Acts 28:17-31
New Testament for Everyone
17 After three days, Paul called together the leading men of the Jews. When they arrived, he began to speak.
“My brothers,” he said, “I have done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs. Yet I was made a prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 The Romans put me on trial and wanted to let me go, because they couldn’t find me guilty of any capital crime. 19 But the Judaeans opposed this, and forced me to appeal to Caesar. This had nothing to do with my bringing any charges against my nation! 20 So that’s why I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel, you see, that I am wearing this chain.”
21 “For our part,” they responded, “we haven’t received any letters about you from Judaea. Nor has anyone of our nation come here to tell us anything, or to say anything bad about you. 22 We want to hear from your own lips what you have in mind. However, as for this new sect, the one thing we know is that people everywhere are speaking out against it.”
The end is where we start from
23 So they fixed a day and came in large numbers to Paul’s lodgings. He spoke to them and gave his testimony about the kingdom of God. From morning to night, he explained to them the things about Jesus, from the law of Moses and the prophets.
24 Some were persuaded by what he said, and others did not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves. So, as they were getting ready to leave, Paul said one last thing.
“The holy spirit,” he said, “spoke truly through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors, 26 when he said,
Go to this people and say to them:
Listen and listen, but never hear;
look and look, but never see!
27 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and their ears are dim with hearing,
and they have closed their eyes—
so that they might not see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart,
and turn, and I would heal them.
28 “Let it then be known to you that this salvation from God has been sent to the Gentiles. They will listen.”
30 Paul lived there for two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed everyone who came to see him. 31 He announced the kingdom of God, and taught the things about the Lord Jesus the Messiah, with all boldness, and with no one stopping him.
Read full chapterScripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
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