Acts 28:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar — though I had no charge to bring against my nation.

NIV: The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people.

NASB: But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation.

CSB: Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar; even though I had no charge to bring against my people.

NLT: But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people.

KJV: But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

NKJV: But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation.

After longing to visit Rome for years (Romans 1:9–10; 15:23), Paul has finally arrived. Unfortunately, he's under house arrest and chained to a Roman guard. His situation looks suspicious, and he knows the rumors his enemies are spreading are particularly harmful. So, he has invited the Jewish leaders to visit so he can explain why he's in this predicament.

It started over two years prior when he visited Jerusalem. Through a series of unlikely events, he found himself under house arrest in Caesarea Maritima, despite having committed no crime. The Sanhedrin in Jerusalem wanted him dead, but Governor Felix had to protect him as a Roman citizen. But Felix didn't want to release Paul and risk irritating the Sanhedrin (Acts 24). Two years later, Felix was called to Rome to answer to accusations of cruelty. His replacement Festus was a kinder man and a better leader, and he wanted to rule the Jews through respect and cooperation. When the Sanhedrin brought up the same unfounded charges, Festus realized Paul was innocent but wanted to work with the Sanhedrin. He didn't realize that by doing so he would make Paul vulnerable to their assassination plans. Paul chastised Festus for not doing his job and appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:1–12).

The last clause, where Paul clarifies that he has no intent of prosecuting his own people, is significant. According to Roman law, if someone brought false charges against another, they could be given the same punishment the accused would face if found guilty. The Sanhedrin accused Paul of starting riots and desecrating a religious structure, both capital offenses in Rome (Acts 24:5–6). Paul could countersue. Since both Felix and Festus would have recorded the proceedings, including the parts where the Sanhedrin had neither witnesses (Acts 24:18–19) nor evidence (Acts 25:7), Paul could have accused them with false witness. Because their false witness referred to capital crimes, they could have been executed.

In Acts 28:17–29 Paul finally receives his heart's desire: to witness to the Jews in Rome. Rome is a strategic city and if the Jews there accept Jesus as their Messiah, they will legitimize Jesus-worship to the other Jews in the Empire. As in every city Paul visits, however, some accept Jesus and others don't. Paul becomes frustrated and redoubles his efforts to reach the Gentiles. He spends two years under house arrest but with the freedom to write and to speak with whomever chooses to come through his door.

Acts 28 records Paul's three-month stay on the island of Malta and two-year house arrest in Rome. On Malta, God empowers Paul to perform healing miracles which endear him to the locals. Once he reaches the shores of Italy, many other believers accompany him on his last leg to Rome. In Rome, he finds the Jews just as accepting of Jesus as elsewhere; some believe, but many don't. Paul reaffirms his mission to the Gentiles and spends his time preaching while under house arrest.

Acts 28 is the end of Luke's story of the witness of Jesus' story (Acts 1:8). After his wrongful imprisonment in Caesarea Maritima, Paul appealed his case to Caesar (Acts 25:1–12). He, Aristarchus, and Luke survived a raging winter storm before finally reaching Rome (Acts 27). Again under house arrest, Paul is able to share Jesus' offer of forgiveness with any who wish to visit. While there, he writes the letters Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. After two years, Paul is released; tradition says he takes one more evangelistic tour before being arrested and eventually martyred around AD 67.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.