Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)
The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).
For this verse, translators typically select the exclusive form (only including Luke and Paul’s party OR Luke, Paul, and Aristarchus).
Source: SIL International Translation Department (1999).
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 28:10:
Uma: “We were given much stuff as their [sign of] respect. And when we were packing/preparing to leave, they carried whatever we needed and put it in the ship.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Many love-gifts were given to us (excl.) by the people. And as we (excl.) were about to sail, they brought to the ship the things we (excl.) needed for our (excl.) provisions.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “They gave us many things, and when we got on another ship again, they put on board that ship everything that we needed.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Therefore many were the good-things they gifted-us (excl.) -with, and upon our (excl.) leaving, they also brought all that we (excl.) would need on our (excl.) journey.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Really many were their gifts to us, honoring us. And it wasn’t only that, for when the time came for us to sail again, they loaded much on the ship of the things we had need of.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
In the Greek, verse 10 is a continuation of the sentence begun in verse 9. Although it is possible that the word rendered gifts may refer to the money given to a physician for his fee, in the present context it means either “presents” or “honors.” The New English Bible accepts the latter possibility: “they honored us with many marks of respect” (so Jerusalem Bible). However, it is quite unlikely that the islanders would have shown their respect in any other way than by presenting gifts.
In rendering the last clause of this verse, it may be necessary to introduce some such expression as “later” or “some time after that.” Otherwise, it might appear, at the end of verse 10, that Paul and his comrades had sailed from Malta, whereas the sailing is actually not specifically mentioned until verse 11, where it is clearly stated that this took place three months later.
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 .
honored us in many ways: The word honored refers to praising someone, showing respect to him, telling others that they esteemed him. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ways can refer to praise as well as gifts of money or other things that show that the person respects them. Other ways to translate this clause are:
gave us many honors (New Century Version) -or-
honoured us with many marks of respect (Revised English Bible) -or-
honored us with praise ⌊and gifts⌋ ⌊and money⌋
us: The people included Luke in these honors as Paul’s associate. Probably Aristarchus (27:2) and other Christians were still traveling with them at this time, because they had not arrived in Rome yet.
28:10b
supplied our needs: This clause in Greek is literally “they gave the things for the needs.” The context implies that they gave food and supplies to Paul and Luke and the other believers traveling with Paul for their journey to Rome. For example:
people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip (New Living Translation (2004))
28:10c
when we were ready to sail: This refers to three months after the shipwreck on Malta (28:11). They were about to board a ship headed to Rome. Other ways to translate this clause are:
when the time came to sail (New Living Translation (2004)) -or-
When we were ready to leave, three months later, (New Century Version)
General Comment on 28:10a–c
The time phrase “After three months” in 28:11a also refers to the events 28:10b–c. See the general comment at 28:11d.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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