Acts 28 · Verse 16

Acts 28:16

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.

Acts 28:16, King James Version

Acts 28:16 in other translations

BSB	When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
WEB	When we entered into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
ASV	And when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself with the soldier that guarded 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.
BBE	And when we came into Rome, they let Paul have a house for himself and the armed man who kept watch over him.
Webster	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?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

16. when we came to Rome--the renowned capital of the ancient world, situated on the Tiber. the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard--the Prætorian Prefect, to whose custody, as commander of the Prætorian guard, the highest military authority in the city, were committed all who were to come before the emperor for trial. Ordinarily there were two such prefects; but from A.D. 51 to 62, one distinguished general--Burrus Aframus, who had been Nero's tutor--held that office; and as our historian speaks of "the captain," as if there were but one, it is thought that this fixes the apostle's arrival at Rome to be not later than the year 62 [Wies]. But even though there had been two when Paul arrived, he would be committed only to one of them, who would be "the captain" who got charge of him. (At most, therefore, this can furnish no more than confirmation to the chronological evidence otherwise obtained). but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a--"the" soldier that kept him--"guarded" him. (See on Ac 12:6). This privilege was allowed in the case of the better class of prisoners, not accused of any flagrant offense, on finding security--which in Paul's case would not be difficult among the Christians. The extension of this privilege to the apostle may have been due to the terms in which Festus wrote about him; but far more probably it was owing to the high terms in which Julius spoke of him, and his express intercession in his behalf. It was overruled, however, for giving the fullest scope to the labors of the apostle compatible with confinement at all. As the soldiers who kept him were relieved periodically, he would thus make the personal acquaintance of a great number of the Prætorian guard; and if he had to appear before the Prefect from time to time, the truth might thus penetrate to those who surrounded the emperor, as we learn, from Php 1:12, 13, that it did.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 16. The captain of the guard. The commander of the Pretorian cohort, or guard. The custom was, that those who were sent from the provinces to Rome for trial were delivered to the custody of this guard. The name of the prefect or captain of the guard, at this time, was Burrhas Afranius. Tacit. Ann. 12, 42, 1.

But Paul was suffered, etc. Evidently by the permission of the centurion, whose favour he had so much conciliated on the voyage. See Acts 27:43.

With a soldier that kept him. That is, in the custody of a soldier, to whom he was chained, and who, of course, constantly attended him. See Acts 24:23. Acts 12:6.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 16 The captain of the guard - Στρατοπεδαρχῃ. This word properly means the commander of a camp; but it signifies the prefect, or commander of the pretorian cohorts, or emperor's guards. Tacitus (Annal. lib. iv. cap. 2) informs us that, in the reign of Tiberius, Sejanus, who was then prefect of these troops, did, in order to accomplish his ambitious designs, cause them to be assembled from their quarters in the city, and stationed in a fortified camp near it; so that their commander is with peculiar propriety styled by St. Luke στρατοπεδαρχης, the commander of the camp. For the arrival of St. Paul at Rome was in the seventh year of Nero; and it is certain, from Suetonius, (in Tiber. cap. 37), that the custom of keeping the pretorian soldiers in a camp, near the city, was retained by the emperors succeeding Tiberius; for the historian observes that Claudius, at his accession to the empire, was received into the camp, in castra delatus est, namely, of the pretorian cohorts; and so Tacitus says of Nero, An. lib. xii. cap. 69, that on the same occasions illatus castris, he was brought into the camp. Dr. Doddridge observes that it was customary for prisoners who were brought to Rome to be delivered to this officer, who had the charge of the state prisoners, as appears from the instance of Agrippa, who was taken into custody by Macro, the pretorian prefect, who succeeded Sejanus; (Joseph. Ant. lib. xviii. cap. 7. sec. 6); and from Trajan's order to Pliny, when two were in commission, Plin. lib. x. ep. 65. Vinctus mitti ad praefectos praetorii mei debet: he should be sent bound to the prefects of my guards. The person who now had that office was the noted Afranius Burrhus; but both before and after him it was held by two: Tacit. An. lib. xii. sec. 42; lib. xiv. sec. 51. See Parkhurst. Burrhus was a principal instrument in raising Nero to the throne; and had considerable influence in repressing many of the vicious inclinations of that bad prince. With many others, he was put to death by the inhuman Nero. Burrhus is praised by the historians for moderation and love of justice. His treatment of St. Paul is no mean proof of this. Calmet. With a soldier that kept him - That is, the soldier to whom he was chained, as has been related before, Act 12:6.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 28:11-16

The common events of travelling are seldom worthy of being told; but the comfort of communion with the saints, and kindness shown by friends, deserve particular mention. The Christians at Rome were so far from being ashamed of Paul, or afraid of owning him, because he was a prisoner, that they were the more careful to show him respect. He had great comfort in this. And if our friends are kind to us, God puts it into…

Read the full comment on Acts 28:11-16 →

Acts 28:16 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὍτεHoteWhenG3753

δὲdenowG1161

εἰσήλθομενeisēlthomenwe cameG1525

εἰςeistoG1519

Ῥώμην,RhōmēnRome,G4516

ὁhotheG3588

ἑκατόνταρχοςhekatontarchoscenturionG1543

παρέδωκενparedōkendeliveredG3860

τοὺςtous<the>G3588

δεσμίουςdesmiousprisonersG1198

τῷtōto theG3588

στρατοπεδάρχῃstratopedarchēcommandersG4759

ἐπετράπηepetrapēwas allowedG2010

τῷtō<the>G3588

ΠαύλῳPaulōPaulG3972

μένεινmeneinto stayG3306

καθ᾽kath᾽byG2596

ἑαυτὸνhe'autonhimselfG1438

σὺνsunwithG4862

τῷtōwhoG3588

φυλάσσοντιphulassontiis guardingG5442

αὐτὸνautonhimG846

στρατιώτῃ.¶stratiōtēsoldier.G4757

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 28:16

Acts 27:3
And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
Acts 24:23
And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.
Acts 28:30-31
And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Romans 1:7-15
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. …
Acts 23:11
And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Jeremiah 40:2
And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.
Romans 15:22-29
For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. …
Acts 18:2
And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
Acts 27:31
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
Acts 27:43
But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
Genesis 37:36
And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.
Acts 2:10
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Rome.Rome, the capital of Italy, and once of the whole world, is situated on the banks of the Tiber, about sixteen miles from the sea; 410 miles S. S .E. of Vienna, 600 S. E. of Paris, 730 E. by N. of Madrid, 760 W. of Constantinople, and 780 S. E. of London.
2:10; 18:2; 19:21; 23:11; Ro 1:7-15; 15:22-29; Re 17:9,18
the centurion.
27:3,31,43
captain.
Ge 37:36; 2Ki 25:8; Jer 40:2
but.
30,31; 24:23; 27:3; Ge 39:21-23

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 28:15
And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
Acts 28:16
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.
Acts 28:17
And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

Read all of Acts 28

Acts 28:16 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y como llegamos á Roma, el centurión entregó los presos al prefecto de los ejércitos, mas á Pablo fué permitido estar por sí, con un soldado que le guardase.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et lorsque nous sommes arrivés à Rome, le centurion livra les prisonniers au préfet du prétoire, et il fut permis à Paul de demeurer chez lui avec un soldat qui le gardait.
German Elberfelder 1871	Als wir aber nach Rom kamen, überlieferte der Hauptmann die Gefangenen dem Oberbefehlshaber; aber dem Paulus wurde erlaubt, mit dem Kriegsknechte, der ihn bewachte, für sich zu bleiben.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Cum autem venissemus Romam, permissum est Paulo manere sibimet cum custodiente se milite.