Acts 28:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you.

NIV: They replied, 'We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you.

NASB: They said to him, 'We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor has any of the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you.

CSB: Then they said to him, "We haven't received any letters about you from Judea. None of the brothers has come and reported or spoken anything evil about you.

NLT: They replied, 'We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you.

Though it has taken a long time to work out, Paul's strategy (Acts 28:19) has succeeded. He is in Rome, waiting for his trial to come before Caesar. He's completely innocent of all charges, but Judaean politics have made him a prisoner. If he were free, he would visit the synagogue and wait to be invited to speak. He would then show how Jesus of Nazareth fulfills the Messianic prophecies. In this case, he can't leave his apartment, but he can have visitors. So, within three days of his arrival, he invites the Jews he would normally meet in the synagogue (Acts 28:17).

Paul needs to establish his authority. The first thing he does is explain why he is a prisoner despite the charges against him being false. Fortunately, the Roman Jews have not heard anything of the rumors flying around Jerusalem. That they have had no letters is interesting. Paul was first charged two years prior. He left Jerusalem several months ago, got caught in a ferocious storm, and had to stay on the island of Malta for three months before finally making it to Rome. The Sanhedrin had plenty of time to send word about Paul, but apparently didn't think it worth their effort.

Even so, the Roman Jews probably heard of Paul. Priscilla and Aquila have since returned to Rome after their eviction (Acts 18:2), and Paul knows several Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome (Romans 16).

The Jews have heard about the sect Paul is a part of, and they're curious but dubious. They agree to meet with Paul again so he can explain. Paul is desperate for all Jews to recognize Jesus as their Messiah (Romans 9:1–5) and gladly shows how Jesus fits within the Law and the Prophets. Jews are a communal people, and Paul hopes the community in Rome will accept Christ. Only some do, and Paul sees no difference between a partial rejection and a whole rejection. He scolds them with references to the prophet Isaiah and recommits his ministry to the Gentiles (Acts 28:22–31).

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.