Discovery BoxActs 28:7-31
Context28:7 Now in the region around that place 1 were fields belonging to the chief official 2 of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. 28:8 The father 3 of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him 4 and after praying, placed 5 his hands on him and healed 6 him. 28:9 After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick 7 also came and were healed. 8 28:10 They also bestowed many honors, 9 and when we were preparing to sail, 10 they gave 11 us all the supplies we needed. 12
28:11 After three months we put out to sea 13 in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the “Heavenly Twins” 14 as its figurehead. 15 28:12 We put in 16 at Syracuse 17 and stayed there three days. 28:13 From there we cast off 18 and arrived at Rhegium, 19 and after one day a south wind sprang up 20 and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 21 28:14 There 22 we found 23 some brothers 24 and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. 25 28:15 The brothers from there, 26 when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius 27 and Three Taverns 28 to meet us. When he saw them, 29 Paul thanked God and took courage. 28:16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live 30 by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
28:17 After three days 31 Paul 32 called the local Jewish leaders 33 together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, 34 although I had done 35 nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, 36 from Jerusalem 37 I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. 38 28:18 When 39 they had heard my case, 40 they wanted to release me, 41 because there was no basis for a death sentence 42 against me. 28:19 But when the Jews objected, 43 I was forced to appeal to Caesar 44 – not that I had some charge to bring 45 against my own people. 46 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.” 47 28:21 They replied, 48 “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there 49 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 50 that people 51 everywhere speak against 52 it.”
28:23 They set 53 a day to meet with him, 54 and they came to him where he was staying 55 in even greater numbers. 56 From morning until evening he explained things 57 to them, 58 testifying 59 about the kingdom of God 60 and trying to convince 61 them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 28:24 Some were convinced 62 by what he said, 63 but others refused 64 to believe. 28:25 So they began to leave, 65 unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors 66 through the prophet Isaiah 28:26 when he said,
‘Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing, 67 but will never understand,
and you will keep on looking, 68 but will never perceive.
28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull, 69
and their ears are hard of hearing, 70
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, 71 and I would heal them.”’ 72
28:28 “Therefore be advised 73 that this salvation from God 74 has been sent to the Gentiles; 75 they 76 will listen!”
28:29 [[EMPTY]] 7728:30 Paul 78 lived 79 there two whole years in his own rented quarters 80 and welcomed 81 all who came to him, 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ 82 with complete boldness 83 and without restriction. 84
[28:7] 1 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] 2 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] 3 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] 4 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] 5 tn The participle ἐπιθείς (epiqeis) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
[28:8] 6 sn And healed him. Here are healings like Luke 9:40; 10:30; 13:13; Acts 16:23.
[28:9] 7 tn BDAG 142 s.v. ἀσθένεια 1 states, “ἔχειν ἀ. be ill Ac 28:9.”
[28:9] 8 sn Many…also came and were healed. Again, here is irony. Paul, though imprisoned, “frees” others of their diseases.
[28:10] 9 tn Or “they also honored us greatly”; Grk “they also honored us with many honors” (an idiom).
[28:10] 10 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] 11 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] 12 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] 13 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] 14 tn Or “the ‘Twin Gods’”; Grk “the Dioscuri” (a joint name for the pagan deities Castor and Pollux).
[28:11] 15 tn Or “as its emblem.”
[28:12] 16 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] 17 sn Syracuse was a city on the eastern coast of the island of Sicily. It was 75 mi (120 km) from Malta.
[28:13] 18 tc A few early
[28:13] 19 sn Rhegium was a city on the southern tip of Italy. It was 80 mi (130 km) from Syracuse.
[28:13] 20 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] 21 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] 22 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] 23 tn Grk “finding.” The participle εὑρόντες (Jeurontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
[28:14] 24 sn That is, some fellow Christians.
[28:14] 25 map For location see JP4 A1.
[28:15] 26 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] 27 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] 28 sn Three Taverns was a stop on the Appian Way 33 mi (55 km) south of Rome.
[28:15] 29 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.
[28:17] 31 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] 32 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[28:17] 33 tn L&N 33.309 has “‘after three days, he called the local Jewish leaders together’ Ac 28:17.”
[28:17] 34 tn Grk “Men brothers,” but this is both awkward and unnecessary in English.
[28:17] 35 tn The participle ποιήσας (poihsas) has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.
[28:17] 36 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”
[28:17] 37 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[28:17] 38 tn Grk “into the hands of the Romans,” but this is redundant when παρεδόθην (paredoqhn) has been translated “handed over.”
[28:18] 39 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] 40 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] 41 sn They wanted to release me. See Acts 25:23-27.
[28:18] 42 tn Grk “no basis for death,” but in this context a sentence of death is clearly indicated.
[28:19] 43 tn That is, objected to my release.
[28:19] 44 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
[28:19] 45 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] 46 tn Or “my own nation.”
[28:20] 47 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] 48 tn Grk “they said to him.”
[28:21] 49 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] 50 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] 51 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] 52 tn On the term translated “speak against,” see BDAG 89 s.v. ἀντιλέγω 1.
[28:23] 53 tn Grk “Having set.” The participle ταξάμενοι (taxamenoi) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
[28:23] 54 tn Grk “Having set a day with him”; the words “to meet” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
[28:23] 55 tn Or “came to him in his rented quarters.”
[28:23] 56 tn BDAG 848 s.v. πολύς 1.b.β.ב states, “(even) more πλείονες in even greater numbers Ac 28:23.”
[28:23] 57 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] 58 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] 59 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] 60 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.
[28:24] 63 tn Grk “by the things spoken.”
[28:24] 64 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] 65 tn The imperfect verb ἀπελύοντο (apeluonto) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.
[28:25] 66 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”
[28:26] 67 tn Grk “you will hear with hearing” (an idiom).
[28:26] 68 tn Or “seeing”; Grk “you will look by looking” (an idiom).
[28:27] 69 tn Or “insensitive.”
[28:27] 70 tn Grk “they hear heavily with their ears” (an idiom for slow comprehension).
[28:27] 71 sn Note how the failure to respond to the message of the gospel is seen as a failure to turn.
[28:27] 72 sn A quotation from Isa 6:9-10.
[28:28] 73 tn Grk “Therefore let it be known to you.”
[28:28] 75 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] 76 tn Grk “they also.”
[28:29] 77 tc Some later
[28:30] 78 tn Grk “He”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[28:30] 80 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] 81 tn Or “and received.”
[28:31] 82 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
[28:31] 84 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.
