament omits the last phrase.
Acts 4:7 The NIV translates “Peter and John” for “them”.
Acts 4:8 The Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, and the American Standard Version omit “of Israel”. The Amplified Bible translates “members of the council (the Sanhedrin)” for “of Israel”. The Douay Rheims Bible translates “ancients, hear” for “elders of Israel”. The NIV translates “of the people” for “of Israel”.
Acts 4:12 The Tyndale Bible omits “under heaven”.
Acts 4:13 The Bishops Bible translates “lay men” for “ignorant men”.
Acts 4:23 The Amplified Bible adds in brackets “[the apostles]” to further explain “they”. The NIV translates “Peter and John” for “they”.
Acts 4:24 The Revised Version omits “thou art God”.
Acts 4:27 The NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, and the American Standard Version translate “servant” for “child”. This could be a notable difference! But in checking Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance “servant” is an acceptable rendering of the Greek word used here.
Acts 4:30 The NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, and the American Standard Version translate “servant” for “child”. This could be a notable difference! But in checking Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance “servant” is an acceptable rendering of the Greek word used here.
Acts 5:12 The NIV translates “Colonnade” for “porch”, the Revised Standard Version translates “Portico” for “porch”, and both omit “and they were all in one accord”. The Tyndale Bible translates “hall” for “proch” but adds in brackets “{Salomons porch}”. Checking Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance the Greek word translated “accord” means just that, “one mind and one accord”. Nothing is said about the word meaning just “together”.
Acts 5:17 The Douay Rheims Bible translates “the heresy” for “the sect”. This is a noteworthy difference.
Acts 5:21 The Amplified Bible translates in brackets “[the apostles]” for “them”. The Douay Rheims Bible translates “the ancients” for “the senate”. The NIV translates “the apostles” for “them”.
Acts 5:22 The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “the ministers” for “the officers”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “mynystris” for “officers”.
Acts 5:26 The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “the ruler of the temple” for “the captain” and “ministers” for “officers. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “mynystris”.
Acts 5:34 The Douay Rheims and the Revised Version translate “the men” for “the apostles”.
Acts 5:37 Notice in a side-by-side comparison of this passage in the KJV with the same passage in the Revised Version that the translators of the Revised Version and the American Standard Version translated “dispersed” for “scattered” in verse 36, and “scattered” for “dispersed” in verse 37; just the opposite of the KJV!
{It is almost as if this was done intentionally to provide more “differences” that could be alleged as errors.}
Acts 5:41 The Douay Rheims Bible translates “Jesus” for “his”. The NIV translates “The apostles” for the first instance of “they” in this verse.
Acts 6:9 The Amplified Bible translates “the Freedmen (freed Jewish slaves” for “the Libertines”. The NIV and the Revised Standard Version translate “the Freedmen” for “the Libertines”.
Acts 7:4 The Revised Version translates “God” for the second “he”. The American Standard Version translates “[God]” for the second “he”.
Acts 7:8 The Bishops Bible and the Matthew Bible translate “he” for “Abraham”.
Acts 7:16 The Geneva Bible translates “sonne” for “the father”. The Matthews Bible translates “at Syihem” for “the father of Sychem”.
Acts 7:25 The NIV translates “Moses” for “he”.
Acts 7:26 The NIV translates “Moses” for “he”.
Acts 7:27 The NIV translates “Moses” for “him”.
Acts 7:30 The NIV translates “Moses” for “him”.
Acts 7:31 The NIV translates “he” for “Moses”.
Acts 7:38 The NIV translates “the assembly” for “the church”. The Matthews Bible translates “the congregation” for “the church”.
Acts 7:44 The Revised Version and the American Standard Version translate “the figure” for “the fashion” which is a bad choice of words because “figure” in the Bible is usually somehow related to idolatry.
Acts 7:45 The NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, and the American Standard Version, translates “Joshua” for “Jesus”. The Matthews Bible translates “Joshue” for “Jesus”. The Tyndale Bible translates “Josue” for “Jesus”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “Jhesu” for “Jesus”.
Acts 7:55 The NIV translates “Stephen” for “he”.
Acts 7:56 The Wycliffe New Testament combines verses 55 and 56 into one verse.
Acts 7:57 This is verse 56 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 7:58 This is verse 57 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 7:59 The NIV and the Revised Standard Version translate “prayed” for “saying”, making Stephen’s words in this verse a prayer. This is verse 58 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 7:60 This is verse 59 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 8:1 The Douay Rheims Bible adds the first sentence of this verse to the end of chapter 7:60. The Matthew Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “the congregation” for “the church”. The Wycliffe New Testament breaks the first sentence off from this verse, as verse 1, while the rest of the verse is also numbered verse 1.
Acts 8:3 The Matthew Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “the congregation” for “the church”.
Acts 8:4 The Douay Rheims Bible and the Bishops Bible translate “the word of God” for “the word”.
Acts 8:7 The Douay Rheims Bible takes “and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed” and makes it verse 8. The Wycliffe New Testament breaks this verse in to two between “out” and “and”, omitting all words in between.
Acts 8:8 The Douay Rheims Bible takes this sentence and makes it the beginning of verse 9. The Wycliffe New Testament combines verse 8 with verse 9.
Acts 8:17 The NIV translates “Peter and John” for “they”.
Acts 8:20 The Douay Rheims adds the first phrase of this verse to the end of verse 19.
Acts 8:22 The Revised Version and the American Standard Version translate “the Lord” for “God”.
Acts 8:25 The Amplified Bible translates “[the apostles]” for both instances of “they”. The NIV translates “Peter and John” for the first instance of “they”.
Acts 8:34 The Wycliffe New Testament translates “the gelding” for “the eunuch”.
Acts 8:37 The NIV omits this verse in the text but adds it in a footnote, because it does not appear in some manuscripts. The Revised Standard Version omits this verse with “* [No text]”, and no further comment. The Revised Version omits this verse with but a “<>” in its place.
Acts 8:39 The Wycliffe New Testament omits the last phrase of this verse.
Acts 9:1 The Wycliffe New Testament takes this last phrase and adds it to the beginning of verse 2.
Acts 9:5 The Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, the American Standard Version omit “it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”
Acts 9:6 The Douay Rheims Bible takes the last sentence of this verse and makes it the beginning of verse 7. The NIV omits the first sentence of this verse. The Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, the American Standard Version omit everything prior to “Arise”. The Wycliffe New Testament breaks this verse between “do” and “And”, and adds the latter to the beginning of verse 7.
Acts 9:7 The NIV translates “Saul” for “him”.
Acts 9:12 The Wycliffe New Testament breaks a part of the first phrase of this verse off and adds it to the end of verse 11.
Acts 9:19 The Douay Rheims Bible, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, the American Standard Version and the Wycliffe New Testament translate “he” for “Saul”.
Acts 9:22 The Revised Standard Version translates “Jesus was” for “this is”.
Acts 9:25 The NIV translates “his followers” for “the disciples”. The Revised Standard Version and the American Standard Version translate “his disciples” for “the disciples”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “hise disciples” for “the disciples”. WHY would it be translated “his disciples” which would make the antedecent “his” refer to “Saul”, who at this time would most certainly have not had any “disciples” of the believers, therefore, instead such use of the pronoun would mean that Saul’s disciples would have been of those Jews persecuting the church! This, while not being a notable difference changing any Christian doctrine is cause for concern about any version that uses such language. The KJV correctly translates “the disciples”, and this is all confirmed by the very next verse.
Acts 9:26 The NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, the American Standard Version translate “he” for “Saul”.
Acts 9:27 The NIV translates “Saul” for the first “he” in this verse, and “the Lord” for the second “he”.
Acts 9:28 The NIV translates “Saul” for “he”.
Acts 9:29 The NIV takes the first phrase of this verse and adds it to the end of verse 28.
Acts 9:31 The Matthews Bible translates “the congregations” for “the churches”.
Acts 9:31 See the digital Color-coded Douay Rheims Bible for an obvious error.
Acts 10:1 The Revised Standard Version translates “Cohort” for “band”.
Acts 10:6 The Amplified Bible, the NIV, and the Revised Standard Version omit this last phrase.
Acts 10:7 The Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, the American Standard Version translate “him” for “Cornelius”. Which of these three translations/versions is clearer?
Acts 10:12 The Geneva Bible translates “the heaven” for “the air”.
Acts 10:15 The Geneva Bible translates “pollute thou not” for “that call thou not common”.
Acts 10:22 The Geneva Bible translates “was warned from heaven” for “was warned from God”.
Acts 10:23 The Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, the American Standard Version, and the Wycliffe New Testament translate “he” for “Peter”.
Acts 10:27 The NIV translates “Peter” for both instances of “he”.
Acts 10:32 The Amplified Bible, the Douay Rheims Bible, and the NIV omit “who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee”.
Acts 10:35 The Wycliffe New Testament translates “God” for the first instance of “him”.
Acts 10:36 The Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, and the American Standard Version translate “he” for “God”.
Acts 10:38 The Wycliffe New Testament translates “hym” for “Jesus of Nazareth”.
Acts 10:40 The Douay Rheims Bible translates “and gave him to be made manifest” for “and shewed him openly”. Which of these is clearer?
Acts 10:48 The Revised Standard Version and the Revised Version translate “Jesus Christ” for “the Lord”.
Acts 11:1 The Wycliffe New Testament adds “and thei glorified God” to the end of this verse.
Acts 11:22 The Tyndale Bible translates “the congregation” for “the church”.
Acts 11:25 The Revised Version, the American Standard Version, and the Wycliffe New Testament translate “he” for “Barnabas”.
Acts 11:26 The Douay Rheims Bible and the Wycliffe New Testament take the first sentence of this verse and adds it to the end of verse 25. The NIV translates “Barnabas and Saul” for “they”. The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “the congregation” for “the church”.
Acts 12:1 The Matthews Bible translates “the congregation” for “the church”.
Acts 12:3 The Douay Rheims Bible translates “the days of the Azymes” for “the days of unleavened bread”.
Acts 12:4 The Amplified Bible translates “the Passover” for “Easter”. The Douay Rheims Bible translates “the pasch” for “Easter”. The Geneva Bible translates “the Passeouer” for “Easter”. The NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, and the American Standard Version translate “the Passover” for “Easter”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “pask” for “Easter”.
Acts 12:5 The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “the congregation” for “the church”.
Acts 12:7 The NIV translates “Peter’s” for “his”.
Acts 12:8 The NIV translates “Peter” for “he”.
Acts 12:9 The NIV translates “Peter” for the first “he” in this verse.
Acts 12:13 The Amplified Bible, the Douay Rheims Bible, the Revised Version, the American Standard Version, and the Wycliffe New Testament translate “he” for “Peter”. Which of these is clearer?
Acts 12:19 The Amplified Bible translates “[Herod]” for “he”. The Geneva Bible translates “them to be led to be punished” for “that they should be put to death”. The NIV translates “Herod” for “he”. The Bishops Bible translates “caryed away” for “put to death”. The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “to depart” for “they should be put to death”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “hem to be brouyt to hym” for “they should be put to death”.
Acts 12:20 The NIV translates “He” for “Herod”.
Acts 13:1 The American Standard Version translates “the foster-brother of” for “which had been brought up with”. The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “the congregation” for “the church”.
Acts 13:4 NOTE: See this verse in the Bishops Bible for a great example of the problem of standardized spelling: “sealed” for “sailed”.
Acts 13:8 The Amplified Bible translates “the wise man” for “the sorcerer”.
Acts 13:20 The Revised Standard Version adds “for about four hundred and fifty years” to the end of verse 19. The Revised Version and the American Standard Version take “for about four hundred and fifty years” from this verse and adds them to the end of verse 19. Which time period does the 450 years refer to?
Acts 13:26 The Wycliffe New Testament translates “helthe” for “salvation”.
Acts 13:31 The Wycliffe New Testament takes the beginning of this verse, “and he was seen many days” and adds it to the end of verse 30.
Acts 13:33 The NIV translates “he” for “God”.
Acts 13:34 The NIV translates “God for “he”.
Acts 13:38 The NIV translates “Jesus” for “this man”. *****
Acts 13:39 The Wycliffe New Testament takes the last of this verse beginning with “from which” and adds it to the end of verse 38.
Acts 13:42 The Amplified Bible and the NIV translate “[Paul and Barnabas]” for “the Jews”. The Revised Version and the American Standard Version translate “they” for “the Jews”, and “they” for “the Gentiles”. The Matthews Bible translates “between the Saboth days” for “the next Sabbath”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “thei” for both “the Jews” and “the Gentiles”. Which of these translations is clearer? Great example of how the King James Version translators actually removed ambiguity from the earlier translations and manuscripts.
Acts 13:43 The Revised Version and the Wycliffe New Testament translate “the synagogue” for “the congregation”.
Acts 13:47 The Wycliffe New Testament translates “helthe” for “salvation”.
Acts 14:1 The Amplified Bible translates “[Paul and Barnabas]” for “they”.
Acts 14:2 The American Standard Version translates “the Jews that were disobedient” for “the unbelieving Jews”.
Acts 14:3 The Amplified Bible translates “[Paul and Barnabas]” for “they”.
Acts 14:5 The Amplified Bible translates “[Paul and Barnabas]” for the first instance of “them”.
Acts 14:7 The Tyndale Bible adds “{gospell} (and all the multidude was moved at their doctrine, but Paul and Barnabas tarried still at Lystra)” to the end of this verse. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “and al the multitude was moued togider in the teching of hem. Poul and Barnabas dwelten at Listris.” All of this is added to verse 6 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:8 This is verse 7 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:9 This is verse 8 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:10 This is verse 9 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:11 This is verse 10 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:12 The Amplified Bible, the NIV, the Revised Standard Version translate “Zeus” for “Jupiter” and “Hermes” for “Mercurius”. This is verse 11 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:13 The Amplified Bible, the NIV, the Revised Standard Version translate “Zeus” for “Jupiter”. The American Standard Bible translates “whose [temple]” for “which”. The Matthews Bible translates “the church” for “the gates”. The Tyndale Bible translates “the church porch |before the gate|” for “the gates”. This is verse 12 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:14 This is verse 13 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:15 This is verse 14 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:16 This is verse 15 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:17 The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “showed his benefits” and “shewed his benefits” respectively for “did good”. This is verse 16 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:18 This is verse 17 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:19 This is verse 18 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:20 This is verse 19 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:21 This is verse 20 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:22 This is verse 21 in the Wycliffe New Testament. The Wycliffe New Testament takes “confermynge the soulis of disciples” and adds it to the end of verse 21. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “heuenes” for “God”.
Acts 14:23 The Matthews Bible translates “the congregation” for “the church”. The Tyndale Bible translates “congregation” for “church”. This is verse 22 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:24 This is verse 23 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:25 This is verse 24 in the Wycliffe New Testament. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “Italie” for “Attalia”.
Acts 14:26 This is verse 25 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:27 The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “the congregation” for “the church”. This is verse 26 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 14:28 This is verse 27 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 15:1 The NIV translates “from Judea to Antioch” for “from Judaea”.
Acts 15:2 The American Standard Bible translates “them, [the brethren]” for “them”.
Acts 15:3 The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “the congregation” for “the church”.
Acts 15:4 The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “the congregation” for “the church”.
Acts 15:14 The Amplified Bible translates “Simeon [Peter]” for “Simeon”. The NIV translates “Simon [a]” for “Simeon”.
Acts 15:16 The Wycliffe New Testament takes “as it is writun” from the end of verse 15 and puts it at the beginning of verse 16.
Acts 15:17 The Amplified Bible, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version break this verse after “called,” and adds the rest of this verse to the beginning of verse 18.
Acts 15:22 The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “congregation” for “church”.
Acts 15:23 The Bishops Bible moves everything after the word “manner” to the beginning of verse 24.
Acts 15:24 The Amplified Bible translates “throwing you into confusion, although we gave them no express orders or instructions” for “saying, Ye must be circumcised and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment”. The Douay Rheims Bible omits “saying, Ye must be circumcised and keep the law”. The NIV omits “Ye must be circumcised and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment.” The Revised Standard Version omits “saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law”. The Revised Version and the American Standard Version omit “Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law”.
Acts 15:30 The NIV translates “the church” for “the multitude”. The Revised Standard Version translates “the congregation” for “the multitude”.
Acts 15:33 The Revised Version and the American Standard Version translate “those that had sent them forth” for “the apostles”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “to hem that hadden sent hem”.
Acts 15:34 The NIV omits this verse in the text with a duly noted footnote. The footnote contains this verse. The Revised Standard Version omits this verse with “* [No text]” and no further explanation. The Revised Version omits this verse with “<>” but no further comment or explanation. The American Standard Version translates “[But it seemed good unto Silas to abide there.]”. The Tyndale Bible adds “(but Judas departed alone to Ierusalem)”. The Wycliffe New Testament adds “and Judas wente alone to Jerusalem.”
Acts 15:41 The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “the congregations” for “the churches”. The Tyndale Bible adds “(commanding to keep the precepts of the Apostles and elders)”. The Wycliffe New Testament adds “commaundinge to kepe the heestis of apostlis and elder men”.
Acts 16:12 The Geneva Bible translates “& whose inhabitants came from Rome to dwell there” for “and a colony”. The NIV and the Revised Standard Version translate “a Roman colony” for “a colony”. The American Standard Version translates “a [Roman] colony” for “a colony”. The Bishops Bible translates “a free citie” for “a colony”.
Acts 16:16 The Douay Rheims Bible translates “pythonical spirit” for “a spirit of divination”.
Acts 16:22 The NIV translates “Paul and Silas” for the first instance of “them”.
Acts 16:38 The NIV translates “Paul and Silas” for the third instance of “they”.
Acts 16:40 The Amplified Bible translates “[Paul and Silas]” for the first “they” in this verse.
Acts 17:1 The Amplified Bible translates “[Paul and Silas]” for the first “they” in this verse.
Acts 17:18 The Matthews Bible translates “new devils” for “strange gods”. The Tyndale Bible translates “new devils |goddess|” for “strange gods”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “new fendis” for “strange gods”.
Acts 17:19 The Geneva Bible translates “Mars streete” for “Areopagus”. The Bishops Bible translates “Marce striate”. The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “Marce street” for “Areopagus”.
Acts 17:22 The Geneva Bible translates “Mars streete” for “Mars’ hill”. The NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version and the American Standard Version translate “the Areopagus”. The Bishops Bible translates “Marce striate” for “Mars’ hill”. The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “Marce street” for “Mars’ hill”. Which is clearer?
Acts 17:34 The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “a senator” for “the Areopagite”.
Acts 18:1 The Douay Rheims Bible, the Revised Standard Version, and the American Standard Version translate “he” for “Paul”. Which is clearer?
Acts 18:4 The Douay Rheims Bible adds “bringing in the name of the Lord Jesus.” after “Sabbath”. The Tyndale Bible adds “day; (setting forth in the mean while the name of the Lorde Iesus)” after “Sabbath”. The Wycliffe New Testament adds “puttynge among the name of the Lord Jhesu” after “Sabbath”.
Acts 18:6 The NIV translates “the Jews” for “they”.
Acts 18:7 The NIV translates “Paul” for “he”. Which is clearer? Is there some reason why it should be translated “Paul” rather than “he”?
Acts 18:11 The NIV translates “Paul” for “he”. Which is clearer?
Acts 18:12 NOTE: The Amplified Bible explains parenthetically that Achaia was most of Greece.
Acts 18:17 The Douay Rheims Bible omits “the Greeks”. The NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version and the American Standard Version translate “they” for “the Greeks”. Which is clearer?
Acts 18:18 The NIV translates “Corinth” for “there”. Which is clearer?
Acts 18:19 The NIV translates “Paul” for “he” and “Priscilla and Aquila” for “them”. Which is clearer?
Acts 18:21 The Douay Rheims Bible, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, and the American Standard Version omit “I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but”.
Acts 18:22 The Douay Rheims Bible adds “to Jerusalem” after “up”.
Acts 18:23 The NIV translates “Antioch” for “there”. The Tyndale Bible translates “and departed unto Antioche” from verse 22, adding it to the beginning of verse 23. Which is clearer?
Acts 18:27 The Amplified Bible explains parenthetically that Achaia was most of Greece. The NIV translates “Apollos” for the first instance of “he”. Which is clearer?
Acts 19:9 The NIV translates “Paul” for “he”. Which is clearer?
Acts 19:16 The Tyndale Bible translates “the wicked devil {evil spirit}” for “the evil spirit”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “the worste deuel” for “the evil spirit”.
Acts 19:19 NOTE: The Amplified Bible explains parenthetically that 50,000 pieces of silver is the equivalent of $9,300 in today’s U.S. dollar.
Acts 19:21 NOTE: The Amplified Bible explains parenthetically that Achaia was most of Greece.
Acts 19:23 The Douay Rheims Bible and the Wycliffe New Testament add “of the Lord” to the end of this verse.
Acts 19:28 The American Standard Version translates “the Ephesus” for “the Ephesians”.
Acts 19:29 The Geneva Bible translates “the common place” for “the theatre”. The Bishops Bible, the Matthews Bible, and the Tyndale Bible translate “the common hall” for “the theatre”.
Acts 19:31 The Geneva Bible translates “the common place” for “the theatre”. The NIV translates “the officals of the province” for “the chief of Asia”. The Bishops Bible, the Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “the common hall” for “the theatre”. Which is clearer?
Acts 19:35 The Amplified Bible translates “the sky” for “Jupiter”. The NIV, the Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “heaven” for “Jupiter”. The Revised Version and the American Standard Version translate “temple-keeper” for “worshipper”.
Acts 19:37 The NIV and the Revised Version translates “temples” for “churches”.
Acts 20:6 The Douay Rheims Bible translates “the azymes” for “unleavened bread”.
Acts 20:7 The Amplified Bible, the Douay Rheims Bible, the NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, and the American Standard Version translate “we” for “the disciples”. Which translation is clearer? The Wycliffe New Testament takes the last phrase of this verse and adds it to the beginning of verse 8.
Acts 20:11 The Geneva Bible and the Revised Standard Version translate “Paul” for “he”. If this is correct, then the words “come up again” do not refer to a resurrection from the dead.
Acts 20:15 The Douay Rheims Bible, the NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, the American Standard Version and the Wycliffe New Testament omit “and tarried at Trogyllium”.
Acts 20:17 The NIV translates “Paul” for ”he”.
Acts 20:32 The Douay Rheims Bible, and the American Standard Version omit “brethren”.
Acts 20:37 The NIV translates “him” for “Paul’s”. Which is clearer?
Acts 21:1 The Wycliffe New Testament adds “and fro thennus to Myram” to the end of this verse.
Acts 21:8 The Amplified Bible adds in brackets “[first deacons}” after “the seven” and referring to the same.
Acts 21:12 The NIV translates “Paul” for “him”. Which is clearer?
Acts 21:15 The Geneva Bible translates “fardels” for “carriages”. The Revised Version and the American Standard Version translate “baggage” for “carriages”.
Acts 21:16 The Wycliffe New Testament translates “Jason” for “Mnason”.
Acts 21:19 The Amplified Bible and the NIV translate “Paul” for the first instance of “he”. Which is clearer?
Acts 21:20 The NIV translates “Paul” for “him”.
Acts 21:27 The Amplified Bible and the NIV translate “Paul” for the first instance of “him”. Which is clearer?
Acts 21:34 The NIV and the Revised Standard Version translate “the barracks” for “the castle”.
Acts 21:35 The Geneva Bible translates “the grieces” for “the stairs”. This is a wonderful example of an old English word being used in an English Bible translation/version. The NIV translates “Paul” for “he”. The Matthews Bible translates “Grece” and the Tyndale Bible translate “greece” for “the stairs” and although the former is capitalized, it probably was a variant spelling of “the grieces” as translated in the Geneva Bible, and probably means “stairs”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “the grees” for “the stairs” and “Poul” for the first instance of “he”. Which is clearer?
Acts 21:37 The NIV and the Revised Standard Version translate “the barracks” for “the castle”. The Wycliffe New Testament takes the last phrase of this verse and makes it the first phrase of verse 38.
Acts 21:40 The Geneva Bible translates “the grieces” for “the stairs”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “the grees” for “the stairs”. This is a wonderful example of an old English word being used in an English Bible translation/version.
Acts 22:2 The NIV translates “Paul” for “he”. Which is clearer?
Acts 22:7 The Wycliffe New Testament adds “It is hard to thee to kike ayens the pricke.” to the end of this verse, and “fro heuene” between “voice” and “saying”.
Acts 22:16 The NIV translates “his” for “the Lord”. The Revised Version and the American Standard Version omit “of the Lord”. Which is clearer?
Acts 22:18 The NIV translates “the Lord” for “him”. Which is clearer?
Acts 22:22 The NIV translates “Paul” for “him”. Which is clearer?
Acts 22:24 The NIV and the Revised Standard Version translate “the barracks” for “the castle”.
Acts 22:27 The NIV translates “Paul” for “him”. Which is clearer?
Acts 23:9 The Douay Rheims Bible, the NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, the American Standard Version, and the Wycliffe New Testament omit “let us not fight against God”.
Acts 23:10 The NIV and the Revised Standard Version translate “the barracks” for “the castle”.
Acts 23:11 The NIV translates “Paul” for “him”. The Revised Version omits “Paul”. Which is clearer?
Acts 23:16 The NIV and the Revised Standard Version translate “the barracks” for “the castle”.
Acts 23:24 The Wycliffe New Testament inserts the following as verse 25: “For the tribune dredde, lest the Jewis wolden take hym bi the weie, and sle hym, and afterward he miyte be chalengid, as he hadde take money.
Acts 23:25 The Douay Rheims Bible translates “For he feared lest perhaps the Jews might take him away by force and kill him: and he should afterwards be slandered, as if he was to take money.” for the beginning of this verse. This is the first part of verse 26 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 23:26 This is the second part of verse 26 in the Wycliffe New Testament.
Acts 23:32 The NIV and the Revised Standard Version translate “the barracks” for “the castle”.
Acts 23:35 The Revised Standard Version translates “praetorium” for “judgment hall”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “the moot halle of Eroude” for “Herod’s judgement hall”. Which is clearer?
Acts 24:1 The NIV adds “to Caesarea” to this verse after “descended”.
Acts 24:2 The Douay Rheims Bible, the NIV, and the Bishops Bible translate “Paul” for “he”.
Acts 24:6 The Revised Version omits the last phrase.
Acts 24:7 The Revised Standard Version omits this verse.
Acts 24:8 The Revised Standard Version omits the first phrase of this verse.
Acts 24:15 The Bishops Bible adds “which they them selves loke for also” after “which they themselves also allow”. The Tyndale Bible adds “(which they themselves look for also) shall be” after “which they themselves also allow”.
Acts 24:17 The NIV translates “Jerusalem” for “my nation”.
Acts 24:18 The Bishops Bible, the Matthews Bible, and the Tyndale Bible take the first phrase of this verse, “Whereupon certain Jews from Asia” and add it to the beginning of verse 19.
Acts 24:23 The Douay Rheims Bible and the Wycliffe New Testament translate “him” for “Paul”. The Revised Standard Version translates “he” for “Paul”. Which is clearer?
Acts 25:3 The NIV translates “Festus” for “he”. Which is clearer?
Acts 25:5 The Wycliffe New Testament adds the first half of this verse to the end of verse 4.
Acts 25:7 The Amplified Bible, the Revised Version, and the Wycliffe New Testament translate “him” for “Paul”. The NIV translates “Paul” for “he” and “him” for “Paul”. Which is clearer?
Acts 25:8 The Amplified Bible, the Douay Rheims Bible, the NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, and the American Standard Version translate “Paul” for “he”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “Poul” for “he”. Which is clearer?
Acts 25:19 The NIV translates “religion” for “superstition”.
Acts 26:5 The Matthews Bible explains in a footnote the word translated “religion” in the King James Version is translated “lay” and, “means worldly order of men. See here that this word is NOT "religion" neither is the word religion found in any of the original text”.
Acts 26:14 The Douay Rheims Bible translates “the good” for “the pricks”. The NIV, the Revised Standard Version, and the American Standard Version translate “the goads” for “the pricks”.
Acts 26:25 The American Standard Version translates “Paul” for “he”. Which is clearer?
Acts 27:9 The Amplified Bible adds in brackets “[the Day of Atonement, about the beginning of October]” concerning “the fast”. The NIV notates a footnote in this verse concerning “the fast”, and in the footnote is found, “That is, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)”.
Acts 27:12 The Wycliffe New Testament translates “Affrick, and to Corum” for “the south west and north west”.
Acts 27:14 The Amplified Bible translates “a northeaster” for “Euroclydon”. The NIV and the Revised Standard Version translate “the “northeaster”” for “Euroclydon”. The Revised Version and the American Standard Version translate “Euraquilo” for “Euroclydon”. The Bishops Bible translates “a flaw of wynde out of the northeast” for “tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon”. The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “a flaw of wind out of the northeast” for “tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “Tifonyk” for “tempestuous” and “north eest” for “Euroclydon”.
Acts 27:17 The Amplified Bible translates “the Syrtis [quicksands off the north coast of Africa]” for “the quicksands”. The Geneva Bible translates “Syrtes” for “the quicksands”. The NIV translates “the sandbars of Syrtis” for “the quicksands”. The Revised Standard Version and the Revised Version translate “the Syrtis” for “the quicksands”. The Bishops Bible translates “the Syrtes” for “the quicksands. The Matthews Bible and the Tyndale Bible translate “Syrtes” for “the quicksands”. The Wycliffe New Testament translates “sondi placis” for “the quicksands”. This verse provides yet another example of which translations/versions provide adequate translation or not: be sure to consider those translations/versions which merely translate “Syrtis” with no explanation! It appears that the King James translators tried to provide clarity in this verse from the earlier English translations/versions.
Acts 27:24 The Wycliffe New Testament takes “and seide, Poul, drede thou not” and adds it to the end of verse 23.
Acts 27:27 The Amplified Bible translates “the Adriatic Sea” for “Adria”. The Geneva Bible translates “the Adriaticall sea”. The NIV translates “the Adriatic [b] Sea” for “Adria”. The NIV notates a footnote concerning “Adria” and in that footnote is found, “In ancient times the name referred to an area extending well south of Italy.” The Wycliffe New Testament translates “the stony see” for “Adria”.
Acts 28:4 The Amplified Bible translates “Justice [[a] the goddess of avenging]” for “vengeance”. The NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, and the American Standard Version translate “Justice” for “vengeance”.
Acts 28:8 The Amplified Bible translates “attacks of fever and dysentery” for “bloody flux”. The NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, and the American Standard Version translate “fever and dysentery” for “bloody flux”.
Acts 28:16 The NIV, the American Standard Version, and the Wycliffe New Testament omit “the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard”.
Acts 28:17 The Amplified Bible, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, the American Standard Version, and the Wycliffe New Testament translate “he” for “Paul”. Which is clearer?
Acts 28:28 The Wycliffe New Testament translates “helthe” for “the salvation”.
Acts 28:29 The Amplified Bible explains in a footnote that “Many manuscripts do not contain this verse.” The Revised Standard Version states “* [No text]” with no other qualification. The Revised Version omits this verse with “<>”. The American Standard Version includes this verse enclosed in brackets.
Acts 28:30 The Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, and the American Standard Version translate “he” for “Paul”.
COMMENTARY
The above listing identifies 259 verses out of 1007 in the book of the Acts of the Apostles which contain some noteworthy differences between the King James Version and the other eleven English translations/versions of the Bible; roughly 26%.
Fifteen (15) of the verses in which differences are noted above are merely an issue of the numbering of the verse, and represent a mere 2.4% of the differences.
Four (4) of the verses in which differences are noted above are merely “NOTES” gleaned from the various translation/versions which help clarify information and therefore cannot be strictly considered “differences”; these represent a mere 3/10ths of a percent.
The total of these two groupings of verses amounts to less than a 2.5% difference from the aggregate total; they are grouped and their individual as well as combined percentage computed separately for the benefit of those who have been working on this project. The data is included here for anyone else who might have an interest in such.
Of the 259 verses referenced above, two may be considered ‘NOTEWORTHY’ according to our definition outlined in our comparison study guidelines:
NOTEWORTHY
Acts 2:30
Acts 5:17
And four references may be considered ‘NOTABLE’:
NOTABLE
Acts 3:13
Acts 3:26
Acts 4:27
Acts 4:30
FYI, Sterling Ministries has adopted a classification system grouping verses containing ‘differences’ into three categories:
NOMINAL differences are those differences which occur in the normal course of translation from one language to another; being differences that make no significant change to the meaning. For example, one translation could choose to use ‘the children of Israel’ for ‘the Israelites’, and who among us could say which is more correct? If the translation parameters included a guideline to translate as literally to the text as possible, one might be able to exclude one or the other based on such a parameter; but nonetheless, the meaning is not helped nor hindered by either choice. As a general rule, Sterling Ministries has chosen not to compile an exhaustive listing of these differences during the course of this study; as such a listing may be compiled using the computer to identify and generate such an exhaustive listing.
NOTABLE differences are those which have been discovered in the comparison study that have a potential to alter the meaning of the passage in some form or fashion; although such an alteration is NOT necessarily demanded in the passage. The above referenced difference in Acts 3:13 is a great example: where the KJV renders “Son” referring to Jesus Christ, while the NIV, the Revised Standard Version, the Revised Version, and the American Standard Version translate “servant”. It would be fruitless to engage in an argument or debate that Jesus should be referred to in this verse as either “Son” or “servant” for both terms are correct translations of the Greek word, and either could be adequately substantiated as a viable translation; Jesus was both God’s Son and God’s servant!
NOTEWORTHY differences are those which have been identified in the comparison study that affect the meaning of the passage in whatever translation the noteworthy difference is found. In Acts 2:30 the NIV and the Revised Standard Version translate “one of his descendants” for “Christ”; the phrase “one of his descendants” referring to King David and God’s promise that one of his descendants would sit on his throne forever could refer to any number of King David’s descendants, not necessarily “Christ”; and even “Christ” as history shows does not always refer to Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth. Acts 5:17 as listed above provides another example of a noteworthy difference, where the Douay Rheims Bible translates “heresy” for the KJV’s rendering as “sect”; the former indicates something that was designated an ‘error’ by the ecclesiastical authority of the day, while the latter merely identifies a variant viewpoint and belief system.
One reference above is identified with Sterling Ministries’ characteristic “*****” indicating something that needs to not only be remembered, but must also be easily re-located when necessary. In this case, Acts 13:38, the NIV translates “Jesus” for “the KJV rendering of “this man”; a word choice which clearly identifies the one the Apostle Paul was preaching about who God raised from the dead as JESUS. This is notated such in rebuttal to those critics of the NIV who insist that Jesus Christ and certain aspects of His gospel are omitted by the translators of this version.
Another reference that deserves mention here, at least according to Dan Hopkinson, is Acts 16:16 where the spirit of divination in the KJV is identified as a pythonical spirit in the Douay Rheims Bible; a reference that clearly connects the python of certain pagan idolatrous belief systems with the Satan of the Bible.
In several of the comments at the end of these verses in the digital KJV color-coded version the question is asked, “Which is clearer?” There is an abundance of evidence in the book of the Acts of the Apostles that the claims of the translators of the newer, more modern versions, that their translations are clearer, is a spurious claim, for in an overwhelming number of those instances the King James Version’s choice of words is much clearer.
Last, two other references above are worthy of note here:
Acts 26:5, where the Matthews Bible’s note concerning the word “lay” translated “religion” in the KJV explains that religion was not the intent and meaning of the passage, but rather, the general worldly order of men. This is a discovery that probably requires some amount of reflection by the true seeker.
And Acts 28:4 where the Amplified Bible’s translation of “Justice” for the KJV “vengeance” and its explanation that “Justice” was the goddess of avenging, and therefore the word had reference to one of the pagan gods, is certainly of additional worthy note.
“In conclusion,” Layman reiterated, “our investigators find no other substantial differences in the book of the Acts of the Apostles amongst these eleven other English translations and the King James Version. Is there anyone who can argue that the vast majority of the differences identified in the verses above are nothing more than nominal differences worthy of note in this report merely because of the claims made by the translators of the newer, more modern translations/versions? If this is accepted as so, then the percentage of notable and noteworthy different verses (10) as identified in this Commentary results in an adjusted overall percentage of .00993%, and the vast majority of the differences noted above are insignificant!”
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