NOTES for Act 28:17-31
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).