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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_28:30-31
30And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, 31preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.
Act_28:30 "two full years" This was possibly
1. the normal period of time required to see the Caesar
2. the time needed to get new papers from Festus
3. the mandatory waiting period for witnesses from Asia or Jerusalem
4. close to the legal statute of limitations
It was during this time that Paul wrote his prison letters (Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon, and Philippians).
▣ "in his own rented quarters" Paul had some source of income.
1. he worked at tent making or leather working
2. he was helped by churches (Thessalonica and Philippi)
3. he had some inherited funds
▣ "welcoming" Luke uses this term often with the connotation of "heartily welcome" (cf. Act_18:27; Act_28:30 and paradechômai in Act_15:4). It is used of the crowd welcoming Jesus in Luk_8:40; Luk_9:11. It is used of welcoming the gospel as preached by Peter in Act_2:41.
▣ "all who came" This was the problem. Paul's gospel had a universal reach. It was "good news" for all humans, not just Jews!
Act_28:31 "preaching. . .teaching" The early, post-apostolic church made a distinction between these two ways of presenting truth. The body of sermons recorded in Acts (Peter, Stephen, Paul) is called the Kerygma (proclamation, cf. Act_20:25; Act_28:31; Rom_10:8; Gal_2:2; 1Co_9:27; 2Ti_4:2), while the teaching of Jesus interpreted in the Epistles is called the Didache (teaching, cf. Act_2:42; Act_5:28; Act_13:12; Rom_16:17; 1Co_14:20).
▣ "the kingdom of God" This was the subject of Jesus' preaching. It refers to the reign of God in man's hearts now that will one day be consummated on earth as it has been in heaven. This passage also shows that the topic is not only for Jews. See Special Topic at Act_1:3.
▣ "the Lord" "Lord" is the translation of the Hebrew term adon, which meant "owner, husband, master, or lord" (see hyperlink at Act_1:6). The Jews became afraid of pronouncing the sacred name YHWH lest they take it in vain and break one of the Ten Commandments. Whenever they read the Scriptures, they substituted Adon for YHWH. This is why our English translations use all capitals Lord for YHWH in the OT. By transferring this title (kurios in Greek) to Jesus, the NT authors assert His deity and equality with the Father.
▣ "Jesus" "Jesus" is the name given to the baby in Bethlehem by the angel (cf. Mat_1:21). It is made up of two Hebrew nouns: "YHWH," the covenant name for deity, and "salvation" (i.e., Hosea). It is the same Hebrew name as Joshua. When used alone it often identifies the man, Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary (e.g., Mat_1:16; Mat_1:25; Mat_2:1; Mat_3:13; Mat_3:15-16).
▣ "Christ" "Christ" is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah (i.e., an Anointed One, see Special Topic at Act_2:31). It asserts Jesus' OT title as YHWH's promised One sent to set up the new age of righteousness.
NASB "with all openness, unhindered"
NKJV "with all confidence, no one forbidding him"
NRSV "with all boldness and without hindrance"
TEV "speaking with all boldness and freedom"
NJB "with complete fearlessness and without any hindrance from anyone"
This verse shows that the Roman authorities did not consider Christianity subversive or dangerous. The Greek text ends with the adverb "unfettered" or "unhinderedly." This seems to emphasize the ongoing nature of the task of proclamation and the power of the Spirit.
Many have assumed, based on Act_1:1 use of "first," which implies more than two, that Luke planned to write a third volume. Some even think that this third volume may be the Pastoral Letters (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus).
For the Greek term (parrhçsia), translated "openness" by NASB, see Special Topic at Act_4:29.
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