Although this is a strange use of the Greek verb translated was over, scholars agree that this is its meaning in the present context. Most translators prefer to give a rather literal rendering to Luke’s words “when our time was over,” without indicating time spent with whom or where. The New English Bible refers this to time spent ashore, “but when our time ashore was ended,” while the Good News Translation relates this to time spent with the believers, but when our time with them was over. However, it is difficult in some languages to speak of our time … was over. It may be necessary to say “the time which we could spend with them was ended,” “we came to the end of the time we could stay with them,” or “finally we had to leave.”

On the basis of the definite article used before ship (literally the ship) in verse 6, commentators conclude that the same vessel is referred to in verse 3 as in verse 6. If this is true, what caused Paul’s time to be over was the fact that the ship had finished unloading its cargo and was now ready to continue on its voyage. The word used for beach (see also 27.39) refers to a sandy beach as opposed to a rocky shore.

For knelt down … and prayed see 20.36.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .