Acts 28:14-31

14 There we found ¹brothers^[a] and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.

15 And ²the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, ³Paul thanked God and took courage.

16 And when we came into Rome, ⁴Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.

Paul in Rome

17 After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, "Brothers, ⁵though I had done nothing against our people or ⁶the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

18 When they had examined me, they ⁷wished to set me at liberty, ⁸because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.

19 But because the Jews objected, I was compelled ⁹to appeal to Caesar--though I had no charge to bring against ¹⁰my nation.

20 For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is ¹¹because of ¹²the hope of Israel that I am wearing ¹³this ¹⁴chain."

21 And they said to him, "We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of ¹⁵the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you.

22 But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this ¹⁶sect we know that everywhere ¹⁷it is spoken against."

23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening ¹⁸he expounded to them, testifying to ¹⁹the kingdom of God and ²⁰trying to convince them about Jesus ²¹both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

24 And ²²some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.

25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: ²³"The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

26 ²⁴"'Go to this people, and say, ²⁵You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.

27 ²⁶For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and ²⁷turn, and I would heal them.'

28 Therefore let it be known to you that ²⁸this ²⁹salvation of God ³⁰has been sent to the Gentiles; ³¹they will listen."^[b]

30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense,^[c] and ³²welcomed all who came to him,

31 ³³proclaiming ³⁴the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ ³⁵with all boldness and ³⁶without hindrance.

Cross References

• 1. See John 21:23
• 2. [See ver. 14 above]
• 3. [Romans 1:9-12]
• 4. [Acts 24:23; Acts 27:3]
• 5. [Acts 25:8]
• 6. Acts 6:14; Acts 15:1; Acts 21:21
• 7. Acts 26:31, 32
• 8. See Acts 23:29
• 9. Acts 25:11; Acts 26:32
• 10. Acts 24:17; Acts 26:4
• 11. See Acts 23:6
• 12. [Luke 2:25]
• 13. Acts 26:29
• 14. Ephesians 6:20; 2 Timothy 1:16; See Acts 21:33; Philippians 1:7
• 15. Acts 22:5
• 16. See Acts 24:5
• 17. Luke 2:34; [1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:16; 1 Peter 4:14, 16]
• 18. [Acts 17:2, 3]
• 19. ver. 31
• 20. [Acts 19:8]
• 21. Acts 8:35; Acts 24:14; Acts 26:22
• 22. [Acts 14:4; Acts 17:4, 5; Acts 19:9; Acts 23:7]
• 23. Matthew 15:7
• 24. Cited from Isaiah 6:9, 10
• 25. Matthew 13:14, 15; Mark 4:12; [Luke 8:10]
• 26. [John 12:40; Romans 11:8]
• 27. See Luke 22:32
• 28. Acts 13:26
• 29. Psalms 67:2; Isaiah 40:5; Luke 2:30; Luke 3:6; [Romans 11:11]
• 30. See Acts 13:46
• 31. John 10:16; [Acts 13:48; Matthew 8:11; Matthew 21:43]
• 32. [Philippians 1:13]
• 33. [Acts 8:12; Acts 20:25]
• 34. ver. 23; See Matthew 12:28; Matthew 13:19
• 35. See Acts 4:29
• 36. [Philippians 1:12, 13; 2 Timothy 2:9]

Footnotes

• [a]. Or brothers and sisters; also verses 15, 21
• [b]. Some manuscripts add verse 29: And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, having much dispute among themselves
• [c]. Or in his own hired dwelling