This paper examines 14 significant early editions of the Bible in Chinese (four versions), Korean (seven versions), English (two versions), and one Greek source, focusing on 220 proper nouns (personal and place names) appearing in the Acts of the Apostles to summarize the general trends in translations and transliterations, and introduces several illustrative examples from the analysis. The findings reveal that, among Chinese and Korean Bible translations, proper nouns often correspond without significant discrepancies between translations and transliterations, especially in cases involving high-frequency words (e.g., Asia, Jerusalem, Jesus, Moses, Rome). Influences from etymological sources such as Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (e.g., Jupiter, Zeus), and differences arising from the approach to handling proper nouns, whether through transliteration or translation (e.g., Libertines vs. Free Men; Mount of Olives), were noted. Additionally, variations among Chinese versions, observed in the translation of certain proper nouns due to the selection of specific Chinese characters (e.g., Asia), were identified. This paper sets the stage for future comprehensive studies into the complexities and diversities of biblical translation across cultural backgrounds, with a focus on lexicon and phonology, by outlining general trends and specific instances.

• A-sa SYNN(HK Research Professor, HK+Project, Center for the Study of Chinese Characters in Korea, Kyungsung University)