Acts 28:14-31

14 There we found some ¹brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome.

15 And the ²brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

16 When we entered Rome, Paul was ³allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

17 After three days Paul called together those who were ⁴the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, "⁵Brethren *, ⁶though I had done nothing against our people or ⁷the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

18 "And when they had ⁸examined me, they ⁹were willing to release me because there was ¹⁰no ground for putting me to death.

19 "But when the Jews objected, I was forced to ¹¹appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation.

20 "For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing ¹²this chain for ¹³the sake of the hope of Israel."

21 They said to him, "We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of ¹⁴the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you.

22 "But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this ¹⁵sect, it is known to us that ¹⁶it is spoken against everywhere."

23 When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at ¹⁷his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly ¹⁸testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, ¹⁹from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.

24 ²⁰Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe.

25 And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,

26 saying, '²¹GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, "²²YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;

27 ²³FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM."'

28 "Therefore let it be known to you that ²⁴this salvation of God has been sent ²⁵to the Gentiles; they will also listen."

29 [When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.]

30 And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him,

31 ²⁶preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ ²⁷with all openness, unhindered.

Cross References

• 1. John 21:23; Acts 1:15; Acts 6:3; Acts 9:30; Acts 28:15; Romans 1:13;
• 2. Acts 1:15; Acts 10:23; Acts 11:1, 12, 29; Acts 12:17
• 3. Acts 24:23
• 4. Acts 13:50; Acts 25:2
• 5. Acts 22:5
• 6. Acts 25:8
• 7. Acts 6:14
• 8. Acts 22:24
• 9. Acts 26:32
• 10. Acts 23:29; Acts 25:25; Acts 26:31
• 11. Acts 25:11, 21, 25; Acts 26:32
• 12. Acts 21:33
• 13. Acts 26:6
• 14. Acts 3:17; Acts 22:5; Acts 28:14; Romans 9:3
• 15. Acts 24:14
• 16. 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:16; 1 Peter 4:14, 16
• 17. Philemon 22
• 18. Luke 16:28; Acts 1:3; Acts 23:11
• 19. Acts 8:35
• 20. Acts 14:4
• 21. Isaiah 6:9
• 22. Matthew 13:14
• 23. Isaiah 6:10
• 24. Psalms 98:3; Luke 2:30; Acts 13:26
• 25. Acts 9:15; Acts 13:46
• 26. Matthew 4:23; Acts 20:25; Acts 28:23
• 27. 2 Timothy 2:9

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "Where"
• [b]. Lat "Appii Forum", a station about 43 miles from Rome
• [c]. Lat "Tres Tabernae", a station about 33 miles from Rome
• [d]. Lit "he"
• [e]. Or "forefathers"
• [f]. Lit "of death in me"
• [g]. Lit "spoke against"
• [h]. Or "invited you to see me and speak with me"
• [i]. Lit "you think"
• [j]. Lit "with a hearing"
• [k]. Lit "and"
• [l]. Lit "seeing you will see"
• [m]. Early mss do not contain this v
• [n]. Or "at his own expense"
• [o]. Or "proclaiming"