OET interlinear ACTs 19:40

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

κινδυνεύομεν ἐνκαλεῖσθαι

˱we˲_˓are˒_risking_danger (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί Γάρ κινδυνεύομεν ἐγκαλεῖσθαι στάσεως περί τῆς σήμερον μηδενός αἰτίου ὑπάρχοντος περί οὗ οὒ δυνησόμεθα ἀποδοῦναι λόγον περί τῆς συστροφῆς ταύτης Καί ταῦτα εἰπών ἀπέλυσεν τήν ἐκκλησίαν)

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who would do the action, the context suggests that it would be the Roman authorities. Alternate translation: [we are in danger of the Roman authorities accusing us]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

τῆς σήμερον

the_‹day› today

The city clerk is leaving out a word that a sentence would ordinarily need in Greek in order to be complete. The clerk is abbreviating the expression “the today day,” which means “this day.” You can say that in your translation if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [this day]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τῆς σήμερον

the_‹day› today

The city clerk is referring to the events that were nearly a riot, by association with the day on which they took place. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the events of this day]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

μηδενὸς αἰτίου ὑπάρχοντος, περὶ οὗ & δυνησόμεθα ἀποδοῦναι λόγον

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί Γάρ κινδυνεύομεν ἐγκαλεῖσθαι στάσεως περί τῆς σήμερον μηδενός αἰτίου ὑπάρχοντος περί οὗ οὒ δυνησόμεθα ἀποδοῦναι λόγον περί τῆς συστροφῆς ταύτης Καί ταῦτα εἰπών ἀπέλυσεν τήν ἐκκλησίαν)

In Greek this is a double negative for emphasis, “there being no cause about which we will not be able to give an account.” The second negative does not cancel the first to create a positive meaning. If for emphasis your language uses double negatives that do not cancel one another, it would be appropriate to use that construction here. You could also state the meaning positively. Alternate translation: [because we would have to have a reason in order to give an account]