complete verse (Acts 28:30)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 28:30:

  • Uma: “From there, Paulus stayed in Roma for two years in a house that he rented. He was glad to meet the people who came to visit him.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “For two years Paul lived there in a rented house. He treated-according-to-custom all people who came to him.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And for two years then, Paul lived there in the house that he rented and he caused to come up anyone who wanted to visit him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Two years was what Pablo stayed in the house he rented there in Roma, while-meanwhile he was welcoming (lit. causing-to-enter) all who went to visit him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For the space of two years, there indeed is where Pablo was staying, in that house he was renting which was as if it had become his own. Each person who came to the house to visit him, none were rejected by him.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 28:30

The reference to two years would indicate that Luke knew that a change took place after this period, and that he also knew what happened, though he did not care to indicate this to his readers.

As in the preceding verse, so in this verse the subject has been made explicit: Paul. The phrase in a place he rented for himself (Jerusalem Bible “in his own rented lodging”) may also be taken in the sense of “at his own expense” (see Revised Standard Version, New English Bible). The problem is that the word rendered place he rented basically means “money paid” and may refer either to money that Paul earned or to the money that he paid out. The Good News Translation, along with a number of other translations, understands this in a specific sense of “money paid out for a place to live in.”

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 28:30

Paragraph 28:30–31

28:30a

two full years: This probably refers to a time period of twenty-four months (instead of parts of two years).

his own rented house: This phrase in Greek refers to either a house, flat, apartment, or room that Paul paid the owners each month so that he could live there. For example:

a place he rented for himself (Good News Translation)

28:30b

welcoming all who came to visit him: Paul welcomed anyone who came to see him. He was happy to speak to Jews, Romans, Greeks, or any other kind of person. For example:

He welcomed all who came to visit him (New Jerusalem Bible)

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Sung version of Acts 28

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