There is value in reading more than one translation of the Bible, whether it’s two different languages or two Bibles in the same language if you have that opportunity like we do in the English speaking world. As I have been preaching through Acts, I not only read the book multiple times in my King James Version but I also read it a few times in the Legacy Standard Bible. In Acts 28:4 I came across something that seemed out of place. In fact, at first I thought it was a mistake.
In Acts 28:4, the Scripture says “And when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”” (LSB)
Compare that with the KJV, “And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.”
Notice the word Justice is capitalized in the LSB. But in the KJV, the word vengeance is not.
I consulted the Lexicons, and also looked in the commentaries.
John Gill who wrote, The Greek word Dies, rendered vengeance, is the name of a goddess among the Heathens, said to be the daughter of Jupiter and Themis. She is represented as sitting by her father Jupiter; and when any one does injury to another, informs him of it. She is painted sorrowful, and with a contracted forehead, a grave countenance, and a rough aspect, to strike terror in unrighteous persons, and give confidence to righteous ones, agreeably to her name, which signifies justice. This deity the barbarians supposed pursued Paul; and though she let him escape the sea, she’ll not suffer him to live any longer; for they looked upon the viper’s fastening on him, as to be sent by her, so to be immediate death to him.”
I also consulted the LSB translator notes online, which I have linked into Logos Bible Software, and you can see their notes in my screenshot. These notes are available online at https://tyndale.tms.edu/. For this particular passage, this is the comment of the translators:
“Justice” is capitalized here because the natives of Malta are referring to a specific goddess in whom they believed named “Justice.” They see this event as supernatural, and ironically, it is. But it will prove to be the opposite of what they initially supposed. Paul was not being punished as a wicked man, but confirmed as a true spokesman for God. By this, God provided him the unique opportunity to witness and gave him great credibility with his hearers.
Is the Legacy Standard Bible accurate in translating the word to be Justice with a capital letter? The answer is, yes! By the way, the King James is also accurate, but because the word was not capitalized I missed the full meaning behind it when I stayed to the KJV only.
The screenshot is from Logos Bible Study Platform