Is Acts 26:23 a Classic Blunder in the New World Translation?

"The NWT, in Acts 26:23, has committed another classic blunder. Because of faulty punctuation, they have said that Christ was the first one to be raised from the dead." -The JW's Bible by Gerald Wright

Reply: Let's see, the NWT has "that the Christ was to suffer and, as the first to be resurrected from the dead, he was going to publish light both to this people and to the nations" whereas, the NASB has "that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

However, it seems that many others have followed the NWT in this "classic blunder":

(HCSB) that the Messiah must suffer, and that as the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles." 

(EMTV)  that the Christ was to suffer, that as the first to rise from the dead, He was about to proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." 

(ESV)  that the Christ must suffer and that,  by being the first to rise from the dead,  he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."

(GNB)  that the Messiah must suffer and be the first one to rise from death, to announce the light of salvation to the Jews and to the Gentiles." 

(NET)  that the Christ was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles." 

(NJB)  that the Christ was to suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he was to proclaim a light for our people and for the gentiles.'

(NIV) that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles." 

(NKJV) that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." 

(NRSV) that the Messiah must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles." 

(RSVA)  that the Christ must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles." 

(Webster)  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light to the people, and to the Gentiles. 

(IEB) They said that the Messiah would die and be the first to rise from death; and that the Messiah would bring light to Jewish people and non-Jewish people.

(NAB)  that the Messiah must suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.

(Montgomery) how that the Christ must suffer, and how he should be the first to rise from the dead, and should bring a message of light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.

Robertson explains in his Word Pictures:

"Others had been raised from the dead, but Christ is the first (pro¯tos) who arose from the dead and no longer dies (Rom_6:19) and proclaims light  (pho¯s mellei kataggellein)."

The Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible uses this Scripture in an interesting way in its explanation on Matthew 27:52:

"Thus, in the opening of the graves at the moment of the Redeemer's expiring, there was a glorious symbolical proclamation that the death which had just taken place had "swallowed up death in victory"; and whereas the saints that slept in them were awakened only by their risen Lord, to accompany Him out of the tomb, it was fitting that "the Prince of Life . . . should be the First that should rise from the dead" (Acts 26:23, 1 Corinthians 15:20,23, Colossians 1:18, Revelation 1:5)."

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