Discovery BoxActs 28:17-22 
Context28:17 After three days 1 Paul 2 called the local Jewish leaders 3 together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, 4 although I had done 5 nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, 6 from Jerusalem 7 I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. 8 28:18 When 9 they had heard my case, 10 they wanted to release me, 11 because there was no basis for a death sentence 12 against me. 28:19 But when the Jews objected, 13 I was forced to appeal to Caesar 14 – not that I had some charge to bring 15 against my own people. 16 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.” 17 28:21 They replied, 18 “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there 19 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 20 that people 21 everywhere speak against 22 it.”
1 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.
2 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn L&N 33.309 has “‘after three days, he called the local Jewish leaders together’ Ac 28:17.”
4 tn Grk “Men brothers,” but this is both awkward and unnecessary in English.
5 tn The participle ποιήσας (poihsas) has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.
6 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.
7 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
8 tn Grk “into the hands of the Romans,” but this is redundant when παρεδόθην (paredoqhn) has been translated “handed over.”
9 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 Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“who”) has been replaced by the personal pronoun (“they”) and a new sentence begun at this point in the translation.
10 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.”
11 sn They wanted to release me. See Acts 25:23-27.
12 tn Grk “no basis for death,” but in this context a sentence of death is clearly indicated.
13 tn That is, objected to my release.
14 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
15 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.’”
16 tn Or “my own nation.”
17 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).
18 tn Grk “they said to him.”
19 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.
20 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.
21 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.
22 tn On the term translated “speak against,” see BDAG 89 s.v. ἀντιλέγω 1.
