NOTES for Act 28:17-31
17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. |
18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. |
19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. |
20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. |
21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. |
22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. |
23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. |
24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. |
25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, |
26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: |
27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. |
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. |
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. |
30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, |
31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. |
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Today's reading sums up Paul's missionary ministry. And once again before us is the apostle's conflict with his own compatriots (vv. 23-24). Of course, rumors about Paul's preaching and his missionary activity could not fail to reach the Jewish community of Rome, which was quite numerous and influential. But the Roman Jews, as we can see, knew nothing definite either about the apostle himself or about his activity (vv. 21-22). Paul himself in Rome, as earlier in Jerusalem, affirmed the same thing he had previously told his judges: he was guilty of nothing either before the Synagogue or before his people (vv. 17-19). His only "fault" consists in the fact that he looks at the Messiah and the Kingdom differently from the majority of his compatriots and fellow believers.
But this does not at all mean that Paul's faith contradicts the tradition. On the contrary, the apostle in Rome, as had happened before in other places, was able to convince many that his faith in no way contradicted the tradition in its true understanding (v. 23). And of course Paul in no way considered his appeal to the Roman authorities and to the Roman court to be connected with any desire to harm the Synagogue or his people (v. 19). The point was only to avoid completely baseless accusations and a possible judicial, or perhaps even extrajudicial, reprisal (vv. 17-18). And still, as we can see, the apostle's words did not convince everyone (v. 24).
And once again what had happened more than once both with Paul and with other Christians happened again: not wanting a split in the community, they all reject Paul's witness, so that after his speech both those who agreed and those who disagreed leave (v. 25). Apparently, among those listening to the apostle, the desire prevailed, as people say in such cases, "not to rock the boat." And the result of this unwillingness, besides the appearance of peace in the community, was the rejection of Christ and the Kingdom, which Paul directly told his listeners (vv. 25-27). Thus conservatism and unwillingness to change became a barrier on the Jewish community of Rome's way into the Kingdom. But this, of course, could in no way stop the apostle's preaching; only now, as we can see, it was directed above all to the Gentiles, who did not have such an ancient and powerful religious tradition binding their mind and will (v. 28). And the Kingdom, judging by the evangelist's witness, truly continued to expand, and with it the Roman church grew, including ever new Christians, recent Gentiles (vv. 30-31).
Readings for 18 November 2025
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