Acts 28:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.

NIV: Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.

NASB: Some were being persuaded by the things said by Paul, but others would not believe.

CSB: Some were persuaded by what he said, but others did not believe.

NLT: Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe.

KJV: And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

NKJV: And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.

Paul finally has the chance to explain to Jews in Rome who Jesus is. We don't have his exact words, just that he tries "to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets" (Acts 28:23). The "Law of Moses" is the Pentateuch, or the first five books of the Old Testament. The "Prophets" include Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and the books Christians consider prophets except for Daniel and Lamentations.

Typically, when Paul reaches a new town, he goes to the synagogue and waits for the synagogue leader to ask him to speak. In this case, he is under house arrest in an apartment. Still, Jewish leaders have agreed to meet with him (Acts 28:17–23). Luke includes very few details about Paul's messages. The sermon given in Acts 13:16–41 is probably representative of the message Paul gives to new audiences including this one. He starts with a brief review of history, including God's promises to Abraham and David. He then covers John the Baptist's ministry and the religious leaders' rejection of Jesus. He speaks of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Finally, he ties Jesus to the Messianic prophecies in David's psalms and warnings found in the prophets.

As in most places Paul serves, some of the Jews in Rome accept his words while others don't (Acts 14:4; 17:4–5). And, as in most places, Paul is disappointed and frustrated by the rejection. Jesus is the Messiah of the Jews as a nation. God's promises to Abraham, Moses, and David were given for the Jews as a people. If the Jews as a people would accept Jesus as their Messiah, they would be blessed as a nation. If only a few do, those few receive God's blessing as Christians, but Israel is lost.

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.