complete verse (Acts 28:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 28:18:

  • Uma: “This case of mine was examined by the Roman rulers, and they wanted to free me because it was clear that I had done no wrong deserving to kill me for.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I have been investigated by the officials of the Romans and they wanted to let me out/release me because they could not find any cause/reason for which I should be killed.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as for the Roman officials, they investigated me and they wanted to set me free because they knew there was nothing I had done worthy of being killed,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As for the Romans, when they tried me, they wanted to release-me, because they came-to-know that I had done nothing that would suffice for their killing me.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Those ones who had arrested me wanted that I no longer be allowed to live. But as for the Romano, they wanted to release me for, when they interrogated me, they found nothing for which I would have to be sentenced to death.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 28:18

In Greek this continues a sentence begun in the preceding verse.

The pronoun they, which begins verse 18, must refer to “the Roman authorities.” Questioned is the same verb used in 24.8. Questioned me may be translated as “asked me exactly what I had done” or “by asking me found out exactly what I had done.”

In this context found is equivalent to “learned” or “found out by investigating.”

In some languages it is hardly sufficient to say I had done nothing for which I deserved to die. A receptor-language equivalent may be “I had done nothing bad and therefore did not deserve to be put to death” or “I did nothing so bad that it would cause me to be put to death.”

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 28:18

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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Sung version of Acts 28

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