28:16a

When we arrived in Rome:
This clause in Greek is literally “when we entered into Rome.” The Greek clause here indicates that Paul, Luke, and the others entered the city at this time.

Paul was permitted: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. Either a civil official (a Roman “prefect”) or military official (the chief administrative officer over all the soldiers in Rome) permitted Paul to live by himself. For example:

⌊a Roman official⌋ allowed Paul
-or-

⌊the proper officer/authority⌋ allowed Paul

to stay by himself: This phrase indicates that Paul could live in a house or apartment. He was not put in prison to live with other prisoners. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

to have his own private lodging (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
to live in a house (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
to stay by himself ⌊rather than in prison⌋

28:16b indicates that Paul did not live alone, because a soldier always guarded him. Translate in a way that does not contradict 28:16b.

28:16b

with a soldier to guard him: The Roman official also required some soldiers to guard Paul. The soldiers guarded him one at a time, probably for four hours at a time. In some languages indicating who required the soldier to guard Paul will make the meaning more clear. For example:

⌊but⌋ ⌊the official⌋ ordered a soldier to guard him

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