28:18a–b

and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me: The reason is stated after the result. In some languages it is required to have the reason first. For example:

and they did not find me guilty of any crime deserving death, so they wanted to release me

28:18a

They: This refers to the Romans. Felix and his advisors examined him. Later Festus and King Agrippa examined Paul as well.

examined me: This phrase refers to questioning Paul about the things the Jewish leaders accused him of doing. See how you translated similar words (“examining him”) in 24:8.

wanted to release me: This phrase refers to the Romans wanting to allow Paul to leave prison. He would no longer be under arrest. For example:

set me free (New Jerusalem Bible)

28:18b

there was no basis for a death sentence against me: This clause in Greek is literally “no cause (for) death was/existed in me.” The Romans saw that Paul was not guilty of doing anything that required the authorities to kill him as punishment. Other ways to translate this clause are:

there was no reason for the death penalty in my case (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
they found me guilty of nothing involving the death penalty (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
they found no cause for the death sentence (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
they concluded that there was no reason to execute me

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