In this post I revisit the issue of whether Jesus in Acts 3:13, 26 and 4:27, 30 is being described as God’s Servant or Son. I will cite a slew of ancient versions and English translations that render the articular Greek word as Son or Child, thereby identifying Jesus as God’s Son/Child.
In order to help the readers see what the issue I quote two specific English translations, which are both based on the same Greek textual tradition which underlies the King James Version (AV)
New King James Version (NKJV)
“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus (ton Paida autou, ‘Iesoun), whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go… To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus (ton Paida autou), sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” Acts 3:13, 26
“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus (ton hagion Paida sou ‘Iesoun), whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together… by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus (tou hagiou Paidos sou, ‘Iesou).” Acts 4:27, 30
Modern English Version (MEV)
“The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Son Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him… God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your iniquities.”
“Indeed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were assembled together against Your holy Son Jesus whom You have anointed… by stretching out Your hand to heal and that signs and wonders may be performed in the name of Your holy Son Jesus.”
Here we have two different English renderings that follow the tradition of the AV that disagree on how to translate the specific term pais, which can refer to a male or female servant, or a child, whether a boy/son or a girl/daughter.
With the foregoing in perspective I will now reference a host of translations, some of which are based on ancient versions of the Greek NT in various languages, in order to see how Christians throughout the ages understood Jesus’ being identified as the pais of God.
ACTS 3
“The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, The God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Yeshua (laḇrēh yešūᶜ), him whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilatus, when he had rightly judged to release him. But you rejected The Holy One and The Righteous One and you demanded a man who was a murderer to be given to you. And you killed him, The Ruler of Life, whom God raised from among the dead, and we are all his witnesses… God appointed to you from the first and sent his Son (laḇrēh) to bless you, if you are converted, and you return from your evils.” Acts 3:13-15, 26 Peshitta Holy Bible Translation (PHBT https://biblehub.com/hpbt/acts/3.htm)
“The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our Fathers has glorified his Son Jesus whom you delivered up and denied him in the presence of Pilate when he was determined to let him go… Now it was for you first, God appointed and sent his Son to bless you if you turn and repent from your evils.” Acts 3:13, 26 George Lamsa Bible (LAMSA https://biblehub.com/lamsa/acts/3.htm)
“The God of Abraham, and of Ishok, and of Jakub, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his son Jeshu, him whom you delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilatos, when he had justified (him) and would have released him… with you from the first he hath established; and Aloha hath sent his Son, blessing you, if you will return and repent of your iniquities.” Etheridge(i)’s Peschito Syriac NT
“The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he would have justified him and set him free… he hath first established to you: and God hath sent his Son to bless you, if ye will be converted, and repent of your wickedness.” Murdock(i)’s Syriac Peshitta
13 The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus, whom you indeed delivered up and denied before the face of Pilate, when he judged he should be released.
Deus Abraham, et Deus Isaac, et Deus Jacob, Deus artum nostrorum glorificavit filium suum Jesum, quem vos quidem tradidistis, et negastis ante faciem Pilati, judicante illo dimitti…
26 To you first God, raising up his Son, hath sent him to bless you; that every one may convert himself from his wickedness.
Vobis primum Deus suscitans filium suum, misit eum benedicentem vobis : ut convertat se unusquisque a nequitia sua. Douay-Rheims + Latin Vulgate (DR+LV)
“God of Abraham, and God of Ysaac, and God of Jacob, God of oure fadris, hath glorified his sone Jhesu, whom ye bitraieden, and denyeden bifor the face of Pilat, whanne he demede hym to be delyuered… God reiside his sone first to you, and sente hym blessynge you, that ech man conuerte hym from his wickidnesse.” Wycliffe(i)
“The God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob the God of oure fathers hath glorified his sonne Iesus whom ye delyvered and denyed in the presence of Pylate whe he had iudged him to be lowsed… Fyrst vnto you hath God raysed vp his sonne Iesus and him he hath sent to blysse you that every one of you shuld turne from youre wickedness”. Tyndale(i)
“The God of Abraham and of Isaac, and of Iacob, ye God of oure fathers hath glorifyed his childe Iesus, whom ye delyuered and denyed in the presence of Pilate, whan he had iudged him to be lowsed… First vnto you hath God raysed vp his childe Iesus, & sent hi vnto you, to blesse you yt euery one shulde turne fro his wickednesse.” Coverdale(i)
“The God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified hys sonne Iesu, whom ye delyuered and denyed in the presence of Pylate, when he had iudged hym to be lowsed… Fyrste vnto you hath God raysed vp his sonne Iesus, and hym he hath sent to blesse you, that euery one of you shuld turne from your wickednes.” Matthew(i)
“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac and of Iacob, the God of oure fathers hath glorified hys sonne Iesus, whom ye delyuered, and denyed in the presence of Pylate, when he had iudged hym to be loosed… Fyrst whan God had raysed vp hys sonne Iesus vnto you, he sent him to blesse you, that euery one of you shulde turne from his wyckednes.” Great(i)
“The God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Iacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified his Sonne Iesus, whom ye betrayed, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had iudged him to be deliuered… First vnto you hath God raysed vp his Sonne Iesus, and him hee hath sent to blesse you, in turning euery one of you from your iniquities.” Geneva(i)
“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Iacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified his sonne Iesus, whom ye betrayed and denyed in the presence of Pilate, when he had iudged hym to be loosed… Unto you first, God hath raysed vp his sonne Iesus, and hath sent hym to blesse you, in turnyng euery one of you from his iniquities.” Bishops(i)
“The God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his son Jesus, whom ye delivered up, and renounced him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to release him… God having raised up his Son, hath sent him to you first, to bless you, by turning every one of you from your iniquities. Wesley(i)
“The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified his son Jesus, whom ye delivered up, and denied before Pilate, when he determined to release Him… and to you first God having raised up his son Jesus, sent Him to bless you; in your turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” Worsley(i) New Testament
“The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Child Jesus, Whom ye, indeed, delivered up, and denied before Pilate’s face, when he gave judgment to release Him… To you first, God, having raised up His Child, sent Him forth, blessing you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” Worrell(i)
“the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and renounced in opposition to Pilate, who was determined to let him go… it is to you that God first of all sent his son Jesus, having raised him up to bless you, provided you all renounce your iniquities.” Mace(i)
“The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified his Son Jesus Christ, whom ye delivered up to Judgment, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined and willing to let him go… Unto you first, God having raised up his Son, sent him forth to bless [you,] in turning away every one from your iniquities.” Whiston(i)
“The God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him… Unto you in the first instance, hath God, after raising up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, to the end that every one of you should turn away from your iniquities.” Haweis(i)
“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go… To you first, God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” Webster(i)
“It is to you first that God, having raised up his son Jesus, hath sent him, blessing you, when you turn every one from his iniquities.” Acts 3:26 Thomson(i)
“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus, whom you delivered up, and whom you rejected in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to release him… To you first, God, having raised up his Son Jesus, has sent him to bless you, in turning every one of you away from his iniquities.” Anderson(i)
“The God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, God of our fathers, has honoured his child Jesus; whom ye have delivered up, and denied him before the face of Pilate, he having judged to loose…To you first God, having raised up his child Jesus, sent him praising you, in turning away each from your wickedness.” JuliaSmith(i)
“The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Child, Jesus, who you indeed delivered up and denied before the face of Pilate having decided to release Him… To you God, having first raised up his Son, sent him blessing you, in turning each one from your sins.” Godbey(i)
“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, did glorify His child Jesus, whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, he having given judgment to release [him]… to you first, God, having raised up His child Jesus, did send him, blessing you, in the turning away of each one from your evil ways.” Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
“The God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorifies His Boy Jesus, Whom you, indeed, give up and disown before the face of Pilate, when he decides to release Him… To you first, God, raising His Boy, commissions Him to bless you by turning away each of you from your wickedness.” Concordant Literal Translation (CLV(i))
“The ‘God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob,’ ‘the God of our fathers,” Ex. 3:15 glorified His child Jesus, whom you delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, that one having decided to set Him free… Having raised up His child Jesus, God sent Him first to you, blessing you in turning away each one from your iniquities. Green’s Literal Translation (LITV(i))
“The Elohim of Abraham and of Yischaq and of Yaaqov – the Elohim of our fathers glorified his lad Yah Shua – whom you delivered and denied at the face of Pilatos when he judged to release him… To you first, Elohim raised his lad Yah Shua, apostolized him to eulogize you, in turning each of you away from his evils.” Exegeses Companion Bible (ECB(i))
“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Boy Jesus, whom ye actually delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate who preferred to release that man… To you first, having raised up his Boy Jesus, God sent him blessing you, in turning away each man from your evils.” ACV(i)
ACTS 4
“For truly, Herodus and Pilatus, with the Gentiles and the mobs of Israel gathered in this city against The Holy One, your Son Yeshua (ᶜal qaddīšā bərāḵ yešūᶜ), The One whom you anointed… And stretch your hand for healing and for mighty acts and for signs to occur in the name of your Holy Son Yeshua (bašmēh daḇrāḵ qaddīšā yešūᶜ).” Acts 4:27, 30 (PHBT https://biblehub.com/hpbt/acts/4.htm)
“For truly, they assembled in this very city, together with both Herod and Pilate and with the Gentiles and with the people of Israel, against your holy Son Jesus… Just as your hand is freely stretched out for healings, and wonders and the miracles which are done in the name of your holy Son Jesus.” (LAMSA https://biblehub.com/lamsa/acts/4.htm)
“For verily they are assembled in this city against thy holy Son Jeshu, whom thou hast anointed, – Herodes and Pilatos with the Gentiles and the synagogue of Israel… while thy hand thou outstretchest unto healings and mighty works which they shall do in the name of thy holy Son Jeshu.” Etheridge
“For, in reality, against thy holy Son Jesus whom thou hast anointed, Herod and Pilate, with the Gentiles and the congregation of Israel, have been combined together in this city… while thou extendest thy hand for cures and prodigies, to be done in the name of thy holy Son Jesus.” Murdock
27 For of a truth there assembled together in this city against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel,
Convenerunt enim vere in civitate ista adversus sanctum puerum tuum Jesum, quem unxisti, Herodes, et Pontius Pilatus, cum gentibus, et populis Israel…
30 By stretching forth thy hand to cures, and signs, and wonders to be done by the name of thy holy Son Jesus.
in eo quod manum tuam extendas ad sanitates, et signa, et prodigia fieri per nomen sancti filii tui Jesu. DR+LV
“For verili Eroude and Pounce Pilat, with hethene men, and puplis of Israel, camen togidre in this citee ayens thin hooli child Jhesu… in that thing that thou holde forth thin hond, that heelthis and signes and wondris be maad bi the name of thin hooli sone Jhesu.” Wycliffe
“For of a trueth agaynst thy holy chylde Iesus whom thou hast annoynted bothe Herode and also Poncius Pylate with the Gentils and the people of Israel gaddered them selves to gedder… So that thou stretche forth thy honde that healynge and signes and wonders be done by the name of thy holy chylde Iesus.” Tyndale
“Of a trueth agaynst thy holy childe Iesus, whom thou hast anoynted, both Herode & Pontius Pilate with the Heythen and people of Israel, haue gathered the selues together… and stretch out thine hande, that healinge and tokes and wonders maye be done by the name of thy holy childe Iesus.” Coverdale
“For of a trueth againste thy holy childe Iesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herode and also Poncius Pilate, with the Gentyls & the people of Israel, gathered them selues together… So that thou stretche forth thy hande, that healing and signes and wounders be done by the name of thy holye chylde Iesus.” Matthew
“For of a trueth, agaynst thy holy chylde Iesus (whom thou hast anoynted) both Herode and also Poncius Pylate, which the Gentyls and the people of Israel, gathered them selues together… So that thou stretche forth thyne hande, that healynge and sygnes and wonders be done by the name of thy holy chylde Iesus.” Great
“For doutlesse, against thine holy Sonne Iesus, whome thou haddest anoynted, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel gathered themselues together… So that thou stretch forth thine hand, that healing, and signes, and wonders may be done by the Name of thine holy Sonne Iesus.” Geneva
“And of a trueth, agaynst thy holye chylde Iesus, who thou hast anoynted, both Herode and also Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, gathered them selues together So that thou stretch foorth thyne hande, that healyng, and signes, and wonders, be done by the name of thy holy chylde Iesus.” Bishops
“in the hand of thee to stretch out thee for healing, and signs and prodigies to do through the name of the holy child of thee Jesus.” Acts 4:30 Diaglott(i)
“for it was truly against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, that Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, united themselves in this city… by displaying thine hand in miraculous cures, and prodigies, which by the name of thy holy child Jesus shall be done.” Mace
“For of a truth in this city against thy holy Son Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were gathered together… By stretching forth [thine] hand to heal: and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy Son Jesus.” Whiston
“For of a truth, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed… While thou stretchest forth thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done thro’ the name of thy holy child Jesus.” Wesley
“For of a truth both Herod and Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles and the people of Israel, combined against thy holy child Jesus… and while signs and wonders are done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” Worsley
“For, of a truth, there were gathered together in this city, against Thy Holy Child Jesus, Whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the gentiles and peoples of Israel—… by stretching forth Thy hand for healing; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Thy Holy Child Jesus.” Worrell
“For they have been in truth collected together against thy holy Son Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, even Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the heathen, and the people of Israel… by stretching out thy hand for healing; and that signs and miracles may be performed by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” Haweis
“For indeed against thy holy Child Jesus whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with nations and the tribes of Israel, were gathered together… when thou stretchest forth thy hand for healing; and signs and. wonders are done by the name of thy holy child, Jesus.” Thomson
“For in truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were assembled… By stretching forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” Webster
“For of a truth, against thy holy Son Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the heathen, and the people of Israel… whilst thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders are doing through the name of thy holy Son Jesus.” Living_Oracles
“For, in truth, against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, did meet together… by stretching out thy hand to heal, that both signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy child Jesus.” Anderson
“For against the truth were they gathered together against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the nations and peoples of Israel… In thy stretching out thy hand for healing; and signs and wonders to be for the name of thine holy child Jesus.” JuliaSmith
“For in truth they were assembled together in this city, against thy holy Child Jesus, whom thou didst anoint; both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel… while, reaching forth thy hand unto healings, both miracles and wonders are wrought through the name of thy holy child Jesus.” Godbey
“for gathered together of a truth against Thy holy child Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, were both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with nations and peoples of Israel… in the stretching forth of Thy hand, for healing, and signs, and wonders, to come to pass through the name of Thy holy child Jesus.” YLT
“For of a truth, in this city were gathered against Thy holy Boy Jesus, Whom Thou dost anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the nations and the peoples of Israel… by the stretching out of Thy hand for healing and signs and miracles to occur through the name of Thy holy Boy Jesus.” CLV
“For truly both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the nations and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together against Your holy child Jesus, whom You anointed… in the extending of Your hand for healing and miracles and wonders to happen through the name of Your holy child Jesus.” LITV
“For of a truth, against your holy lad Yah Shua whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilatos with the goyim and the people of Yisra El gathered together… by spreading your hand to heal; and that signs and omens become through the name of your holy lad Yah Shua.” ECB
“For in truth, against thy holy Boy Jesus, whom thou anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together… by thy stretching forth thy hand for healing, and signs and wonders to happen through the name of thy holy Boy Jesus.” ACV
CONCLUDING REMARKS
The foregoing data demonstrates that early Christians and many more recent translators all understood the term pais to be a description of Jesus being God’s holy and beloved Son/Child, not Servant. The aforementioned evidence seems to vindicate the fact that the translators of the AV were correct in the way they translated these specific verses from the book of Acts:
“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go… Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” Acts 3:13, 26
“For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together… by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” Acts 4:27, 30
FURTHER READING
On Second Thought! Revisiting Jesus as God’s Son or Servant in Acts Pt. 1, Pt. 2
Is Jesus God’s Servant or Son? Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3, Pt. 4, Pt. 5, Pt. 6, Addendum A, Addendum B
Answering Islam Blog 