28:23 They set 1 a day to meet with him, 2 and they came to him where he was staying 3 in even greater numbers. 4 From morning until evening he explained things 5 to them, 6 testifying 7 about the kingdom of God 8 and trying to convince 9 them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets.
28:28 “Therefore be advised 10 that this salvation from God 11 has been sent to the Gentiles; 12 they 13 will listen!”
1 tn Grk “Having set.” The participle ταξάμενοι (taxamenoi) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
2 tn Grk “Having set a day with him”; the words “to meet” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
3 tn Or “came to him in his rented quarters.”
4 tn BDAG 848 s.v. πολύς 1.b.β.ב states, “(even) more πλείονες in even greater numbers Ac 28:23.”
5 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.
6 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 Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) has been replaced by the pronoun (“them”) and a new sentence begun at this point in the translation.
7 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.”
8 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.
9 tn Or “persuade.”
10 tn Grk “Therefore let it be known to you.”
11 tn Or “of God.”
12 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).
13 tn Grk “they also.”
14 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
15 tn Or “openness.”
16 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.