OET interlinear ACTs 21:20

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

οἱ & ἐδόξαζον & εἶπόν & αὐτῷ

they & ˓were˒_glorifying & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἱ Δέ ἀκούσαντες ἐδόξαζον τόν Θεόν εἶπον τέ αὐτῷ Θεωρεῖς ἀδελφέ πόσαι μυριάδες εἰσίν ἐν τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις τῶν πεπιστευκότων καί πάντες ζηλωταί τοῦ νόμου ὑπάρχουσιν)

The pronoun they refers in these instances to James and the elders, and the pronoun him refers to Paul. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [James and the elders were glorifying … they said to Paul]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

θεωρεῖς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἱ Δέ ἀκούσαντες ἐδόξαζον τόν Θεόν εἶπον τέ αὐτῷ Θεωρεῖς ἀδελφέ πόσαι μυριάδες εἰσίν ἐν τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις τῶν πεπιστευκότων καί πάντες ζηλωταί τοῦ νόμου ὑπάρχουσιν)

Paul does not physically see these tens of thousands of Jewish believers. James and the elders mean that he knows about them. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [You know]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀδελφέ

brother

James and the elders using the term brother to mean someone who shares the same faith. Since this expression occurs in direct discourse, you may want to preserve it in your translation to show how these believers addressed one another.

Note 4 topic: writing-pronouns

ὑπάρχουσιν

˱they˲_˓are˒_being

In this instance the pronoun they refers to the believing Jews whom James and the elders are describing. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [these believing Jews are]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

πάντες ζηλωταὶ τοῦ νόμου ὑπάρχουσιν

all (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἱ Δέ ἀκούσαντες ἐδόξαζον τόν Θεόν εἶπον τέ αὐτῷ Θεωρεῖς ἀδελφέ πόσαι μυριάδες εἰσίν ἐν τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις τῶν πεπιστευκότων καί πάντες ζηλωταί τοῦ νόμου ὑπάρχουσιν)

James and the elders say all here as a generalization for emphasis. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different way to express the emphasis. Alternate translation: [they are very zealous for the law]