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Acts 1:17,26 – NASB vs. HCSB vs. ESV
Acts 1:17 NASB “For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.”
Acts 1:17 HCSB For he was one of our number and was allotted a share in this ministry.”
Acts 1:17 ESV For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”
It is preferable, in my opinion, when translating to keep verbs as verbs, and nouns as nouns. In the introduction of the HCSB, they agree, saying, “Optimal equivalence as a translation philosophy recognizes that form cannot be neatly separated from meaning and should not be changed (for example, nouns to verbs…) unless comprehension demands it.” And yet the NASB and ESV both use verbs – “was counted,” “was numbered” – while the HCSB reads, “was one of our number.” In the original, katarithmeō is a verb. So why change when it is not necessary for comprehension?
As I have said elsewhere, words are not just words, they are part of the fabric of the story, and indeed tell the story through various means. In Acts 1:17, both the HCSB and ESV use the word “allotted” (NASB uses “share”). This visually connects v.17 with v.26, “lots.” And yet, and this is surprising, the word for “allotted” is not the same as the word for “lot.” And yet again, the word for “share” (v.17) is the same as the word of “lot” (v.26) – klēros. So there is the verbal, visual connection, just not what is expected.
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