The Meaning of Acts 28:16 Explained

Acts 28:16

KJV: And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

YLT: And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the captain of the barrack, but Paul was suffered to remain by himself, with the soldier guarding him.

Darby: And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the praetorian prefect, but Paul was allowed to remain by himself with the soldier who kept him.

ASV: And when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself with the soldier that guarded him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  when  we came  to  Rome,  the centurion  delivered  the prisoners  to the captain of the guard:  but  Paul  was suffered  to dwell  by  himself  with  a soldier  that kept  him. 

What does Acts 28:16 Mean?

Study Notes

a soldier
the soldier that guarded him. Acts 24:23 ; Acts 27:3 .

Verse Meaning

Paul was a Roman citizen who had appealed to Caesar and had gained the respect (to say the least) of his centurion escort. Therefore he was able to reside in a private rented residence with a Roman guard ( Acts 28:30).
This is the end of the last "we" section of Acts ( Acts 16:10-40; Acts 20:5 to Acts 21:18; Acts 27:1 to Acts 28:16). We know that Luke and Aristarchus remained with Paul for some time, and Paul had other visitors including Timothy, Tychicus, and Epaphroditus. Luke and Aristarchus were with him when Paul wrote his epistles to Philemon and to the Colossians ( Philemon 1:24; Colossians 4:14), which he composed during his detention in Rome. This imprisonment probably lasted from A.D60 into62 (cf. Acts 28:30). Thus Acts ends about A.D62 , 29 years after the death and resurrection of the Savior and the day of Pentecost.

Context Summary

Acts 28:11-20 - Still Seeking His Own Kinsmen
Paul went toward Rome, as we have seen, under very different circumstances from those that he originally anticipated; but, after all, they gave him the greatest opportunity of his life. The things that befell him were for the furtherance of the gospel. In no other way could he have approached or touched such men as the centurion, or the members of Caesar's household, or Publius, or Nero himself.
It was very good of Julius to give Paul seven days' rest in the lovely bay of Puteoli, at the foot of Vesuvius. The little towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum were not yet overwhelmed. What teaching and what happy fellowship the little church now enjoyed! Forty-three miles from Rome, at Appii Forum, a body of Christians awaited the Apostle with greetings, and ten miles farther on, at the Three Taverns, was another group. If Paul had entertained fears about his reception, they were immediately dispelled. The Apostle thanked God and took courage.
How he had longed to see mighty Rome! He was now allowed to live in his own house, chained to a soldier. In these circumstances he was secure from the hatred and plottings of the Jews, who in every city had endangered his life and impeded his labors. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 28

1  Paul, after his shipwreck, is kindly entertained on Malta
5  The snake on his hand hurts him not
8  He heals many diseases in the island
11  They depart toward Rome
17  He declares to the Jews the cause of his coming
24  After his preaching some were persuaded, and some believed not
30  Yet he preaches there two years

Greek Commentary for Acts 28:16

Paul was suffered to abide by himself [επετραπη τωι Παυλωι μενειν κατ εαυτον]
Second aorist passive of επιτρεπο — epitrepo to permit or allow. Literally, “It was permitted to Paul to abide by himself.” Some late documents (Textus Receptus) here add: “The centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard” (or the στρατοπεδαρχ — stratopedarch). This officer used to be considered Burrus who was Prefect of the Praetorian Guard a.d. 51-62. But it is by no means certain that Julius turned the prisoners over to this officer. It seems more likely that Julius would report to the captain of the Peregrini. If so, we may be sure that Julius would give a good report of Paul to this officer who would be kindly disposed and would allow Paul comparative freedom (living by himself, in his lodging, Acts 28:23, his own hired house Acts 28:30, though still chained to a soldier). [source]
With the soldier that guarded him [συν τωι πυλασσοντι αυτον στρατιωτηι]
Probably a new soldier every day or night, but always with this soldier chained to his right hand day and night. Now that Paul is in Rome what can he do for Christ while he awaits the outcome of his own appeal to Nero? [source]
The centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard []
The best texts omit. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 28:16

Acts 27:3 We touched [κατηχτημεν]
First aorist passive of καταγω — katagō the usual term for “coming down” from the seas as αναγω — anagō above (and Acts 27:4) is for “going up” to sea. So it looks to sailors. Sidon was 67 miles from Caesarea, the rival of Tyre, with a splendid harbour. The ship stopped here for trade. Treated Paul kindly (πιλαντρωπως τωι Παυλωι χρησαμενος — philanthrōpōs tōi Paulōi chrēsamenos). “Using (χρησαμενος — chrēsamenos first aorist middle participle of χραομαι — chraomai to use) Paul (instrumental case used with this verb) kindly” (πιλαντρωπως — philanthrōpōs “philanthropically,” adverb from πιλαντρωπος — phil̇anthrōpos love of mankind). He was kindly to Paul throughout the voyage (Acts 27:43; Acts 28:16), taking a personal interest in his welfare. Refresh himself Second aorist active infinitive of τυγχανω — tugchanō (to obtain) with the genitive επιμελειας — epimeleias old word from επιμελης — epimelēs careful, only here in the N.T. Whether it was mere hospitality we do not know. It may have been medical attention required because of Paul‘s long confinement. This is Paul‘s first visit to Sidon, but Christians were already in Phoenicia (Acts 11:19) and so Paul had “friends” here. [source]
Acts 27:3 Treated Paul kindly [πιλαντρωπως τωι Παυλωι χρησαμενος]
“Using He was kindly to Paul throughout the voyage (Acts 27:43; Acts 28:16), taking a personal interest in his welfare. [source]
James 2:17 In itself [κατ εαυτην]
In and of itself (according to itself), inwardly and outwardly dead Same idiom in Acts 28:16; Romans 14:22. It is a dead faith. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 28:16 mean?

When now we came to Rome the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard was allowed - Paul to stay by himself with the guarding him soldier
Ὅτε δὲ εἰσήλθομεν εἰς Ῥώμην ⧼ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος παρέδωκεν τοὺς δεσμίους τῷ στρατοπεδάρχῃ⧽ ἐπετράπη τῷ Παύλῳ μένειν καθ’ ἑαυτὸν σὺν τῷ φυλάσσοντι αὐτὸν στρατιώτῃ

δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
εἰσήλθομεν  we  came 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: εἰσέρχομαι  
Sense: to go out or come in: to enter.
Ῥώμην  Rome 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Ῥώμη  
Sense: the famous capital of the ancient world.
ἑκατόνταρχος  centurion 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἑκατοντάρχης 
Sense: an officer in the Roman army.
παρέδωκεν  delivered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: παραδίδωμι  
Sense: to give into the hands (of another).
δεσμίους  prisoners 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: δέσμιος  
Sense: bound, in bonds, a captive, a prisoner.
τῷ  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
στρατοπεδάρχῃ⧽  captain  of  the  guard 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: στρατοπεδάρχης 
Sense: the commander of a camp and army, a military tribune.
ἐπετράπη  was  allowed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐπιτρέπω 
Sense: to turn to, transfer, commit, instruct.
τῷ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Παύλῳ  Paul 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Παῦλος  
Sense: Paul was the most famous of the apostles and wrote a good part of the NT, the 4 Pauline epistles.
μένειν  to  stay 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: μένω  
Sense: to remain, abide.
ἑαυτὸν  himself 
Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἑαυτοῦ  
Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves.
φυλάσσοντι  guarding 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: φυλάσσω  
Sense: to guard.
στρατιώτῃ  soldier 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: στρατιώτης  
Sense: a (common) soldier.