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Paul and Company Sail for Rome

27 When it was decided we[a] would sail to Italy,[b] they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion[c] of the Augustan Cohort[d] named Julius. We went on board[e] a ship from Adramyttium[f] that was about to sail to various ports[g] along the coast of the province of Asia[h] and put out to sea,[i] accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian[j] from Thessalonica. The next day we put in[k] at Sidon,[l] and Julius, treating Paul kindly,[m] allowed him to go to his friends so they could provide him with what he needed.[n] From there we put out to sea[o] and sailed under the lee[p] of Cyprus because the winds were against us. After we had sailed across the open sea[q] off Cilicia and Pamphylia,[r] we put in[s] at Myra[t] in Lycia.[u] There the centurion[v] found[w] a ship from Alexandria[x] sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. We sailed slowly[y] for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus.[z] Because the wind prevented us from going any farther,[aa] we sailed under the lee[ab] of Crete off Salmone.[ac] With difficulty we sailed along the coast[ad] of Crete[ae] and came to a place called Fair Havens that was near the town of Lasea.[af]

Caught in a Violent Storm

Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous[ag] because the fast[ah] was already over,[ai] Paul advised them,[aj] 10 “Men, I can see the voyage is going to end[ak] in disaster[al] and great loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”[am] 11 But the centurion[an] was more convinced[ao] by the captain[ap] and the ship’s owner than by what Paul said.[aq] 12 Because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided[ar] to put out to sea[as] from there. They hoped that[at] somehow they could reach[au] Phoenix,[av] a harbor of Crete facing[aw] southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. 13 When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought[ax] they could carry out[ay] their purpose, so they weighed anchor[az] and sailed close along the coast[ba] of Crete. 14 Not long after this, a hurricane-force[bb] wind called the northeaster[bc] blew down from the island.[bd] 15 When the ship was caught in it[be] and could not head into[bf] the wind, we gave way to it and were driven[bg] along. 16 As we ran under the lee of[bh] a small island called Cauda,[bi] we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat[bj] under control. 17 After the crew[bk] had hoisted it aboard,[bl] they used supports[bm] to undergird the ship. Fearing they would run aground[bn] on the Syrtis,[bo] they lowered the sea anchor,[bp] thus letting themselves be driven along. 18 The next day, because we were violently battered by the storm,[bq] they began throwing the cargo overboard,[br] 19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s gear[bs] overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and a violent[bt] storm continued to batter us,[bu] we finally abandoned all hope of being saved.[bv]

21 Since many of them had no desire to eat,[bw] Paul[bx] stood up[by] among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me[bz] and not put out to sea[ca] from Crete, thus avoiding[cb] this damage and loss. 22 And now I advise[cc] you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship will be lost.[cd] 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong[ce] and whom I serve[cf] came to me[cg] 24 and said,[ch] ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before[ci] Caesar,[cj] and God has graciously granted you the safety[ck] of all who are sailing with you.’ 25 Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God[cl] that it will be just as I have been told. 26 But we must[cm] run aground on some island.”

27 When the fourteenth night had come, while we were being driven[cn] across the Adriatic Sea,[co] about midnight the sailors suspected they were approaching some land.[cp] 28 They took soundings[cq] and found the water was twenty fathoms[cr] deep; when they had sailed a little farther[cs] they took soundings again and found it was fifteen fathoms[ct] deep. 29 Because they were afraid[cu] that we would run aground on the rocky coast,[cv] they threw out[cw] four anchors from the stern and wished[cx] for day to appear.[cy] 30 Then when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship’s boat into the sea, pretending[cz] that they were going to put out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion[da] and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you[db] cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes[dc] of the ship’s boat and let it drift away.[dd]

33 As day was about to dawn,[de] Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense[df] and have gone[dg] without food; you have eaten nothing.[dh] 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is important[di] for your survival.[dj] For not one of you will lose a hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, Paul[dk] took bread[dl] and gave thanks to God in front of them all,[dm] broke[dn] it, and began to eat. 36 So all of them were encouraged and took food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276[do] persons on the ship.)[dp] 38 When they had eaten enough to be satisfied,[dq] they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat[dr] into the sea.

Paul is Shipwrecked

39 When day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed[ds] a bay[dt] with a beach,[du] where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 So they slipped[dv] the anchors[dw] and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the linkage[dx] that bound the steering oars[dy] together. Then they hoisted[dz] the foresail[ea] to the wind and steered toward[eb] the beach. 41 But they encountered a patch of crosscurrents[ec] and ran the ship aground; the bow stuck fast and could not be moved, but the stern was being broken up by the force[ed] of the waves. 42 Now the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners[ee] so that none of them would escape by swimming away.[ef] 43 But the centurion,[eg] wanting to save Paul’s life,[eh] prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land,[ei] 44 and the rest were to follow,[ej] some on planks[ek] and some on pieces of the ship.[el] And in this way[em] all were brought safely to land.

Paul on Malta

28 After we had safely reached shore,[en] we learned that the island was called Malta.[eo] The local inhabitants[ep] showed us extraordinary[eq] kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain[er] and was cold. When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood[es] and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. When the local people[et] saw the creature hanging from Paul’s[eu] hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself[ev] has not allowed him to live!”[ew] However,[ex] Paul[ey] shook[ez] the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. But they were expecting that he was going to swell up[fa] or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited[fb] a long time and had seen[fc] nothing unusual happen[fd] to him, they changed their minds[fe] and said he was a god.[ff]

Now in the region around that place[fg] were fields belonging to the chief official[fh] of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. The father[fi] of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him[fj] and after praying, placed[fk] his hands on him and healed[fl] him. After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick[fm] also came and were healed.[fn] 10 They also bestowed many honors,[fo] and when we were preparing to sail,[fp] they gave[fq] us all the supplies we needed.[fr]

Paul Finally Reaches Rome

11 After three months we put out to sea[fs] in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the “Heavenly Twins”[ft] as its figurehead.[fu] 12 We put in[fv] at Syracuse[fw] and stayed there three days. 13 From there we cast off[fx] and arrived at Rhegium,[fy] and after one day a south wind sprang up[fz] and on the second day we came to Puteoli.[ga] 14 There[gb] we found[gc] some brothers[gd] and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. 15 The brothers from there,[ge] when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius[gf] and Three Taverns[gg] to meet us. When he saw them,[gh] Paul thanked God and took courage. 16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live[gi] by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

Paul Addresses the Jewish Community in Rome

17 After three days[gj] Paul[gk] called the local Jewish leaders[gl] together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers,[gm] although I had done[gn] nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors,[go] from Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans.[gp] 18 When[gq] they had heard my case,[gr] they wanted to release me,[gs] because there was no basis for a death sentence[gt] against me. 19 But when the Jews objected,[gu] I was forced to appeal to Caesar[gv]—not that I had some charge to bring[gw] against my own people.[gx] 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.”[gy] 21 They replied,[gz] “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there[ha] and reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know[hb] that people[hc] everywhere speak against[hd] it.”

23 They set[he] a day to meet with him,[hf] and they came to him where he was staying[hg] in even greater numbers.[hh] From morning until evening he explained things[hi] to them,[hj] testifying[hk] about the kingdom of God[hl] and trying to convince[hm] them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 24 Some were convinced[hn] by what he said,[ho] but others refused[hp] to believe. 25 So they began to leave,[hq] unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors[hr] through the prophet Isaiah 26 when he said,

Go to this people and say,
You will keep on hearing,[hs] but will never understand,
and you will keep on looking,[ht] but will never perceive.
27 For the heart of this people has become dull,[hu]
and their ears are hard of hearing,[hv]
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,[hw] and I would heal them.”’[hx]

28 “Therefore be advised[hy] that this salvation from God[hz] has been sent to the Gentiles;[ia] they[ib] will listen!”[ic]

30 Paul[id] lived[ie] there two whole years in his own rented quarters[if] and welcomed[ig] all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God[ih] and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ[ii] with complete boldness[ij] and without restriction.[ik]

Footnotes

  1. Acts 27:1 sn This marks the beginning of one of the “we” sections in Acts (16:10-17; 20:5-15; 21:1-18; 27:1-28:16). These have been traditionally understood to mean that the author was in the company of Paul for this part of the journey.
  2. Acts 27:1 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).
  3. Acts 27:1 sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.
  4. Acts 27:1 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.sn The Augustan Cohort. A cohort was a Roman military unit of about 600 soldiers, one-tenth of a legion. There is considerable debate over the identification of this particular cohort and the meaning of the title Augustan mentioned here. These may well have been auxiliary (provincial) troops given the honorary title.
  5. Acts 27:2 tn Grk “Going on board.” The participle ἐπιβάντες (epibantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  6. Acts 27:2 sn Adramyttium was a seaport in Mysia on the western coast of Asia Minor.
  7. Acts 27:2 tn Grk “places.”
  8. Acts 27:2 tn Grk “Asia”; in the NT this always refers to the Roman province of Asia. The Roman province of Asia made up about one-third of modern Asia Minor and was on the western side of it. 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.
  9. Acts 27:2 tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4 states, “as a nautical t.t. (. τὴν ναῦν put a ship to sea), mid. or pass. ἀνάγεσθαι to begin to go by boat, put out to sea.”sn Although not explicitly stated, the ship put out to sea from the port of Caesarea (where the previous events had taken place (cf. 25:13) and then sailed along the Asiatic coast (the first stop was Sidon, v. 3).
  10. Acts 27:2 sn A Macedonian. The city of Thessalonica (modern Salonica) was in the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.
  11. Acts 27:3 tn BDAG 516 s.v. κατάγω states, “Hence the pass., in act. sense, of ships and seafarers put in εἴς τι at a harborεἰς Σιδῶνα Ac 27:3.”
  12. Acts 27:3 sn Sidon is another seaport 75 mi (120 km) north of Caesarea.
  13. Acts 27:3 tn BDAG 1056 s.v. φιλανθρώπως states, “benevolently, kindly φιλανθρώπως χρῆσθαί (τινι) treat someone in kindly fashionAc 27:3.”sn Treating Paul kindly. Paul’s treatment followed the pattern of the earlier imprisonment (cf. Acts 24:23).
  14. Acts 27:3 tn Grk “to go to his friends to be cared for.” The scene is an indication of Christian hospitality.
  15. Acts 27:4 tn Grk “putting out to sea.” The participle ἀναχθέντες (anachthentes) 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. (. τὴν ναῦν put a ship to sea), mid. or pass. ἀνάγεσθαι to begin to go by boat, put out to sea.”
  16. Acts 27:4 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.
  17. Acts 27:5 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).
  18. Acts 27:5 sn Pamphylia was a province in the southern part of Asia Minor; it was west of Cilicia (see BDAG 753 s.v. Παμφυλία).
  19. Acts 27:5 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.”
  20. Acts 27:5 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.
  21. Acts 27:5 sn Lycia was the name of a peninsula on the southern coast of Asia Minor between Caria and Pamphylia.
  22. Acts 27:6 sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.
  23. Acts 27:6 tn Grk “finding.” The participle εὑρών (heurōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  24. Acts 27:6 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).
  25. Acts 27:7 tn The participle βραδυπλοοῦντες (braduploountes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  26. Acts 27:7 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. Acts 27:7 tn This genitive absolute construction with προσεῶντος (proseōntos) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle. L&N 13.139 translates the phrase μὴ προσεῶντος ἡμᾶς τοῦ ἀνέμου (mē proseōntos hēmas tou anemou) as “the wind would not let us go any farther.”
  28. Acts 27:7 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.”
  29. Acts 27:7 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.
  30. Acts 27:8 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.”
  31. Acts 27:8 tn Grk “it”; the referent (Crete) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
  32. Acts 27:8 sn Lasea was a city on the southern coast of the island of Crete. This was about 60 mi (96 km) farther.
  33. Acts 27:9 tn Or “unsafe” (BDAG 383 s.v. ἐπισφαλής). The term is a NT hapax legomenon.
  34. Acts 27:9 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]).
  35. Acts 27:9 tn The accusative articular infinitive παρεληλυθέναι (parelēluthenai) 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.”
  36. Acts 27:9 tn Grk “Paul advised, saying to them.” The participle λέγων (legōn) 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.sn Paul advised them. A literary theme surfaces here: Though Paul is under arrest, he will be the one to guide them all through the dangers of the storm and shipwreck, showing clearly God’s presence and protection of him. The story is told in great detail. This literary effect of slowing down the passage of time and narrating with many details serves to add a sense of drama to the events described.
  37. Acts 27:10 tn Grk “is going to be with disaster.”
  38. Acts 27:10 tn Or “hardship,” “damage.” BDAG 1022 s.v. ὕβρις 3 states, “fig. hardship, disaster, damage caused by the elements…w. ζημία Ac 27:10.”
  39. Acts 27:10 tn Grk “souls” (here, one’s physical life).
  40. Acts 27:11 sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.
  41. Acts 27:11 tn Or “persuaded.”
  42. Acts 27:11 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.
  43. Acts 27:11 tn Grk “than by what was said by Paul.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one to simplify the translation.sn More convinced by the captain and the ship’s owner than by what Paul said. The position taken by the centurion was logical, since he was following “professional” advice. But this was not a normal voyage.
  44. Acts 27:12 tn BDAG 181-82 s.v. βουλή 2.a, “β. τίθεσθαι (Judg 19:30; Ps 12:3) decide 27:12 (w. inf. foll.).”
  45. Acts 27:12 tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4, “as a nautical t.t. (. τὴν ναῦν put a ship to sea), mid. or pass. ἀνάγεσθαι to begin to go by boat, put out to sea.”
  46. Acts 27:12 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.
  47. Acts 27:12 tn Grk “if somehow, reaching Phoenix, they could…” The participle καταντήσαντες (katantēsantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  48. Acts 27:12 sn Phoenix was a seaport on the southern coast of the island of Crete. This was about 30 mi (48 km) farther west.
  49. Acts 27:12 tn Or “a harbor of Crete open to the southwest and northwest.”
  50. Acts 27:13 tn Grk “thinking.” The participle δόξαντες (doxantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  51. Acts 27:13 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.”
  52. Acts 27:13 tn Or “departed.”
  53. Acts 27:13 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.”
  54. Acts 27:14 tn Grk “a wind like a typhoon.” That is, a very violent wind like a typhoon or hurricane (BDAG 1021 s.v. τυφωνικός).
  55. Acts 27:14 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.
  56. Acts 27:14 tn Grk “from it”; the referent (the island) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  57. Acts 27:15 tn Or “was forced off course.” Grk “The ship being caught in it.” The genitive absolute construction with the participle συναρπασθέντος (sunarpasthentos) has been taken temporally; it could also be translated as causal (“Because the ship was caught in it”).
  58. Acts 27:15 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.”
  59. Acts 27:15 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.
  60. Acts 27:16 tn BDAG 1042 s.v. ὑποτρέχω states, “run or sail under the lee of, nautical t.t.…Ac 27:16.” The participle ὑποδραμόντες (hupodramontes) 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.
  61. Acts 27:16 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).
  62. Acts 27:16 sn The ships 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.
  63. Acts 27:17 tn Grk “After hoisting it up, they…”; the referent (the ship’s crew) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  64. Acts 27:17 tn The participle ἄραντες (arantes) has been taken temporally.
  65. Acts 27:17 tn Possibly “ropes” or “cables”; Grk “helps” (a word of uncertain meaning; probably a nautical technical term, BDAG 180 s.v. βοήθεια 2).
  66. Acts 27:17 tn BDAG 308 s.v. ἐκπίπτω 2 states, “drift off course, run aground, nautical term εἴς τι on someth….on the Syrtis 27:17.”
  67. Acts 27:17 tn That is, on the sandbars and shallows of the Syrtis.sn On the Syrtis. The Syrtis was the name of two gulfs on the North African coast (modern Libya), feared greatly by sailors because of their shifting sandbars and treacherous shallows. The Syrtis here is the so-called Great Syrtis, toward Cyrenaica. It had a horrible reputation as a sailors’ graveyard (Pliny, Natural History 5.26). Josephus (J. W. 2.16.4 [2.381]) says the name alone struck terror in those who heard it. It was near the famous Scylla and Charybdis mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey.
  68. Acts 27:17 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.
  69. Acts 27:18 tn BDAG 980 s.v. σφόδρῶς states, “very much, greatly, violently…σφ. χειμάζεσθαι be violently beaten by a storm Ac 27:18.”
  70. Acts 27:18 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.sn The desperation of the sailors in throwing the cargo overboard is reminiscent of Jonah 1:5. At this point they were only concerned with saving themselves.
  71. Acts 27:19 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.
  72. Acts 27:20 tn Grk “no small storm” = a very great storm.
  73. Acts 27:20 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).
  74. Acts 27:20 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 (sōzō) in that it refers to deliverance from the storm. At this point those on board the ship gave up hope of survival.
  75. Acts 27:21 tn Or “Since they had no desire to eat for a long time.” The genitive absolute construction with the participle ὑπαρχούσης (huparchousēs) 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 (pollēs) 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.
  76. Acts 27:21 tn Here τότε (tote) is redundant (pleonastic) according to BDAG 1012-13 s.v. τότε 2; thus it has not been translated.
  77. Acts 27:21 tn Grk “standing up…said.” The participle σταθείς (statheis) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  78. Acts 27:21 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.”sn By saying “you should have listened to me and not put out to sea from Crete” Paul was not “rubbing it in,” but was reasserting his credibility before giving his next recommendation.
  79. Acts 27:21 tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4, “as a nautical t.t. (. τὴν ναῦν put a ship to sea), mid. or pass. ἀνάγεσθαι to begin to go by boat, put out to sea.”
  80. Acts 27:21 tn The infinitive κερδῆσαι (kerdēsai) has been translated as resultative.
  81. Acts 27:22 tn The same verb is used for Paul’s original recommendation in Ac 27:9.
  82. Acts 27:22 tn Grk “except the ship.” Here “but” is used to translate the improper preposition πλήν (plēn; 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.sn The “prophecy” about the ship serves to underscore Paul’s credibility as an agent of God. Paul addressed his audience carefully and drew attention to the sovereign knowledge of God.
  83. Acts 27:23 tn Grk “of whom I am.” The relative clause was translated following L&N 15.86 s.v. παρίσταμαι.
  84. Acts 27:23 tn Or “worship.”
  85. Acts 27:23 tn Or “stood by me.” BDAG 778 s.v. παρίστημι/παριστάνω 2.a.α states, “approach, come τινί (to) someoneAc 9:39; 27:23.”
  86. Acts 27:24 tn Grk “came to me saying.” The participle λέγων (legōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  87. Acts 27:24 tn BDAG 778 s.v. παρίστημι/παριστάνω 2.a.α states, “Also as a t.t. of legal usage appear before, come beforeΚαίσαρι 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.
  88. Acts 27:24 tn Or “before the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
  89. Acts 27:24 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 (kecharistai) in this context.sn The safety of all who are sailing with you. In a sense, Paul’s presence protects them all. For Luke, it serves as a picture of what the gospel does through Christ and through the one who brings the message.
  90. Acts 27:25 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. Cf. 4:21; Ac 27:25.”
  91. Acts 27:26 tn This is another use of δεῖ (dei) to indicate necessity (see also v. 24). Acts 28:1 shows the fulfillment of this.
  92. Acts 27:27 tn Here “being driven” has been used to translate διαφέρω (diapherō) 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.
  93. Acts 27:27 sn The Adriatic Sea. They were now somewhere between Crete and Malta.
  94. Acts 27:27 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.
  95. Acts 27:28 tn Grk “Heaving the lead, they found.” The participle βολίσαντες (bolisantes) 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.
  96. Acts 27:28 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).
  97. Acts 27:28 tn L&N 15.12, “βραχὺ δὲ διαστήσαντες ‘when they had gone a little farther’ Ac 27:28.”
  98. Acts 27:28 sn Here the depth was about 90 ft (27 m).
  99. Acts 27:29 tn Grk “fearing.” The participle φοβούμενοι (phoboumenoi) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
  100. Acts 27:29 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.”
  101. Acts 27:29 tn Grk “throwing out…they.” The participle ῥίψαντες (rhipsantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  102. Acts 27:29 tn BDAG 417 s.v. εὔχομαι 2 states, “wishτὶ 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.”
  103. Acts 27:29 tn Grk “and wished for day to come about.”sn And wished for day to appear. The sailors were hoping to hold the ship in place until morning, when they could see what was happening and where they were.
  104. Acts 27:30 tn BDAG 889 s.v. πρόφασις 2 states, “προφάσει ὡς under the pretext that, pretending thatAc 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.
  105. Acts 27:31 sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.
  106. Acts 27:31 sn The pronoun you is plural in Greek.
  107. Acts 27:32 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.
  108. Acts 27:32 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.
  109. Acts 27:33 tn BDAG 160 s.v. ἄχρι 1.b.α has “. οὗ ἡμέρα ἤμελλεν γίνεσθαι until the day began to dawn 27:33.”
  110. Acts 27:33 tn Or “have waited anxiously.” Grk “waiting anxiously.” The participle προσδοκῶντες (prosdokōntes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  111. Acts 27:33 tn Or “continued.”
  112. Acts 27:33 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.
  113. Acts 27:34 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.”
  114. Acts 27:34 tn Or “deliverance” (‘salvation’ in a nontheological sense).
  115. Acts 27:35 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  116. Acts 27:35 tn Grk “taking bread, gave thanks.” The participle λαβών (labōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  117. Acts 27:35 tn Or “before them all,” but here this could be misunderstood to indicate a temporal sequence.
  118. Acts 27:35 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.
  119. Acts 27:37 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.
  120. Acts 27:37 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
  121. Acts 27:38 tn Or “When they had eaten their fill.”
  122. Acts 27:38 tn Or “grain.”
  123. Acts 27:39 tn Or “observed,” “saw.”
  124. Acts 27:39 tn Or “gulf” (BDAG 557 s.v. κόλπος 3).
  125. Acts 27:39 sn A beach would refer to a smooth sandy beach suitable for landing.
  126. Acts 27:40 tn That is, released. Grk “slipping…leaving.” The participles περιελόντες (perielontes) and εἴων (eiōn) have been translated as finite verbs due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  127. Acts 27:40 tn The term is used of a ship’s anchor. (BDAG 12 s.v. ἄγκυρα a).
  128. Acts 27:40 tn Grk “bands”; possibly “ropes.”
  129. Acts 27:40 tn Or “rudders.”
  130. Acts 27:40 tn Grk “hoisting…they.” The participle ἐπάραντες (eparantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  131. Acts 27:40 tn Grk “sail”; probably a reference to the foresail.
  132. Acts 27:40 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.”
  133. Acts 27:41 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 [this], ταινία [tainia]), a “reef” (ἑρμα [herma]), “strait” (στενόν [stenon]), “promontory” (ἀρωτήρον [arōtēron]), and other nautical hazards, none of which are used by the author here. NEB here translates τόπον διθάλασσον (topon dithalasson) 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.
  134. Acts 27:41 tn Or “violence” (BDAG 175 s.v. βία a).
  135. Acts 27:42 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.
  136. Acts 27:42 tn The participle ἐκκολυμβήσας (ekkolumbēsas) has been taken instrumentally.
  137. Acts 27:43 sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.
  138. Acts 27:43 tn Or “wanting to rescue Paul.”sn Thanks to the centurion who wanted to save Paul’s life, Paul was once more rescued from a potential human threat.
  139. Acts 27:43 tn BDAG 347 s.v. I. ἔξειμι has “ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν get to land Ac 27:43.”
  140. Acts 27:44 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.
  141. Acts 27:44 tn Or “boards” according to BDAG 913 s.v. σανίς.
  142. Acts 27:44 tn Grk “on pieces from the ship”; that is, pieces of wreckage from the ship.sn Both the planks and pieces of the ship were for the weak or nonswimmers. The whole scene is a historical metaphor representing how listening to Paul and his message could save people.
  143. Acts 27:44 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.
  144. Acts 28:1 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 (diasōthentes) has been taken temporally.
  145. Acts 28:1 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.
  146. Acts 28:2 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…).”
  147. Acts 28:2 tn BDAG 1019 s.v. τυγχάνω 2.d states, “δυνάμεις οὐ τὰς τυχούσας extraordinary miracles Ac 19:11. Cp. 28:2.”
  148. Acts 28:2 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).”
  149. Acts 28:3 tn Or “sticks.”
  150. Acts 28:4 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…).”
  151. Acts 28:4 tn Grk “his”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  152. Acts 28:4 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 (dikē) “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.
  153. Acts 28:4 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.
  154. Acts 28:5 tn BDAG 737 s.v. οὖν 4 indicates the particle has an adversative sense here: “but, however.”
  155. Acts 28:5 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  156. Acts 28:5 tn Grk “shaking the creature off…he suffered no harm.” The participle ἀποτινάξας (apotinaxas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  157. Acts 28:6 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.
  158. Acts 28:6 tn The participle προσδοκώντων (prosdokōntōn) has been taken temporally.
  159. Acts 28:6 tn The participle θεωρούντων (theōrountōn) has been taken temporally.
  160. Acts 28:6 tn Grk “happening.” The participle γινόμενον (ginomenon) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  161. Acts 28:6 tn Grk “changing their minds.” The participle μεταβαλόμενοι (metabalomenoi) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  162. Acts 28:6 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.
  163. Acts 28:7 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.”
  164. Acts 28:7 tn That is, the chief Roman official. Several inscriptions have confirmed the use of πρῶτος (prōtos) as an administrative title used on the island of Malta for the highest Roman official. See further BDAG 852 s.v. Πόπλιος.
  165. Acts 28:8 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.
  166. Acts 28:8 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 (eiselthōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  167. Acts 28:8 tn The participle ἐπιθείς (epitheis) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  168. Acts 28:8 sn And healed him. Here are healings like Luke 9:40; 10:30; 13:13; Acts 16:23.
  169. Acts 28:9 tn BDAG 142 s.v. ἀσθένεια 1 states, “ἔχειν ἀ. be ill Ac 28:9.”
  170. Acts 28:9 sn Many…also came and were healed. Again, here is irony. Paul, though imprisoned, “frees” others of their diseases.
  171. Acts 28:10 tn Or “they also honored us greatly”; Grk “they also honored us with many honors” (an idiom).
  172. Acts 28:10 tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4, “as a nautical t.t. (. 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.
  173. Acts 28:10 tn BDAG 384 s.v. ἐπιτίθημι 1.b has “give τινί τι someth. to someoneἀναγομένοις τὰ πρὸς τὰς χρείας when we sailed they gave us what we needed Ac 28:10.”
  174. Acts 28:10 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.
  175. Acts 28:11 tn BDAG 62 s.v. ἀνάγω 4, “as a nautical t.t. (. τὴν ναῦν put a ship to sea), mid. or pass. ἀνάγεσθαι to begin to go by boat, put out to sea.”
  176. Acts 28:11 tn Or “the ‘Twin Gods’”; Grk “the Dioscuri” (a joint name for the pagan deities Castor and Pollux).sn That had theHeavenly Twinsas its figurehead. The twin brothers Castor and Pollux, known collectively as the Dioscuri or ‘Heavenly Twins,’ were the twin sons of Zeus and Leda according to Greek mythology. The Alexandrian ship on which Paul and his companions sailed from Malta had a carved emblem or figurehead of these figures, and they would have been the patron deities of the vessel. Castor and Pollux were the “gods of navigation.” To see their stars was considered a good omen (Epictetus, Discourses 2.18.29; Lucian of Samosata, The Ship 9).
  177. Acts 28:11 tn Or “as its emblem.”
  178. Acts 28:12 tn Grk “And putting in.” The participle καταχθέντες (katachthentes) 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 harborεἰς 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.
  179. Acts 28:12 sn Syracuse was a city on the eastern coast of the island of Sicily. It was 75 mi (120 km) from Malta.
  180. Acts 28:13 tc A few early mss (א* B Ψ [gig] sa [bo]) read περιελόντες (perielontes, “[From there we] cast off [and arrived at Rhegium]”; cf. Acts 27:40). The other major variant, περιελθόντες (perielthontes, “[we] sailed from place to place”), is found in P74 א2 A 066 1739 M 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.
  181. Acts 28:13 sn Rhegium was a city on the southern tip of Italy. It was 80 mi (130 km) from Syracuse.
  182. Acts 28:13 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.
  183. Acts 28:13 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.
  184. Acts 28:14 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.
  185. Acts 28:14 tn Grk “finding.” The participle εὑρόντες (heurontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  186. Acts 28:14 sn That is, some fellow Christians.
  187. Acts 28:15 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.
  188. Acts 28:15 sn The Forum of Appius was a small traveler’s stop on the Appian Way about 43 Roman miles (62 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).
  189. Acts 28:15 sn Three Taverns was a stop on the Appian Way 33 Roman miles (49 km) south of Rome.
  190. Acts 28:15 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.
  191. Acts 28:16 tn Or “to stay.”sn Allowed to live by himself. Paul continued to have a generous prison arrangement (cf. Acts 27:3).
  192. Acts 28:17 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.
  193. Acts 28:17 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  194. Acts 28:17 tn L&N 33.309 has “‘after three days, he called the local Jewish leaders together’ Ac 28:17.”
  195. Acts 28:17 tn Grk “Men brothers,” but this is both awkward and unnecessary in English.
  196. Acts 28:17 tn The participle ποιήσας (poiēsas) has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.
  197. Acts 28:17 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”sn I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. Once again Paul claimed to be faithful to the Jewish people and to the God of Israel.
  198. Acts 28:17 tn Grk “into the hands of the Romans,” but this is redundant when παρεδόθην (paredothēn) has been translated “handed over.”
  199. Acts 28:18 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.
  200. Acts 28:18 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.”
  201. Acts 28:18 sn They wanted to release me. See Acts 25:23-27.
  202. Acts 28:18 tn Grk “no basis for death,” but in this context a sentence of death is clearly indicated.
  203. Acts 28:19 tn That is, objected to my release.
  204. Acts 28:19 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
  205. Acts 28:19 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.’”
  206. Acts 28:19 tn Or “my own nation.”
  207. Acts 28:20 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).
  208. Acts 28:21 tn Grk “they said to him.”
  209. Acts 28:21 tn Or “arrived”; Grk “come” (“from there” is implied). Grk “coming.” The participle παραγενόμενος (paragenomenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  210. Acts 28:22 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.
  211. Acts 28:22 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.
  212. Acts 28:22 tn On the term translated “speak against,” see BDAG 89 s.v. ἀντιλέγω 1.
  213. Acts 28:23 tn Grk “Having set.” The participle ταξάμενοι (taxamenoi) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  214. Acts 28:23 tn Grk “Having set a day with him”; the words “to meet” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
  215. Acts 28:23 tn Or “came to him in his rented quarters.”
  216. Acts 28:23 tn BDAG 848 s.v. πολύς 1.b.β.ב states, “(even) more πλείονες in even greater numbers Ac 28:23.”
  217. Acts 28:23 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.
  218. Acts 28:23 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.
  219. Acts 28:23 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)…Gods kingdom 28:23.”
  220. Acts 28:23 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. This is yet another summary of the message like that in 18:28. The nature of the kingdom of God in the NT and in Jesus’ teaching (along with Paul’s teaching here) has long been debated by interpreters and scholars, with discussion primarily centering around the nature of the kingdom (earthly, heavenly, or both) and the kingdom’s arrival (present, future, or both). An additional major issue concerns the relationship between the kingdom of God and the person and work of Jesus himself. See also Luke 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-21; Acts 1:3.
  221. Acts 28:23 tn Or “persuade.”
  222. Acts 28:24 tn Or “persuaded.”
  223. Acts 28:24 tn Grk “by the things spoken.”
  224. Acts 28:24 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).
  225. Acts 28:25 tn The imperfect verb ἀπελύοντο (apeluonto) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.
  226. Acts 28:25 tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”
  227. Acts 28:26 tn Grk “you will hear with hearing” (an idiom).
  228. Acts 28:26 tn Or “seeing”; Grk “you will look by looking” (an idiom).
  229. Acts 28:27 tn Or “insensitive.”sn The heart of this people has become dull. The charge from Isaiah is like Stephen’s against the Jews of Jerusalem (Acts 7:51-53). They were a hard-hearted and disobedient people.
  230. Acts 28:27 tn Grk “they hear heavily with their ears” (an idiom for slow comprehension).
  231. Acts 28:27 sn Note how the failure to respond to the message of the gospel is seen as a failure to turn.
  232. Acts 28:27 sn A quotation from Isa 6:9-10.
  233. Acts 28:28 tn Grk “Therefore let it be known to you.”
  234. Acts 28:28 tn Or “of God.”
  235. Acts 28:28 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).
  236. Acts 28:28 tn Grk “they also.”
  237. Acts 28:28 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 P74vid א A B E Ψ 048 33 81 1175 1739 2464 and a number of versions. They are included (with a few minor variations) in M 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 NA28 in omitting the verse number, a procedure also followed by a number of other modern translations.
  238. Acts 28:30 tn Grk “He”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  239. Acts 28:30 tn Or “stayed.”
  240. Acts 28:30 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 cf. Jos., Ant. 18, 235).”
  241. Acts 28:30 tn Or “and received.”
  242. Acts 28:31 sn See the note on the kingdom of God in v. 23.
  243. Acts 28:31 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
  244. Acts 28:31 tn Or “openness.”
  245. Acts 28:31 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.