Paul’s First Interview with Roman Jews

17 After three days he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them: “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.(A) 18 After they examined me, they wanted to release me, since I had not committed a capital offense.(B) 19 Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar;(C) it was not as though I had any accusation against my nation. 20 For this reason I’ve asked to see you and speak to you. In fact, it is for the hope of Israel that I’m wearing this chain.”(D)

21 Then they said to him, “We haven’t received any letters about you from Judea. None of the brothers has come and reported or spoken anything evil about you. 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect, we are aware that it is spoken against everywhere.”(E)

The Response to Paul’s Message

23 After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and witnessed about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.(F) 24 Some were persuaded by what he said, but others did not believe.(G)

25 Disagreeing among themselves, they began to leave after Paul made one statement: “The Holy Spirit correctly spoke through the prophet Isaiah to your[a] ancestors 26 when He said,

Go to these people and say:
You will listen and listen,
yet never understand;
and you will look and look,
yet never perceive.
27 For the hearts of these people
have grown callous,
their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes
and hear with their ears,
understand with their heart,
and be converted,
and I would heal them.(H)[b]

28 Therefore, let it be known to you that this saving work of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!”(I) [29 After he said these things, the Jews departed, while engaging in a prolonged debate among themselves.][c]

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 28:25 Other mss read our
  2. Acts 28:27 Is 6:9-10
  3. Acts 28:29 Other mss omit bracketed text

Paul and the Jewish Community in Rome

17 Now it happened that after three days, he called together those who were the most prominent of the Jews. And when[a] they had assembled, he said to them, “Men and brothers, although[b] I had done nothing against our[c] people or the customs of our fathers, from Jerusalem I was delivered as a prisoner into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they[d] had examined me, were wanting to release me,[e] because there was no basis for an accusation worthy of death with me. 19 But because[f] the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar (not as if I[g] had any charge to bring against my own people).[h] 20 Therefore for this reason I have requested to see you and to speak with you,[i] for because of the hope of Israel I am wearing this chain!” 21 And they said to him, “We have received no letters about you from Judea, nor has any of the brothers come and[j] reported or spoken anything evil about you. 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for concerning this sect it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”

23 And when they[k] had set a day with him, many more came to him at his lodging place, to whom he was explaining from early in the morning until evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and attempting to convince[l] them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 24 And some were convinced by[m] what was said, but others refused to believe. 25 So being in disagreement with one another, they began to leave after[n] Paul made one statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through the prophet Isaiah to your fathers, 26 saying,

‘Go to this people and say,
    You will keep on hearing[o] and will never understand,
and you will keep on seeing[p] and will never perceive.
27     For the heart of this people has become dull,
and with their[q] ears they hear with difficulty,
    and they have shut their eyes,
lest they see with their[r] eyes,
    and hear with their[s] ears,
    and understand with their[t] heart,
and turn, and I would heal them.”’[u]

28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They also will listen!”[v]

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 28:17 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had assembled”)
  2. Acts 28:17 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had done”) which is understood as concessive
  3. Acts 28:17 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  4. Acts 28:18 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had examined”) which is understood as temporal
  5. Acts 28:18 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  6. Acts 28:19 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“objected”)
  7. Acts 28:19 Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had”) which is understood as concessive
  8. Acts 28:19 Or “nation”
  9. Acts 28:20 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  10. Acts 28:21 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“come”) has been translated as a finite verb
  11. Acts 28:23 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had set”) which is understood as temporal
  12. Acts 28:23 Here the present tense has been translated as conative (“attempting to convince”)
  13. Acts 28:24 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“what was said”) which is understood as means
  14. Acts 28:25 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“made”)
  15. Acts 28:26 Literally “hearing you will hear”
  16. Acts 28:26 Literally “seeing you will see”
  17. Acts 28:27 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  18. Acts 28:27 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  19. Acts 28:27 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  20. Acts 28:27 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  21. Acts 28:27 A quotation from Isa 6:9–10
  22. Acts 28:28 Some later manuscripts include v. 29: “And when he had said these things, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.”