Acts 28:16-31

16 When we entered Rome, Paul was ¹allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

17 After three days Paul called together those who were ²the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, "³Brethren *, ⁴though I had done nothing against our people or ⁵the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

18 "And when they had ⁶examined me, they ⁷were willing to release me because there was ⁸no ground for putting me to death.

19 "But when the Jews objected, I was forced to ⁹appeal 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 ¹⁰this chain for ¹¹the sake of the hope of Israel."

21 They said to him, "We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of ¹²the 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 ¹³sect, it is known to us that ¹⁴it is spoken against everywhere."

23 When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at ¹⁵his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly ¹⁶testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, ¹⁷from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.

24 ¹⁸Some 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, '¹⁹GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, "²⁰YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;

27 ²¹FOR 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 ²²this salvation of God has been sent ²³to 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 ²⁴preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ ²⁵with all openness, unhindered.

Cross References

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

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "he"
• [b]. Or "forefathers"
• [c]. Lit "of death in me"
• [d]. Lit "spoke against"
• [e]. Or "invited you to see me and speak with me"
• [f]. Lit "you think"
• [g]. Lit "with a hearing"
• [h]. Lit "and"
• [i]. Lit "seeing you will see"
• [j]. Early mss do not contain this v
• [k]. Or "at his own expense"
• [l]. Or "proclaiming"