7 Now in that region there were properties belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and in a friendly manner took care of us for three days.*To feed 276 people for three days would be a considerable expense—and they were hungry! 8 Well it happened that the father of Publius was sick in bed with fever and dysentery; Paul went in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. 9 So, when this had happened, the rest of those on the island who had diseases started coming and being healed; 10 who also honored us in many ways, and when we put to sea they provided the necessary things.†Paul proved to be a valuable person to have along, the more so since they were there for three months.
16 Now when we entered Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the commander;*Perhaps 5% of the Greek manuscripts omit ‘the centurion delivered the prisoners to the commander’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). but Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.†This was surely an unusual proceeding; I assume it was a privilege granted in recognition of services rendered.
23 So arranging a day with him, even more people came to him at his lodging, to whom he kept expounding from morning until evening: solemnly testifying about the Kingdom of God and trying to convince them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. 24 Well some were persuaded by what had been said, and some kept refusing to believe.
25 So being in disagreement among themselves they started to leave, after Paul had said this one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke correctly to our§Instead of “our”, some 20% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘your’ (as in NIV, NASB, TEV, etc.). fathers through Isaiah the prophet, 26 saying:
- a To feed 276 people for three days would be a considerable expense—and they were hungry!
- b Paul proved to be a valuable person to have along, the more so since they were there for three months.
- c Since Luke makes a point of saying that at Rhegium they got a south wind, between Syracuse and Rhegium the wind was not favorable and they had to tack. Most versions miss the point here.
- d The seven days gave them time to send news on ahead so there would be a welcoming committee at Three Inns. The centurion evidently cooperated.
- e Perhaps 5% of the Greek manuscripts omit ‘the centurion delivered the prisoners to the commander’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).
- f This was surely an unusual proceeding; I assume it was a privilege granted in recognition of services rendered.
- g When Paul appealed to Caesar, his enemies evidently gave up, knowing they did not have a valid case.
- h Instead of “our”, some 20% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘your’ (as in NIV, NASB, TEV, etc.).
- i See Isaiah 6:9-10. Here we have a chiastic structure: heart, ears, eyes; eyes, ears, heart.
- j Perhaps 5% of the Greek manuscripts omit verse 29 entire (as in NIV, NASB and LB, but all three have a footnote saying that “some manuscripts” add the verse—their way of referring to 95%! Will not the uninformed reader be misled?).
- k It has often been observed that the book seems to lack a proper conclusion. If we consider that the book is actually about God working through people, then of course that work has been in operation throughout the intervening centuries and continues in our day—even through us.