The Dialogues: Paul’s Messages to the People
His Meeting with the Chief of the Jews
Text, Acts 28:17-31, KJV: 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.
--Paul may not have planned on being a minister while being chained to a Roman soldier, but that’s exactly how he began his ministry in Rome. Here he explained why he’s in Rome and not somewhere else. He tells them why he appealed to Caesar, because he knew—but didn’t say anything about this here—that the Jews of Judea wanted to kill him.
--His words “for the hope of Israel” include several things. Dake’s Annotated Bible and other commentators list several of these “hopes”: the restoration of the kingdom (Acts 1:6, even the Apostles questioned Jesus about this), the resurrection of the dead (Martha of Bethany knew about this, John 11:24); plus many unfulfilled prophecies (Isaiah alone has several of these).
--These leaders of the Jews replied they had not received or heard anything about Paul himself, but they sure had heard about the Christian faith. They called it a ‘sect”, mentioned it (the Christian faith) was spoken against everywhere; and, oddly, wanted to hear Paul’s opinion about that, instead of the hope of Israel or anything else, as I read this.
--Nothing more is recorded here regarding Paul’s conversation with these chiefs of the Jews. The next several verses summarize Paul’s address to “many” who came to hear what he had to say.
His Meeting with Many Others of the Jews
Text, Acts 17:23-29, KJV: 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.
--Note that it was the Jewish leaders who appointed a day where Paul could speak. Paul obviously was under a form of house arrest, or had limited freedom at best, and thus could not go to anyplace the Jews might have selected.
--When the Jews arrived, Paul didn’t seem to waste any time in giving them the Word. Even as Jesus Himself had explained the Scriptures to Cleopas and the other disciple on the Emmaus Road (Luke 24), from Moses and the prophets, Paul did the same thing.
-- Paul’s topics were the kingdom of God and how Jesus fulfilled the Messianic prophecies. This “study” or session lasted ‘from morning till evening”. This was similar to the amount of time the people spent listening to Ezra read from the Law (from morning to midday, Nehemiah 8:3), after a number of Jews had returned to Jerusalem after the captivity.
--As had happened so many times before, some believed but others did not. One good thing is that here, at least, Paul did not suffer open persecution (i.e., he wasn’t stoned or beaten) as so often happened at other places.
--One sad result is that, just as in Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:13ff), the Jews refused to believe and Paul declared openly that “the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and they will hear it (verse 28). When they heard this, the Jews departed and “had great reasoning among themselves). Luke does not record any of these conversations.
--This passage, in a nutshell, summarizes the results when anyone hears the Gospel. He or she will either believe it, and be saved; or not believe it. That person may accept the message later, or, as many of the others from Paul’s day to ours, disbelieve it; even worse, try to keep others from even hearing the Gospel. Let us all as believers pray for open doors for the Gospel, and for the Lord to open many hearts so that they may hear and believe!
Conclusion, Acts 28:30-31, KJV: 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.
--The Book of Acts is a study in contrasts, beginning with 11 Apostles and Jesus Himself spending time together in Jerusalem. The book closes with one apostle murdered (James, the brother of John, per Acts 12), the others scattered, and one apostle in Rome. In roughly 30 years the Gospel had spread from one relatively small community to the World Capitol!
--Other contrasts: only Jews and proselytes (Gentile converts to the Jewish faith) to a wide open door of salvation to Gentiles, the vast majority of people for thousands of years. Acts records more of these, more or less openly.
--This last paragraph speaks of Paul’s first imprisonment, sort of: he was able to live in a “hired house (perhaps a rental, but how did he pay the rent?), but most likely still chained to a soldier. According to 2 Timothy, he was later sentenced to death but that doesn’t seem likely here.
--Luke summarizes Paul’s teaching and preaching. We would do well to do the same, by preaching and teaching the Kingdom of God, and the things concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. To Him be all the praise and glory. Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV)
