Episodes

Tuesday, 18 June 2024 “who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. Acts 28:18 A more literal rendering would be, “Who, having examined me, wanted to release, because nota reason of death being in me” (CG). In the previous verse, Paul began his personal defense concerning his situation with the Jews in Jerusalem in his conversation with the Jews in Rome, noting that he was delivered into the hands of the Romans. Having said that, he ...

Monday, 17 June 2024 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, Acts 28:17 The Greek more closely reads, “And it was, after three days, Paul called together those being leaders of the Jews. And they, having come together, he said...

Sunday, 16 May 2024 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him. Acts 28:16 The NKJV is just a tad off in the tense of the final verb: “And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the commander of the army. And Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier guarding him” (CG). In the previous verse, those in the church at Rome came out a day...

Saturday, 15 June 2024 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. Acts 28:15 The Greek is much more literally translated as, “And from there, the brothers, having heard these concerning us, came out to our meeting unto Appii Forum and Three Taverns – whom, Paul having seen, having thanked God, took courage” (CG). In the previous verse, Paul and his companions stayed in Puteol...

Friday, 14 June 2024 where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. Acts 28:14 The NKJV needs to be tweaked, “Where, having found brothers, we were called upon them to remain seven days. And so, to Rome, we came” (CG). The previous verse revealed the travel from Rhegium to Puteoli. The narrative in Puteoli now begins with, “Where, having found brothers.” Some scholars dismiss these brothers as being only brothers of Paul, meaning Jews. How...

Thursday, 13 June 2024 From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, Acts 28:13 A more literal translation is, “From where, having gone around, we arrived at Rhegium. And after one day, having come upon an Auster, the second day we came to Puteoli” (CG). Luke just noted that they had landed at Syracuse and stayed three days. Now, the journey to Rome continues with, “From where, having gone around.” The words “from...

Wednesday, 12 June 2024 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. Acts 28:12 The verb is an aorist participle, “And having brought down at Syracuse, we stayed three days” (CG). In the previous verse, Paul and those with him departed Malta after having been there for three months. Luke continues this next leg of the journey, beginning with, “And having brought down.” Departing on a ship is to go up to the high seas. When arriving at a new destination, one comes down again. The ship was b...

Tuesday, 11 June 2024 After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. Acts 28:11 The words are more literally translated, “And after three months, we went up in a ship having been wintered in the Island, Alexandrian, figure-headed Dioscuri” (CG). In the previous verse, Luke noted that the islanders honored Paul and him in many ways, noting that when they departed, they were provided things that were necessary. Now, ...

Monday, 10 June 2024 They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary. Acts 28:10 The words are much sparser in the Greek, and much must be inferred, “And who honored us many honors, and going up they laid upon for the necessity.” (CG). The previous verse noted that the others on the island, having heard Paul healed Publius’ father, came to him with their diseases and were healed. Because of this, it next says, “And who honored us many honor...

Sunday, 9 June 2024 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. Acts 28:9 More exactingly, it reads, “This, therefore, having occurred, also the others having infirmities in the island approached and were healed” (CG). In the previous verse, Paul went into the sick father of Publius, prayed, and laid hands on him. With that, he was healed. Because of this, Luke continues, beginning with, “This, therefore, having occurred.” He is showing ...

Saturday, 8 June 2024 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. Acts 28:8 The Greek, even if a tad clunky, more literally reads, “And it was, the father of Publius – afflicted with fevers and dysentery – who, lying toward Paul, having entered and having prayed, having laid the hands on him, healed him” (CG). In the previous verse, Luke noted that there was a portion of land where t...

Friday, 7 June 2024 In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. Acts 28:7 The Greek more literally reads, “And in the surrounding area [lit: in the around that region], were parcels of the first of the island by name Publius, who having received us three days, lodged us hospitably” (CG). In the previous verse, Paul was seen to have not swollen up or keeled over from the snake bi...

Thursday, 6 June 2024 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. Acts 28:6 More literally, it reads, “And they expected him about to be inflamed or to fall down dead suddenly. And they, upon much anticipating, and seeing nothing unusual happening to him, having turned about, they declared him to be a god” (CG). Paul was just bitten by...

Wednesday, 5 June 2024 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. Acts 28:5 A literal rendering of the Greek is, “He indeed then, having shaken off the beast into the fire suffered nothing evil” (CG). In the previous verse, Paul had a viper latch onto his hand, and because of this, the people accused him of being a murderer whom justice had not allowed to live. However, Luke next records, “But he shook off the creature into the fire.” Here is a word found for the secon...

Tuesday, 4 June 2024 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” Acts 28:4 A literal translation is, “And when the barbarians saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said to one another, ‘This man is altogether a murderer, whom, having been saved from the sea, the justice has not permitted to live’” (CG). In the previous verse, Paul went out g...

Monday, 3 June 2024 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. Acts 28:3 The Greek more closely reads, “And Paul, having bundled a multitude of kindling, and having laid upon the pyre, a viper – having come from the heat – seized his hand” (CG). In the previous verse, the people on the island made a fire for the shipwrecked people because of the rain and cold. Now, Luke begins a short description of ...

Sunday, 2 June 2024 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. Acts 28:2 A more literal translation, even if a tad clunky, is, “And the barbarians offered not the ordinary philanthropy to us. For having kindled a pyre, they received all of us through the rain that had come and through the cold.” (CG). The previous verse, which began the chapter, noted that those shipwrecked discover...

Saturday, 1 June 2024 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. Acts 28:1 A literal rendering of the Greek would be, “And, having been saved, then they knew that the island is called Malta.” (CG). The last verse of the previous chapter noted that all had come to shore safely. With that, Chapter 28 begins with, “And, having been saved.” The same word that was used to end Chapter 27 is again used here, diasózó. In that verse, it was an aorist verb, now it...

Friday, 31 May 2024 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land. Acts 27:44 A literal rendering of the Greek would be, “and the rest, indeed, some upon boards, and some upon anything from the ship. And thus it was all were saved upon the land” (CG). In the previous verse, the centurion commanded that those who could swim should jump in and swim to land. Now, and still coming as a command from Julius, it says, “and the rest, in...

Thursday, 30 May 2024 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, Acts 27:43 More literally, “And the centurion, desiring to save Paul, prevented their intent. And he commanded those being able to swim, having jumped away first, to depart to the land” (CG). In the previous verse, Luke noted that it was the soldiers’ intent to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away. However, h...

Wednesday, 29 May 2024 And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. Acts 27:42 A literal reading is much sparser in content, “And the soldiers’ plan was that they should kill the prisoners, lest someone, having swam out, should escape” (CG). In the previous verse, the ship ran aground with the prow stuck fast. With the beating of the waves, the stern loosened from the main hull. Thus, the ship could no longer be a place of safety. All would n...

Tuesday, 28 May 2024 But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves. Acts 27:41 A more literal rendering is, “And having fallen into a place – two seas – they urged on the vessel, and, indeed, the prow having stuck fast remained immovable, and the stern was loosed under the force of the waves.” (CG). In the previous verse, the anchors were abandoned to the sea an...

Monday, 27 May 2024 And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. Acts 27:40 A more precise and literal rendering would be, “And the anchors, having detached, they left in the sea, simultaneously, having relaxed the ropes of the rudders. And having hoisted the foresail to the blowing, they held fast for the shore” (CG). The last verse noted that they did not recognize the land that was ah...

Sunday, 26 May 2024 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. Acts 27:39 A more literal rendering would be, “And when day came, they knew not the land. And they noticed a certain bay having a shore, unto which they determined to drive out the ship, if they were able” (CG). In the previous verse, the sailors filled themselves with food and then lightened the ship by throwing out the wheat. It nex...