NLT Illustrated Study Bible - Book of Acts - Flipbook - Page 77
A cts 2 8 : 3 1
2033
28:22
Acts 24:14
28:24
Acts 14:4
28:2627
*Isa 6:910
John 12:3940
28:28
Pss 67:2; 98:3
Luke 3:6
Acts 13:46
28:30
Acts 28:16
21 They replied, “We have had no letters
from Judea or reports against you from
anyone who has come here. 22 But we want
to hear what you believe, for the only thing
we know about this movement is that it is
denounced everywhere.”
23 So a time was set, and on that day a large
number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He
explained and testified about the Kingdom
of God and tried to persuade them about
Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law
of Moses and the books of the prophets,
he spoke to them from morning until eve
ning. 24 Some were persuaded by the things
he said, but others did not believe. 25 And
after they had argued back and forth among
themselves, they left with this final word
from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when
he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the
prophet,
26 ‘Go and say to this people:
When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
27 For the hearts of these people are
hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’*
28 So
I want you to know that this salvation
from God has also been offered to the Gen
tiles, and they will accept it.”*
Paul’s Unrestricted Preaching and
Teaching
30 For the next two years, Paul lived in
Rome at his own expense.* He welcomed
all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming
the Kingdom of God and teaching about
the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to
stop him.
28:2627 Isa 6:910 (Greek version). 28:28 Some manuscripts add verse 29, And when he had said these words, the Jews
departed, greatly disagreeing with each other. 28:30 Or in his own rented quarters.
28:2122 The Jewish leaders assured
Paul that they had received no reports
against him, and they wanted to hear
his explanation of this movement.
28:23 Paul explained how Jesus fulfilled
the OT hopes for the Kingdom of God,
the master theme of Jesus’ own preach
ing (Mark 1:1415; see Matt 4:1217;
Luke 4:1421, 43). Referring to the Scriptures, Paul presented the case for Jesus
as the promised Messiah.
28:24 Paul’s all-day message met a
mixed response, as it had in other
quarters (e.g., 13:4051; 17:1114).
28:2528 Paul parted with scriptural
words of warning that are often used in
the NT to explain the Jewish rejection
PROPHETS OF ISRAEL
of the gospel (cp. Matt 13:1415; Mark
4:12; Luke 8:10; John 12:3840; see Rom
11:112, 2532).
28:28 Since Jews everywhere had been
given an opportunity to accept the
faith (13:46; see Rom 1:16), it was now
time for the Gentiles to be offered this
salvation.
28:31 Despite being under house arrest
(28:16), Paul boldly proclaimed the
Kingdom message. • And no one tried to
stop him (Greek ako-louto-s, “without hin
drance”): This single word in Greek is the
last word of the book of Acts and one
of the keys to its meaning: God’s word
cannot be chained, even when its mes
sengers are (2 Tim 2:9; see Phil 1:1214).
GOSPELS & ACTS
Acts is the story of an unhindered
message of Good News, available to all
people throughout the world, whether
Jew, Gentile, proselyte, rich, or poor. The
mission of proclaiming this message is
accomplished in the power of the Spirit
(Acts 1:8); it embraces Jews (3:1–5:42),
Samaritans (8:125), converts to Judaism
(2:11; 13:43), “God-fearers” (8:2640;
9:32–11:18), and Gentiles (13:1–28:28).
• Luke ends his account with Paul still
under house arrest in Rome (about
ad 60–62). Paul was later freed and trav
eled freely. According to tradition, Paul
was imprisoned again in Rome in about
ad 64 and was martyred there during
Nero’s persecution of believers.
L E T T E R S O F PAU L
OTHER LET TERS
