Acts 19:21

A Riot in Ephesus

19:21 Now after all these things had taken place, ¹  Paul resolved ²  to go to Jerusalem, ³  passing through Macedonia ⁴  and Achaia. ⁵  He said, ⁶  “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” ⁷ 

Acts 27:1--28:31

Paul and Company Sail for Rome

27:1 When it was decided we ⁸  would sail to Italy, ⁹  they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion ¹⁰  of the Augustan Cohort ¹¹  named Julius. 27:2 We went on board ¹²  a ship from Adramyttium ¹³  that was about to sail to various ports ¹⁴  along the coast of the province of Asia ¹⁵  and put out to sea, ¹⁶  accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian ¹⁷  from Thessalonica. ¹⁸  27:3 The next day we put in ¹⁹  at Sidon, ²⁰  and Julius, treating Paul kindly, ²¹  allowed him to go to his friends so they could provide him with what he needed. ²²  27:4 From there we put out to sea ²³  and sailed under the lee ²⁴  of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 27:5 After we had sailed across the open sea ²⁵  off Cilicia and Pamphylia, ²⁶  we put in ²⁷  at Myra ²⁸  in Lycia. ²⁹  27:6 There the centurion ³⁰  found ³¹  a ship from Alexandria ³²  sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. 27:7 We sailed slowly ³³  for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus. ³⁴  Because the wind prevented us from going any farther, ³⁵  we sailed under the lee ³⁶  of Crete off Salmone. ³⁷  27:8 With difficulty we sailed along the coast ³⁸  of Crete ³⁹  and came to a place called Fair Havens that was near the town of Lasea. ⁴⁰ 

Caught in a Violent Storm

27:9 Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous ⁴¹  because the fast ⁴²  was already over, ⁴³  Paul advised them, ⁴⁴  27:10 “Men, I can see the voyage is going to end ⁴⁵  in disaster ⁴⁶  and great loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” ⁴⁷  27:11 But the centurion ⁴⁸  was more convinced ⁴⁹  by the captain ⁵⁰  and the ship’s owner than by what Paul said. ⁵¹  27:12 Because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided ⁵²  to put out to sea ⁵³  from there. They hoped that ⁵⁴  somehow they could reach ⁵⁵  Phoenix, ⁵⁶  a harbor of Crete facing ⁵⁷  southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. 27:13 When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought ⁵⁸  they could carry out ⁵⁹  their purpose, so they weighed anchor ⁶⁰  and sailed close along the coast ⁶¹  of Crete. 27:14 Not long after this, a hurricane-force ⁶²  wind called the northeaster ⁶³  blew down from the island. ⁶⁴  27:15 When the ship was caught in it ⁶⁵  and could not head into ⁶⁶  the wind, we gave way to it and were driven ⁶⁷  along. 27:16 As we ran under the lee of ⁶⁸  a small island called Cauda, ⁶⁹  we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat ⁷⁰  under control. 27:17 After the crew ⁷¹  had hoisted it aboard, ⁷²  they used supports ⁷³  to undergird the ship. Fearing they would run aground ⁷⁴  on the Syrtis, ⁷⁵  they lowered the sea anchor, ⁷⁶  thus letting themselves be driven along. 27:18 The next day, because we were violently battered by the storm, ⁷⁷  they began throwing the cargo overboard, ⁷⁸  27:19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s gear ⁷⁹  overboard with their own hands. 27:20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and a violent ⁸⁰  storm continued to batter us, ⁸¹  we finally abandoned all hope of being saved. ⁸² 

27:21 Since many of them had no desire to eat, ⁸³  Paul ⁸⁴  stood up ⁸⁵  among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me ⁸⁶  and not put out to sea ⁸⁷  from Crete, thus avoiding ⁸⁸  this damage and loss. 27:22 And now I advise ⁸⁹  you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship will be lost. ⁹⁰  27:23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong ⁹¹  and whom I serve ⁹²  came to me ⁹³  27:24 and said, ⁹⁴  ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before ⁹⁵  Caesar, ⁹⁶  and God has graciously granted you the safety ⁹⁷  of all who are sailing with you.’ 27:25 Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God ⁹⁸  that it will be just as I have been told. 27:26 But we must ⁹⁹  run aground on some island.”

27:27 When the fourteenth night had come, while we were being driven ¹⁰⁰  across the Adriatic Sea, ¹⁰¹  about midnight the sailors suspected they were approaching some land. ¹⁰²  27:28 They took soundings ¹⁰³  and found the water was twenty fathoms ¹⁰⁴  deep; when they had sailed a little farther ¹⁰⁵  they took soundings again and found it was fifteen fathoms ¹⁰⁶  deep. 27:29 Because they were afraid ¹⁰⁷  that we would run aground on the rocky coast, ¹⁰⁸  they threw out ¹⁰⁹  four anchors from the stern and wished ¹¹⁰  for day to appear. ¹¹¹  27:30 Then when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship’s boat into the sea, pretending ¹¹²  that they were going to put out anchors from the bow, 27:31 Paul said to the centurion ¹¹³  and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you ¹¹⁴  cannot be saved.” 27:32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes ¹¹⁵  of the ship’s boat and let it drift away. ¹¹⁶ 

27:33 As day was about to dawn, ¹¹⁷  Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense ¹¹⁸  and have gone ¹¹⁹  without food; you have eaten nothing. ¹²⁰  27:34 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is important ¹²¹  for your survival. ¹²²  For not one of you will lose a hair from his head.” 27:35 After he said this, Paul ¹²³  took bread ¹²⁴  and gave thanks to God in front of them all, ¹²⁵  broke ¹²⁶  it, and began to eat. 27:36 So all of them were encouraged and took food themselves. 27:37 (We were in all two hundred seventy-six ¹²⁷  persons on the ship.) ¹²⁸  27:38 When they had eaten enough to be satisfied, ¹²⁹  they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat ¹³⁰  into the sea.

Paul is Shipwrecked

27:39 When day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed ¹³¹  a bay ¹³²  with a beach, ¹³³  where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 27:40 So they slipped ¹³⁴  the anchors ¹³⁵  and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the linkage ¹³⁶  that bound the steering oars ¹³⁷  together. Then they hoisted ¹³⁸  the foresail ¹³⁹  to the wind and steered toward ¹⁴⁰  the beach. 27:41 But they encountered a patch of crosscurrents ¹⁴¹  and ran the ship aground; the bow stuck fast and could not be moved, but the stern was being broken up by the force ¹⁴²  of the waves. 27:42 Now the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners ¹⁴³  so that none of them would escape by swimming away. ¹⁴⁴  27:43 But the centurion, ¹⁴⁵  wanting to save Paul’s life, ¹⁴⁶  prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land, ¹⁴⁷  27:44 and the rest were to follow, ¹⁴⁸  some on planks ¹⁴⁹  and some on pieces of the ship. ¹⁵⁰  And in this way ¹⁵¹  all were brought safely to land.

Paul on Malta

28:1 After we had safely reached shore, ¹⁵²  we learned that the island was called Malta. ¹⁵³  28:2 The local inhabitants ¹⁵⁴  showed us extraordinary ¹⁵⁵  kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain ¹⁵⁶  and was cold. 28:3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood ¹⁵⁷  and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 28:4 When the local people ¹⁵⁸  saw the creature hanging from Paul’s ¹⁵⁹  hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself ¹⁶⁰  has not allowed him to live!” ¹⁶¹  28:5 However, ¹⁶²  Paul ¹⁶³  shook ¹⁶⁴  the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 28:6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell up ¹⁶⁵  or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited ¹⁶⁶  a long time and had seen ¹⁶⁷  nothing unusual happen ¹⁶⁸  to him, they changed their minds ¹⁶⁹  and said he was a god. ¹⁷⁰ 

28:7 Now in the region around that place ¹⁷¹  were fields belonging to the chief official ¹⁷²  of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. 28:8 The father ¹⁷³  of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him ¹⁷⁴  and after praying, placed ¹⁷⁵  his hands on him and healed ¹⁷⁶  him. 28:9 After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick ¹⁷⁷  also came and were healed. ¹⁷⁸  28:10 They also bestowed many honors, ¹⁷⁹  and when we were preparing to sail, ¹⁸⁰  they gave ¹⁸¹  us all the supplies we needed. ¹⁸² 

Paul Finally Reaches Rome

28:11 After three months we put out to sea ¹⁸³  in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the “Heavenly Twins” ¹⁸⁴  as its figurehead. ¹⁸⁵  28:12 We put in ¹⁸⁶  at Syracuse ¹⁸⁷  and stayed there three days. 28:13 From there we cast off ¹⁸⁸  and arrived at Rhegium, ¹⁸⁹  and after one day a south wind sprang up ¹⁹⁰  and on the second day we came to Puteoli. ¹⁹¹  28:14 There ¹⁹²  we found ¹⁹³  some brothers ¹⁹⁴  and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. ¹⁹⁵  28:15 The brothers from there, ¹⁹⁶  when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius ¹⁹⁷  and Three Taverns ¹⁹⁸  to meet us. When he saw them, ¹⁹⁹  Paul thanked God and took courage. 28:16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live ²⁰⁰  by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

Paul Addresses the Jewish Community in Rome

28:17 After three days ²⁰¹  Paul ²⁰²  called the local Jewish leaders ²⁰³  together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, ²⁰⁴  although I had done ²⁰⁵  nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, ²⁰⁶  from Jerusalem ²⁰⁷  I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. ²⁰⁸  28:18 When ²⁰⁹  they had heard my case, ²¹⁰  they wanted to release me, ²¹¹  because there was no basis for a death sentence ²¹²  against me. 28:19 But when the Jews objected, ²¹³  I was forced to appeal to Caesar ²¹⁴  – not that I had some charge to bring ²¹⁵  against my own people. ²¹⁶  28:20 So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.” ²¹⁷  28:21 They replied, ²¹⁸  “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there ²¹⁹  and reported or said anything bad about you. 28:22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know ²²⁰  that people ²²¹  everywhere speak against ²²²  it.”

28:23 They set ²²³  a day to meet with him, ²²⁴  and they came to him where he was staying ²²⁵  in even greater numbers. ²²⁶  From morning until evening he explained things ²²⁷  to them, ²²⁸  testifying ²²⁹  about the kingdom of God ²³⁰  and trying to convince ²³¹  them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 28:24 Some were convinced ²³²  by what he said, ²³³  but others refused ²³⁴  to believe. 28:25 So they began to leave, ²³⁵  unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors ²³⁶  through the prophet Isaiah 28:26 when he said,

‘Go to this people and say,

“You will keep on hearing, ²³⁷  but will never understand,

and you will keep on looking, ²³⁸  but will never perceive.

28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull, ²³⁹ 

and their ears are hard of hearing, ²⁴⁰ 

and they have closed their eyes,

so that they would not see with their eyes

and hear with their ears

and understand with their heart

and turn, ²⁴¹  and I would heal them.”’ ²⁴² 

28:28 “Therefore be advised ²⁴³  that this salvation from God ²⁴⁴  has been sent to the Gentiles; ²⁴⁵  they ²⁴⁶  will listen!”

28:29 [[EMPTY]] ²⁴⁷ 

28:30 Paul ²⁴⁸  lived ²⁴⁹  there two whole years in his own rented quarters ²⁵⁰  and welcomed ²⁵¹  all who came to him, 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ ²⁵²  with complete boldness ²⁵³  and without restriction. ²⁵⁴ 

[19:21]  ¹ tn Grk “all these things had been fulfilled.”

[19:21]  ² tn Grk “Paul purposed in [his] spirit” (an idiom). According to BDAG 1003 s.v. τίθημι 1.b.ε the entire idiom means “to resolve” (or “decide”): “ἔθετο ὁ Παῦλος ἐν τῷ πνεύματι w. inf. foll. Paul resolved 19:21.”

[19:21]  ³ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[19:21]  ⁴ sn Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.

[19:21]  ⁵ sn Achaia was the Roman province of Achaia located across the Aegean Sea from Ephesus. Its principal city was Corinth.

[19:21]  ⁶ tn Grk “Achaia, saying.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the awkwardness in English of having two participial clauses following one another (“passing through…saying”), the participle εἰπών (eipwn) has been translated as a finite verb and a new sentence begun here in the translation.

[19:21]  ⁷ sn This is the first time Paul mentions Rome. He realized the message of Christianity could impact that society even at its heights.

[27:1]  ⁸ sn The last “we” section in Acts begins here and extends to 28:16 (the previous one ended at 21:18).

[27:1]  ⁹ sn Sail to Italy. This voyage with its difficulty serves to show how God protected Paul on his long journey to Rome. From the perspective of someone in Palestine, this may well picture “the end of the earth” quite literally (cf. Acts 1:8).

[27:1]  ¹⁰ sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.

[27:1]  ¹¹ tn According to BDAG 917 s.v. σεβαστός, “In σπεῖρα Σεβαστή 27:1 (cp. OGI 421) Σεβαστή is likew. an exact transl. of Lat. Augusta, an honorary title freq. given to auxiliary troops (Ptolem. renders it Σεβαστή in connection w. three legions that bore it: 2, 3, 30; 2, 9, 18; 4, 3, 30) imperial cohort.” According to W. Foerster (TDNT 7:175), “In Ac. 27:1 the σπεῖρα Σεβαστή is an expression also found elsewhere for ‘auxiliary troops.’” In no case would this refer to a special imperial bodyguard, and to translate “imperial regiment” or “imperial cohort” might give this impression. There is some archaeological evidence for a Cohors Augusta I stationed in Syria during the time of Augustus, but whether this is the same unit is very debatable.

[27:2]  ¹² tn Grk “Going on board.” The participle ἐπιβάντες (epibante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:2]  ¹³ sn Adramyttium was a seaport in Mysia on the western coast of Asia Minor.

[27:2]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “places.”

[27:2]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “Asia”; in the NT this always refers to the Roman province of Asia, made up of about one-third of the west and southwest end of modern Asia Minor. Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The words “the province of” are supplied to indicate to the modern reader that this does not refer to the continent of Asia.

[27:2]  ¹⁶ tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4 states, “as a nautical t.t. (ἀ. τὴν ναῦν put a ship to sea), mid. or pass. ἀνάγεσθαι to begin to go by boat, put out to sea.”

[27:2]  ¹⁷ sn A Macedonian. The city of Thessalonica (modern Salonica) was in the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.

[27:2]  ¹⁸ map For location see JP1 C1; JP2 C1; JP3 C1; JP4 C1.

[27:3]  ¹⁹ tn BDAG 516 s.v. κατάγω states, “Hence the pass., in act. sense, of ships and seafarers put in εἴς τι at a harbor…εἰς Σιδῶνα Ac 27:3.”

[27:3]  ²⁰ sn Sidon is another seaport 75 mi (120 km) north of Caesarea.

[27:3]  ²¹ tn BDAG 1056 s.v. φιλανθρώπως states, “benevolently, kindly φιλανθρώπως χρῆσθαί (τινι) treat someone in kindly fashion…Ac 27:3.”

[27:3]  ²² tn Grk “to go to his friends to be cared for.” The scene is an indication of Christian hospitality.

[27:4]  ²³ tn Grk “putting out to sea.” The participle ἀναχθέντες (anacqente") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4 states, “as a nautical t.t. (ἀ. τὴν ναῦν put a ship to sea), mid. or pass. ἀνάγεσθαι to begin to go by boat, put out to sea.”

[27:4]  ²⁴ tn BDAG 1040 s.v. ὑποπλέω states, “sail under the lee of an island, i.e. in such a way that the island protects the ship fr. the wind Ac 27:4, 7.” Thus they were east and north of the island.

[27:5]  ²⁵ tn Grk “the depths,” the deep area of a sea far enough from land that it is not protected by the coast (L&N 1.73).

[27:5]  ²⁶ sn Pamphylia was a province in the southern part of Asia Minor; it was west of Cilicia (see BDAG 753 s.v. Παμφυλία).

[27:5]  ²⁷ tn BDAG 531 s.v. κατέρχομαι 2 states, “Of ships and those who sail in them, who ‘come down’ fr. the ‘high seas’: arrive, put in…ἔις τι at someth. a harbor 18:22; 21:3; 27:5.”

[27:5]  ²⁸ sn Myra was a city on the southern coast of Lycia in Asia Minor. This journey from Sidon (v. 3) was 440 mi (700 km) and took about 15 days.

[27:5]  ²⁹ sn Lycia was the name of a peninsula on the southern coast of Asia Minor between Caria and Pamphylia.

[27:6]  ³⁰ sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.

[27:6]  ³¹ tn Grk “finding.” The participle εὑρών (Jeurwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:6]  ³² sn Alexandria (modern Alexandria) was a great city of northern Egypt which was a center for grain trade to Rome. Therefore this type of travel connection was common at the time. For a winter journey (considered hazardous) there were special bonuses and insurance provided (Suetonius, Life of Claudius 18.1-2).

[27:7]  ³³ tn The participle βραδυπλοοῦντες (braduploounte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:7]  ³⁴ sn Cnidus was the name of a peninsula on the southwestern coast of Asia Minor. This was about 130 mi (210 km) from Myra.

[27:7]  ³⁵ tn This genitive absolute construction with προσεῶντος (prosewnto") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle. L&N 13.139 translates the phrase μὴ προσεῶντος ἡμᾶς τοῦ ἀνέμου (mh prosewnto" Jhma" tou anemou) as “the wind would not let us go any farther.”

[27:7]  ³⁶ tn BDAG 1040 s.v. ὑποπλέω states, “sail under the lee of an island, i.e. in such a way that the island protects the ship fr. the wind Ac 27:4, 7.”

[27:7]  ³⁷ sn Salmone was the name of a promontory on the northeastern corner of the island of Crete. This was about 100 mi (160 km) farther along.

[27:8]  ³⁸ tn Grk “sailing along the coast…we came.” The participle παραλεγόμενοι (paralegomenoi) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. L&N 54.8, “παραλέγομαι: (a technical, nautical term) to sail along beside some object – ‘to sail along the coast, to sail along the shore.’ …‘they sailed along the coast of Crete’ Ac 27:13.”

[27:8]  ³⁹ tn Grk “it”; the referent (Crete) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[27:8]  ⁴⁰ sn Lasea was a city on the southern coast of the island of Crete. This was about 60 mi (96 km) farther.

[27:9]  ⁴¹ tn Or “unsafe” (BDAG 383 s.v. ἐπισφαλής). The term is a NT hapax legomenon.

[27:9]  ⁴² sn The fast refers to the Jewish Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. It was now into October and the dangerous winter winds would soon occur (Suetonius, Life of Claudius 18; Josephus, J. W. 1.14.2-3 [1.279-281]).

[27:9]  ⁴³ tn The accusative articular infinitive παρεληλυθέναι (parelhluqenai) after the preposition διά (dia) is causal. BDAG 776 s.v. παρέρχομαι 2 has “διὰ τὸ τὴν νηστείαν ἤδη παρεληλυθέναι because the fast was already over Ac 27:9.”

[27:9]  ⁴⁴ tn Grk “Paul advised, saying to them.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in English and has not been translated. On the term translated “advised,” see BDAG 764 s.v. παραινέω, which usually refers to recommendations.

[27:10]  ⁴⁵ tn Grk “is going to be with disaster.”

[27:10]  ⁴⁶ tn Or “hardship,” “damage.” BDAG 1022 s.v. ὕβρις 3 states, “fig. hardship, disaster, damage caused by the elements…w. ζημία Ac 27:10.”

[27:10]  ⁴⁷ tn Grk “souls” (here, one’s physical life).

[27:11]  ⁴⁸ sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.

[27:11]  ⁴⁹ tn Or “persuaded.”

[27:11]  ⁵⁰ tn BDAG 456 s.v. κυβερνήτης 1 has “one who is responsible for the management of a ship, shipmaster…W. ναύκληρος, the ‘shipowner’…Ac 27:11” See further L. Casson, Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World, 316-18.

[27:11]  ⁵¹ tn Grk “than by what was said by Paul.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one to simplify the translation.

[27:12]  ⁵² tn BDAG 181-82 s.v. βουλή 2.a, “β. τίθεσθαι (Judg 19:30; Ps 12:3) decide 27:12 (w. inf. foll.).”

[27:12]  ⁵³ tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4, “as a nautical t.t. (ἀ. τὴν ναῦν put a ship to sea), mid. or pass. ἀνάγεσθαι to begin to go by boat, put out to sea.”

[27:12]  ⁵⁴ tn Grk “from there, if somehow” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was begun here in the translation and the introductory phrase “They hoped that” supplied (with the subject, “they,” repeated from the previous clause) to make a complete English sentence.

[27:12]  ⁵⁵ tn Grk “if somehow, reaching Phoenix, they could…” The participle καταντήσαντες (katanthsante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:12]  ⁵⁶ sn Phoenix was a seaport on the southern coast of the island of Crete. This was about 30 mi (48 km) further west.

[27:12]  ⁵⁷ tn Or “a harbor of Crete open to the southwest and northwest.”

[27:13]  ⁵⁸ tn Grk “thinking.” The participle δόξαντες (doxante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:13]  ⁵⁹ tn Or “accomplish.” L&N 68.29, for κρατέω, has “to be able to complete or finish, presumably despite difficulties – ‘to accomplish, to do successfully, to carry out.’ …‘thinking that they could carry out their purpose’ Ac 27:13.”

[27:13]  ⁶⁰ tn Or “departed.”

[27:13]  ⁶¹ tn L&N 54.8, “παραλέγομαι: (a technical, nautical term) to sail along beside some object – ‘to sail along the coast, to sail along the shore.’…‘they sailed along the coast of Crete’ Ac 27:13.” With the addition of the adverb ἆσσον (asson) this becomes “sailed close along the coast of Crete.”

[27:14]  ⁶² tn Grk “a wind like a typhoon.” That is, a very violent wind like a typhoon or hurricane (BDAG 1021 s.v. τυφωνικός).

[27:14]  ⁶³ sn Or called Euraquilo (the actual name of the wind, a sailor’s term which was a combination of Greek and Latin). According to Strabo (Geography 1.2.21), this was a violent northern wind.

[27:14]  ⁶⁴ tn Grk “from it”; the referent (the island) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[27:15]  ⁶⁵ tn Or “was forced off course.” Grk “The ship being caught in it.” The genitive absolute construction with the participle συναρπασθέντος (sunarpasqento") has been taken temporally; it could also be translated as causal (“Because the ship was caught in it”).

[27:15]  ⁶⁶ tn BDAG 91 s.v. ἀντοφθαλμέω states, “Metaph. of a ship τοῦ πλοίου μὴ δυναμένοι ἀ. τῷ ἀνέμῳ since the ship was not able to face the wind, i.e. with its bow headed against the forces of the waves Ac 27:15.”

[27:15]  ⁶⁷ sn Caught in the violent wind, the ship was driven along. They were now out of control, at the mercy of the wind and sea.

[27:16]  ⁶⁸ tn BDAG 1042 s.v. ὑποτρέχω states, “run or sail under the lee of, nautical t.t.…Ac 27:16.” The participle ὑποδραμόντες (Jupodramonte") has been taken temporally (“as we ran under the lee of”). While this could also be translated as a participle of means (“by running…”) this might suggest the ship was still under a greater degree of control by its crew than it probably was.

[27:16]  ⁶⁹ sn Cauda. This island was located south of Crete, about 23 mi (36 km) from where they began. There are various ways to spell the island’s name (e.g., Clauda, BDAG 546 s.v. Κλαῦδα).

[27:16]  ⁷⁰ sn The ship’s boat was a small rowboat, normally towed behind a ship in good weather rather than stowed on board. It was used for landings, to maneuver the ship for tacking, and to lay anchors (not a lifeboat in the modern sense, although it could have served as a means of escape for some of the sailors; see v. 30). See L. Casson, Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World, 248f.

[27:17]  ⁷¹ tn Grk “After hoisting it up, they…”; the referent (the ship’s crew) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[27:17]  ⁷² tn The participle ἄραντες (arantes) has been taken temporally.

[27:17]  ⁷³ tn Possibly “ropes” or “cables”; Grk “helps” (a word of uncertain meaning; probably a nautical technical term, BDAG 180 s.v. βοήθεια 2).

[27:17]  ⁷⁴ tn BDAG 308 s.v. ἐκπίπτω 2 states, “drift off course, run aground, nautical term εἴς τι on someth….on the Syrtis 27:17.”

[27:17]  ⁷⁵ tn That is, on the sandbars and shallows of the Syrtis.

[27:17]  ⁷⁶ tn Or perhaps “mainsail.” The meaning of this word is uncertain. BDAG 927 s.v. σκεῦος 1 has “τὸ σκεῦος Ac 27:17 seems to be the kedge or driving anchor” while C. Maurer (TDNT 7:362) notes, “The meaning in Ac. 27:17: χαλάσαντες τὸ σκεῦος, is uncertain. Prob. the ref. is not so much to taking down the sails as to throwing the draganchor overboard to lessen the speed of the ship.” In spite of this L&N 6.1 states, “In Ac 27:17, for example, the reference of σκεῦος is generally understood to be the mainsail.” A reference to the sail is highly unlikely because in a storm of the force described in Ac 27:14, the sail would have been taken down and reefed immediately, to prevent its being ripped to shreds or torn away by the gale.

[27:18]  ⁷⁷ tn BDAG 980 s.v. σφόδρῶς states, “very much, greatly, violently…σφ. χειμάζεσθαι be violently beaten by a storm Ac 27:18.”

[27:18]  ⁷⁸ tn Or “jettisoning [the cargo]” (a nautical technical term). The words “the cargo” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.

[27:19]  ⁷⁹ tn Or “rigging,” “tackle”; Grk “the ship’s things.” Here the more abstract “gear” is preferred to “rigging” or “tackle” as a translation for σκεῦος (skeuos) because in v. 40 the sailors are still able to raise the (fore)sail, which they could not have done if the ship’s rigging or tackle had been jettisoned here.

[27:20]  ⁸⁰ tn Grk “no small storm” = a very great storm.

[27:20]  ⁸¹ tn Grk “no small storm pressing on us.” The genitive absolute construction with the participle ἐπικειμένου (epikeimenou) has been translated as parallel to the previous genitive absolute construction (which was translated as temporal). BDAG 373 s.v. ἐπίκειμαι 2.b states, “of impersonal force confront χειμῶνος ἐπικειμένου since a storm lay upon us Ac 27:20.” L&N 14.2, “‘the stormy weather did not abate in the least’ or ‘the violent storm continued’ Ac 27:20.” To this last was added the idea of “battering” from the notion of “pressing upon” inherent in ἐπίκειμαι (epikeimai).

[27:20]  ⁸² tn Grk “finally all hope that we would be saved was abandoned.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one to simplify the translation. This represents a clearly secular use of the term σῴζω (swzw) in that it refers to deliverance from the storm. At this point those on board the ship gave up hope of survival.

[27:21]  ⁸³ tn Or “Since they had no desire to eat for a long time.” The genitive absolute construction with the participle ὑπαρχούσης (Juparcoush") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle. It could also be translated temporally (“When many of them had no desire to eat”). The translation of πολλῆς (pollhs) as a substantized adjective referring to the people on board the ship (“many of them”) rather than a period of time (“for a long time”; so most modern versions) follows BDAG 143 s.v. ἀσιτία, which has “πολλῆς ἀ. ὑπαρχούσης since almost nobody wanted to eat because of anxiety or seasickness…Ac 27:21.” This detail indicates how turbulent things were on board the ship.

[27:21]  ⁸⁴ tn Here τότε (tote) is redundant (pleonastic) according to BDAG 1012-13 s.v. τότε 2; thus it has not been translated.

[27:21]  ⁸⁵ tn Grk “standing up…said.” The participle σταθείς (staqeis) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:21]  ⁸⁶ tn L&N 36.12 has “πειθαρχήσαντάς μοι μὴ ἀνάγεσθαι ἀπὸ τῆς Κρήτης ‘you should have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete’ Ac 27:21.”

[27:21]  ⁸⁷ tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4, “as a nautical t.t. (ἀ. τὴν ναῦν put a ship to sea), mid. or pass. ἀνάγεσθαι to begin to go by boat, put out to sea.”

[27:21]  ⁸⁸ tn The infinitive κερδῆσαι (kerdhsai) has been translated as resultative.

[27:22]  ⁸⁹ tn The same verb is used for Paul’s original recommendation in Ac 27:9.

[27:22]  ⁹⁰ tn Grk “except the ship.” Here “but” is used to translate the improper preposition πλήν (plhn; see BDAG 826 s.v. πλήν 2) since an exception like this, where two different categories of objects are involved (people and a ship), is more naturally expressed in contemporary English with an adversative (“but”). The words “will be lost” are also supplied for clarity.

[27:23]  ⁹¹ tn Grk “of whom I am.” The relative clause with its possessive was translated following L&N 15.86 s.v. παρίσταμαι.

[27:23]  ⁹² tn Or “worship.”

[27:23]  ⁹³ tn Or “stood by me.” BDAG 778 s.v. παρίστημι/παριστάνω 2.a.α states, “approach, come τινί (to) someone…Ac 9:39; 27:23.”

[27:24]  ⁹⁴ tn Grk “came to me saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:24]  ⁹⁵ tn BDAG 778 s.v. παρίστημι/παριστάνω 2.a.α states, “Also as a t.t. of legal usage appear before, come before…Καίσαρι σε δεῖ παραστῆναι you must stand before the Emperor (as judge) Ac 27:24.” See Acts 23:11. Luke uses the verb δεῖ (dei) to describe what must occur.

[27:24]  ⁹⁶ tn Or “before the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).

[27:24]  ⁹⁷ tn Grk “God has graciously granted you all who are sailing with you.” The words “the safety of” have been supplied to clarify the meaning of the verb κεχάρισται (kecaristai) in this context.

[27:25]  ⁹⁸ tn BDAG 817 s.v. πιστεύω 1.c states, “w. pers. and thing added π. τινί τι believe someone with regard to someth….W. dat. of pers. and ὅτι foll…. πιστεύετέ μοι ὅτι ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ πατρί J 14:11a. Cp. 4:21; Ac 27:25.”

[27:26]  ⁹⁹ tn This is another use of δεῖ (dei) to indicate necessity (see also v. 24). Acts 28:1 shows the fulfillment of this.

[27:27]  ¹⁰⁰ tn Here “being driven” has been used to translate διαφέρω (diaferw) rather than “drifting,” because it is clear from the attempt to drop anchors in v. 29 that the ship is still being driven by the gale. “Drifting” implies lack of control, but not necessarily rapid movement.

[27:27]  ¹⁰¹ sn The Adriatic Sea. They were now somewhere between Crete and Malta.

[27:27]  ¹⁰² tn Grk “suspected that some land was approaching them.” BDAG 876 s.v. προσάγω 2.a states, “lit. ὑπενόουν προσάγειν τινά αὐτοῖς χώραν they suspected that land was near (lit. ‘approaching them’) Ac 27:27.” Current English idiom would speak of the ship approaching land rather than land approaching the ship.

[27:28]  ¹⁰³ tn Grk “Heaving the lead, they found.” The participle βολίσαντες (bolisante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. See also BDAG 180 s.v. βολίζω. Although the term is used twice in this verse (and thus is technically not a NT hapax legomenon), it occurs nowhere else in the NT.

[27:28]  ¹⁰⁴ sn A fathom is about 6 feet or just under 2 meters (originally the length of a man’s outstretched arms). This was a nautical technical term for measuring the depth of water. Here it was about 120 ft (36 m).

[27:28]  ¹⁰⁵ tn L&N 15.12, “βραχὺ δὲ διαστήσαντες ‘when they had gone a little farther’ Ac 27:28.”

[27:28]  ¹⁰⁶ sn Here the depth was about 90 ft (27 m).

[27:29]  ¹⁰⁷ tn Grk “fearing.” The participle φοβούμενοι (foboumenoi) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.

[27:29]  ¹⁰⁸ tn Grk “against a rough [rocky] place.” L&N 79.84 has “φοβούμενοί τε μή που κατὰ τραχεῖς τόποις ἐκπέσωμεν ‘we were afraid that we would run aground on the rocky coast’ Ac 27:29.”

[27:29]  ¹⁰⁹ tn Grk “throwing out…they.” The participle ῥίψαντες (rJiyante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:29]  ¹¹⁰ tn BDAG 417 s.v. εὔχομαι 2 states, “wish…τὶ for someth.…Foll. by acc. and inf….Ac 27:29.” The other possible meaning for this term, “pray,” is given in BDAG 417 s.v. 1 and employed by a number of translations (NAB, NRSV, NIV). If this meaning is adopted here, then “prayed for day to come” must be understood metaphorically to mean “prayed that they would live to see the day,” or “prayed that it would soon be day.”

[27:29]  ¹¹¹ tn Grk “and wished for day to come about.”

[27:30]  ¹¹² tn BDAG 889 s.v. πρόφασις 2 states, “προφάσει ὡς under the pretext that, pretending that…Ac 27:30.” In other words, some of the sailors gave up hope that such efforts would work and instead attempted to escape while pretending to help.

[27:31]  ¹¹³ sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.

[27:31]  ¹¹⁴ sn The pronoun you is plural in Greek.

[27:32]  ¹¹⁵ sn The soldiers cut the ropes. The centurion and the soldiers were now following Paul’s advice by cutting the ropes to prevent the sailors from escaping.

[27:32]  ¹¹⁶ tn Or “let it fall away.” According to BDAG 308 s.v. ἐκπίπτω 1 and 2 the meaning of the verb in this verse could be either “fall away” or “drift away.” Either meaning is acceptable, and the choice between them depends almost entirely on how one reconstructs the scene. Since cutting the boat loose would in any case result in it drifting away (whether capsized or not), the meaning “drift away” as a nautical technical term has been used here.

[27:33]  ¹¹⁷ tn BDAG 160 s.v. ἄχρι 1.b.α has “ἄ. οὗ ἡμέρα ἤμελλεν γίνεσθαι until the day began to dawn 27:33.”

[27:33]  ¹¹⁸ tn Or “have waited anxiously.” Grk “waiting anxiously.” The participle προσδοκῶντες (prosdokwnte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:33]  ¹¹⁹ tn Or “continued.”

[27:33]  ¹²⁰ tn Grk “having eaten nothing.” The participle προσλαβόμενοι (proslabomenoi) has been translated as a finite verb (with subject “you” supplied) due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:34]  ¹²¹ tn Or “necessary.” BDAG 873-74 s.v. πρός 1 has “πρ. τῆς σωτηρίας in the interest of safety Ac 27:34”; L&N 27.18 has “‘therefore, I urge you to take some food, for this is important for your deliverance’ or ‘…for your survival’ Ac 27:34.”

[27:34]  ¹²² tn Or “deliverance” (‘salvation’ in a nontheological sense).

[27:35]  ¹²³ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[27:35]  ¹²⁴ tn Grk “taking bread, gave thanks.” The participle λαβών (labwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:35]  ¹²⁵ tn Or “before them all,” but here this could be misunderstood to indicate a temporal sequence.

[27:35]  ¹²⁶ tn Grk “and breaking it, he began.” The participle κλάσας (klasas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:37]  ¹²⁷ tc One early ms (B) and an early version (sa) read “about seventy-six.” For discussion of how this variant probably arose, see F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles, 465.

[27:37]  ¹²⁸ sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.

[27:38]  ¹²⁹ tn Or “When they had eaten their fill.”

[27:38]  ¹³⁰ tn Or “grain.”

[27:39]  ¹³¹ tn Or “observed,” “saw.”

[27:39]  ¹³² tn Or “gulf” (BDAG 557 s.v. κόλπος 3).

[27:39]  ¹³³ sn A beach would refer to a smooth sandy beach suitable for landing.

[27:40]  ¹³⁴ tn That is, released. Grk “slipping…leaving.” The participles περιελόντες (perielonte") and εἴων (eiwn) have been translated as finite verbs due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:40]  ¹³⁵ tn The term is used of a ship’s anchor. (BDAG 12 s.v. ἄγκυρα a).

[27:40]  ¹³⁶ tn Grk “bands”; possibly “ropes.”

[27:40]  ¹³⁷ tn Or “rudders.”

[27:40]  ¹³⁸ tn Grk “hoisting…they.” The participle ἐπάραντες (eparante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[27:40]  ¹³⁹ tn Grk “sail”; probably a reference to the foresail.

[27:40]  ¹⁴⁰ tn BDAG 533 s.v. κατέχω 7 states, “hold course, nautical t.t., intr….κατεῖχον εἰς τὸν αἰγιαλόν they headed for the beach Ac 27:40.”

[27:41]  ¹⁴¹ tn Grk “fell upon a place of two seas.” The most common explanation for this term is that it refers to a reef or sandbar with the sea on both sides, as noted in BDAG 245 s.v. διθάλασσος: the “τόπος δ. Ac 27:41 is a semantic unit signifying a point (of land jutting out with water on both sides).” However, Greek had terms for a “sandbank” (θῖς [qis], ταινία [tainia]), a “reef” (ἑρμα [Jerma]), “strait” (στενόν [stenon]), “promontory” (ἀρωτήρον [arwthron]), and other nautical hazards, none of which are used by the author here. NEB here translates τόπον διθάλασσον (topon diqalasson) as “cross-currents,” a proposal close to that advanced by J. M. Gilchrist, “The Historicity of Paul’s Shipwreck,” JSNT 61 (1996): 29-51, who suggests the meaning is “a patch of cross-seas,” where the waves are set at an angle to the wind, a particular hazard for sailors. Thus the term most likely refers to some sort of adverse sea conditions rather than a topographical feature like a reef or sandbar.

[27:41]  ¹⁴² tn Or “violence” (BDAG 175 s.v. βία a).

[27:42]  ¹⁴³ sn The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners. The issue here was not cruelty, but that the soldiers would be legally responsible if any prisoners escaped and would suffer punishment themselves. So they were planning to do this as an act of self-preservation. See Acts 16:27 for a similar incident.

[27:42]  ¹⁴⁴ tn The participle ἐκκολυμβήσας (ekkolumbhsa") has been taken instrumentally.

[27:43]  ¹⁴⁵ sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.

[27:43]  ¹⁴⁶ tn Or “wanting to rescue Paul.”

[27:43]  ¹⁴⁷ tn BDAG 347 s.v. I. ἔξειμι has “ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν get to land Ac 27:43.”

[27:44]  ¹⁴⁸ tn The words “were to follow” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. They must be supplied to clarify the sense in contemporary English.

[27:44]  ¹⁴⁹ tn Or “boards” according to BDAG 913 s.v. σανίς.

[27:44]  ¹⁵⁰ tn Grk “on pieces from the ship”; that is, pieces of wreckage from the ship.

[27:44]  ¹⁵¹ tn Grk “And in this way it happened that.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[28:1]  ¹⁵² tn Grk “We having been brought safely through” [to land] (same verb as 27:44). The word “shore” is implied, and the slight variations in translation from 27:44 have been made to avoid redundancy in English. The participle διασωθέντες (diaswqente") has been taken temporally.

[28:1]  ¹⁵³ sn Malta is an island (known by the same name today) in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. The ship had traveled 625 mi (1,000 km) in the storm.

[28:2]  ¹⁵⁴ tn Although this is literally βάρβαροι (barbaroi; “foreigners, barbarians”) used for non-Greek or non-Romans, as BDAG 166 s.v. βάρβαρος 2.b notes, “Of the inhabitants of Malta, who apparently spoke in their native language Ac 28:2, 4 (here β. certainly without derogatory tone…).”

[28:2]  ¹⁵⁵ tn BDAG 1019 s.v. τυγχάνω 2.d states, “δυνάμεις οὐ τὰς τυχούσας extraordinary miracles Ac 19:11. Cp. 28:2.”

[28:2]  ¹⁵⁶ tn Or “because it was about to rain.” BDAG 418 s.v. ἐφίστημι 4 states, “διὰ τ. ὑετὸν τὸν ἐφεστῶτα because it had begun to rain Ac 28:2…But the mng. here could also be because it threatened to rain (s. 6).”

[28:3]  ¹⁵⁷ tn Or “sticks.”

[28:4]  ¹⁵⁸ tn Although this is literally βάρβαροι (barbaroi; “foreigners, barbarians”) used for non-Greek or non-Romans, as BDAG 166 s.v. βάρβαρος 2.b notes, “Of the inhabitants of Malta, who apparently spoke in their native language Ac 28:2, 4 (here β. certainly without derogatory tone…).”

[28:4]  ¹⁵⁹ tn Grk “his”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[28:4]  ¹⁶⁰ tn That is, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live. BDAG 250 s.v. δίκη 2 states, “Justice personified as a deity Ac 28:4”; L&N 12.27, “a goddess who personifies justice in seeking out and punishing the guilty – ‘the goddess Justice.’ ἡ δίκη ζῆν οὐκ εἴασεν ‘the goddess Justice would not let him live’ Ac 28:4.” Although a number of modern English translations have rendered δίκη (dikh) “justice,” preferring to use an abstraction, in the original setting it is almost certainly a reference to a pagan deity. In the translation, the noun “justice” was capitalized and the reflexive pronoun “herself” was supplied to make the personification clear. This was considered preferable to supplying a word like ‘goddess’ in connection with δίκη.

[28:4]  ¹⁶¹ sn The entire scene is played out initially as a kind of oracle from the gods resulting in the judgment of a guilty person (Justice herself has not allowed him to live). Paul’s survival of this incident without ill effects thus spoke volumes about his innocence.

[28:5]  ¹⁶² tn BDAG 737 s.v. οὖν 4 indicates the particle has an adversative sense here: “but, however.”

[28:5]  ¹⁶³ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[28:5]  ¹⁶⁴ tn Grk “shaking the creature off…he suffered no harm.” The participle ἀποτινάξας (apotinaxa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[28:6]  ¹⁶⁵ tn Or “going to burn with fever.” According to BDAG 814 s.v. πίμπρημι, either meaning (“swell up” or “burn with fever”) is possible for Acts 28:6.

[28:6]  ¹⁶⁶ tn The participle προσδοκώντων (prosdokwntwn) has been taken temporally.

[28:6]  ¹⁶⁷ tn The participle θεωρούντων (qewrountwn) has been taken temporally.

[28:6]  ¹⁶⁸ tn Grk “happening.” The participle γινόμενον (ginomenon) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[28:6]  ¹⁶⁹ tn Grk “changing their minds.” The participle μεταβαλόμενοι (metabalomenoi) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[28:6]  ¹⁷⁰ sn And said he was a god. The reaction is like Acts 14:11-19 where the crowd wanted to make Paul and Barnabas into gods. The providence of God had protected Paul again.

[28:7]  ¹⁷¹ tn BDAG 798 s.v. περί 2.a.γ states, “of nearby places…τὰ περὶ τὸν τὸπον the region around the place Ac 28:7.” The presence of ἐκεῖνον (ekeinon) results in the translation “that place.”

[28:7]  ¹⁷² tn That is, the chief Roman official. Several inscriptions have confirmed the use of πρῶτος (prwtos) as an administrative title used on the island of Malta for the highest Roman official. See further BDAG 852 s.v. Πόπλιος.

[28:8]  ¹⁷³ tn Grk “It happened that the father.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[28:8]  ¹⁷⁴ tn Grk “to whom Paul going in.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced by a personal pronoun (“him”) and a new sentence begun here in the translation. The participle εἰσελθών (eiselqwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[28:8]  ¹⁷⁵ tn The participle ἐπιθείς (epiqeis) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[28:8]  ¹⁷⁶ sn And healed him. Here are healings like Luke 9:40; 10:30; 13:13; Acts 16:23.

[28:9]  ¹⁷⁷ tn BDAG 142 s.v. ἀσθένεια 1 states, “ἔχειν ἀ. be ill Ac 28:9.”

[28:9]  ¹⁷⁸ sn Many…also came and were healed. Again, here is irony. Paul, though imprisoned, “frees” others of their diseases.

[28:10]  ¹⁷⁹ tn Or “they also honored us greatly”; Grk “they also honored us with many honors” (an idiom).

[28:10]  ¹⁸⁰ tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4, “as a nautical t.t. (ἀ. τὴν ναῦν put a ship to sea), mid. or pass. ἀνάγεσθαι to begin to go by boat, put out to sea.” In this case the simpler English “sail” is more appropriate. The English participle “preparing” has also been supplied, since the provisioning of the ship would take place some time before the actual departure.

[28:10]  ¹⁸¹ tn BDAG 384 s.v. ἐπιτίθημι 1.b has “give τινί τι someth. to someone…ἀναγομένοις τὰ πρὸς τὰς χρείας when we sailed they gave us what we needed Ac 28:10.”

[28:10]  ¹⁸² sn They gave us all the supplies we needed. What they had lost in the storm and shipwreck was now replaced. Luke describes these pagans very positively.

[28:11]  ¹⁸³ tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4, “as a nautical t.t. (ἀ. τὴν ναῦν put a ship to sea), mid. or pass. ἀνάγεσθαι to begin to go by boat, put out to sea.”

[28:11]  ¹⁸⁴ tn Or “the ‘Twin Gods’”; Grk “the Dioscuri” (a joint name for the pagan deities Castor and Pollux).

[28:11]  ¹⁸⁵ tn Or “as its emblem.”

[28:12]  ¹⁸⁶ tn Grk “And putting in.” The participle καταχθέντες (katacqente") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. On the meaning of the participle, BDAG 516 s.v. κατάγω states, “Hence the pass., in act. sense, of ships and seafarers put in εἴς τι at a harbor…εἰς Συρακούσας Ac 28:12.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

[28:12]  ¹⁸⁷ sn Syracuse was a city on the eastern coast of the island of Sicily. It was 75 mi (120 km) from Malta.

[28:13]  ¹⁸⁸ tc A few early mss (א* B Ψ [gig] {sa [bo]}) read περιελόντες (perielonte", “[From there we] cast off [and arrived at Rhegium]”; cf. Acts 27:40). The other major variant, περιελθόντες (perielqonte", “[we] sailed from place to place”), is found in Ì⁷⁴ א² A 066 1739 Ï lat sy. Although περιελόντες is minimally attested, it is found in the better witnesses. As well, it is a more difficult reading, for its meaning as a nautical term is uncertain, requiring something like “τὰς ἀγκύρας be supplied = ‘we weighed anchor’” (BDAG 799 s.v. περιαιρέω 1). It thus best explains the rise of the other readings.

[28:13]  ¹⁸⁹ sn Rhegium was a city on the southern tip of Italy. It was 80 mi (130 km) from Syracuse.

[28:13]  ¹⁹⁰ tn Grk “after one day, a south wind springing up, on the second day.” The genitive absolute construction with the participle ἐπιγενομένου (epigenomenou) has been translated as a clause with a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[28:13]  ¹⁹¹ sn Puteoli was a city on the western coast of Italy south of Rome. It was in the Bay of Naples some 220 mi (350 km) to the north of Rhegium. Here the voyage ended; the rest of the journey was by land.

[28:14]  ¹⁹² tn Grk “where.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“where”) has been replaced with the demonstrative pronoun (“there”) and a new sentence begun here in the translation.

[28:14]  ¹⁹³ tn Grk “finding.” The participle εὑρόντες (Jeurontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[28:14]  ¹⁹⁴ sn That is, some fellow Christians.

[28:14]  ¹⁹⁵ map For location see JP4 A1.

[28:15]  ¹⁹⁶ sn Mention of Christian brothers from there (Rome) shows that God’s message had already spread as far as Italy and the capital of the empire.

[28:15]  ¹⁹⁷ sn The Forum of Appius was a small traveler’s stop on the Appian Way about 43 mi (71 km) south of Rome (BDAG 125 s.v. ᾿Αππίου φόρον). It was described by Horace as “crammed with boatmen and stingy tavernkeepers” (Satires 1.5.3).

[28:15]  ¹⁹⁸ sn Three Taverns was a stop on the Appian Way 33 mi (55 km) south of Rome.

[28:15]  ¹⁹⁹ tn Grk “whom, when he saw [them], Paul.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced by the personal pronoun (“them”) and a new sentence begun here in the translation.

[28:16]  ²⁰⁰ tn Or “to stay.”

[28:17]  ²⁰¹ tn Grk “It happened that after three days.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[28:17]  ²⁰² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[28:17]  ²⁰³ tn L&N 33.309 has “‘after three days, he called the local Jewish leaders together’ Ac 28:17.”

[28:17]  ²⁰⁴ tn Grk “Men brothers,” but this is both awkward and unnecessary in English.

[28:17]  ²⁰⁵ tn The participle ποιήσας (poihsas) has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.

[28:17]  ²⁰⁶ tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”

[28:17]  ²⁰⁷ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[28:17]  ²⁰⁸ tn Grk “into the hands of the Romans,” but this is redundant when παρεδόθην (paredoqhn) has been translated “handed over.”

[28:18]  ²⁰⁹ tn Grk “who when.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“who”) has been replaced by the personal pronoun (“they”) and a new sentence begun at this point in the translation.

[28:18]  ²¹⁰ tn Or “had questioned me”; or “had examined me.” BDAG 66 s.v. ἀνακρίνω 2 states, “to conduct a judicial hearing, hear a case, question.”

[28:18]  ²¹¹ sn They wanted to release me. See Acts 25:23-27.

[28:18]  ²¹² tn Grk “no basis for death,” but in this context a sentence of death is clearly indicated.

[28:19]  ²¹³ tn That is, objected to my release.

[28:19]  ²¹⁴ tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).

[28:19]  ²¹⁵ tn BDAG 533 s.v. κατηγορέω 1 states, “nearly always as legal t.t.: bring charges in court.” L&N 33.427 states for κατηγορέω, “to bring serious charges or accusations against someone, with the possible connotation of a legal or court context – ‘to accuse, to bring charges.’”

[28:19]  ²¹⁶ tn Or “my own nation.”

[28:20]  ²¹⁷ sn The hope of Israel. A reference to Israel’s messianic hope. Paul’s preaching was in continuity with this Jewish hope (Acts 1:3; 8:12; 14:22; 19:8; 20:25).

[28:21]  ²¹⁸ tn Grk “they said to him.”

[28:21]  ²¹⁹ tn Or “arrived”; Grk “come” (“from there” is implied). Grk “coming.” The participle παραγενόμενος (paragenomeno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[28:22]  ²²⁰ tn Grk “regarding this sect it is known to us.” The passive construction “it is known to us” has been converted to an active one to simplify the translation.

[28:22]  ²²¹ tn Grk “that everywhere it is spoken against.” To simplify the translation the passive construction “it is spoken against” has been converted to an active one with the subject “people” supplied.

[28:22]  ²²² tn On the term translated “speak against,” see BDAG 89 s.v. ἀντιλέγω 1.

[28:23]  ²²³ tn Grk “Having set.” The participle ταξάμενοι (taxamenoi) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[28:23]  ²²⁴ tn Grk “Having set a day with him”; the words “to meet” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

[28:23]  ²²⁵ tn Or “came to him in his rented quarters.”

[28:23]  ²²⁶ tn BDAG 848 s.v. πολύς 1.b.β.ב states, “(even) more πλείονες in even greater numbers Ac 28:23.”

[28:23]  ²²⁷ tn The word “things” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.

[28:23]  ²²⁸ tn Grk “to whom he explained.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) has been replaced by the pronoun (“them”) and a new sentence begun at this point in the translation.

[28:23]  ²²⁹ tn BDAG 233 s.v. διαμαρτύρομαι 1 has “to make a solemn declaration about the truth of someth. testify of, bear witness to (orig. under oath)…God’s kingdom 28:23.”

[28:23]  ²³⁰ sn Testifying about the kingdom of God. The topic is important. Paul’s preaching was about the rule of God and his promise in Jesus. Paul’s text was the Jewish scriptures.

[28:23]  ²³¹ tn Or “persuade.”

[28:24]  ²³² tn Or “persuaded.”

[28:24]  ²³³ tn Grk “by the things spoken.”

[28:24]  ²³⁴ sn Some were convinced…but others refused to believe. Once again the gospel caused division among Jews, as in earlier chapters of Acts (13:46; 18:6).

[28:25]  ²³⁵ tn The imperfect verb ἀπελύοντο (apeluonto) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.

[28:25]  ²³⁶ tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”

[28:26]  ²³⁷ tn Grk “you will hear with hearing” (an idiom).

[28:26]  ²³⁸ tn Or “seeing”; Grk “you will look by looking” (an idiom).

[28:27]  ²³⁹ tn Or “insensitive.”

[28:27]  ²⁴⁰ tn Grk “they hear heavily with their ears” (an idiom for slow comprehension).

[28:27]  ²⁴¹ sn Note how the failure to respond to the message of the gospel is seen as a failure to turn.

[28:27]  ²⁴² sn A quotation from Isa 6:9-10.

[28:28]  ²⁴³ tn Grk “Therefore let it be known to you.”

[28:28]  ²⁴⁴ tn Or “of God.”

[28:28]  ²⁴⁵ sn The term Gentiles is in emphatic position in the Greek text of this clause. Once again there is the pattern: Jewish rejection of the gospel leads to an emphasis on Gentile inclusion (Acts 13:44-47).

[28:28]  ²⁴⁶ tn Grk “they also.”

[28:29]  ²⁴⁷ tc Some later mss include 28:29: “When he had said these things, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.” Verse 29 is lacking in Ì^74vid א A B E Ψ 048 33 81 1175 1739 2464 pc and a number of versions. They are included (with a few minor variations) in Ï it and some versions. This verse is almost certainly not a part of the original text of Acts, as it lacks the best credentials. The present translation follows NA²⁷ in omitting the verse number, a procedure also followed by a number of other modern translations.

[28:30]  ²⁴⁸ tn Grk “He”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[28:30]  ²⁴⁹ tn Or “stayed.”

[28:30]  ²⁵⁰ tn Or perhaps, “two whole years at his own expense.” BDAG 654 s.v. μίσθωμα states, “the customary act. mng. ‘contract price, rent’…is not found in our lit. (Ac) and the pass. what is rented, a rented house is a mng. not found outside it (even Ammonius Gramm. [100 ad] p. 93 Valck. knows nothing of it. Hence the transl. at his own expense [NRSV] merits attention) ἐν ἰδίῳ μισθώματι in his own rented lodgings Ac 28:30 (for the idea cp. Jos., Ant. 18, 235).”

[28:30]  ²⁵¹ tn Or “and received.”

[28:31]  ²⁵² tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[28:31]  ²⁵³ tn Or “openness.”

[28:31]  ²⁵⁴ sn Proclaiming…with complete boldness and without restriction. Once again Paul’s imprisonment is on benevolent terms. The word of God is proclaimed triumphantly and boldly in Rome. Acts ends with this note: Despite all the attempts to stop it, the message goes forth.