Chapter
Verse

Acts 28:17

ESV After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, "Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
NIV Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.
NASB After three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, 'Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.
CSB After three days he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them: "Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
NLT Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, 'Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors.
KJV 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.
NKJV And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans,

What does Acts 28:17 mean?

Several years before Paul reached Rome, he wrote to the church there (Romans 15:24–28). He has now been in the city for three days, under house arrest while awaiting his trial before Caesar (Acts 25:6–12). Instead of church members, some of whom he's already seen (Acts 28:14–16), he invites the Jewish leaders. He wants to get ahead of any rumors they may have heard about him.

Two years prior, in Jerusalem, he was falsely accused of several crimes against the Mosaic and Roman laws. The claim that Paul encouraged Jews not to circumcise their sons is patently false; he only stipulated that for Gentile Jesus-followers (Acts 15:1–5; 21:20–21). Neither did he bring a Gentile into the temple, which would be desecration of a religious structure and against the Roman law (Acts 21:27–29). Formal charges included that he started riots among the Jews, something only true if it includes being falsely accused and nearly beaten to death (Acts 21:30–31; 24:5). The charge that he leads a sect of the Nazarenes is true, but the Romans won't consider Christianity and Judaism two different religions until after the Bar Kokhba Rebellion of AD 132 (Acts 24:5).

The Jews in Rome know the Jews from Jerusalem do not approve of Christianity, but they don't know why. Fortunately, they haven't heard anything about these specific charges against Paul. They agree to meet again to hear Paul's message; some will agree that Jesus of Nazareth is their Messiah while others won't. Paul, who desperately wants all Jews to come to Christ (Romans 9:1–5), considers this a rejection and decides to concentrate on the Gentiles (Acts 28:21–28).

Rome had a significant Jewish population at this time. In the first century BC, the Roman general Pompey captured some Jews, enslaved them, and took them to Rome. The Jewish captives followed their religion so strictly, including their diet and observance of the Sabbath, that they were useless as slaves. So, Pompey released them. Some of these returned to Jerusalem and established the synagogue of the Freedmen (Acts 6:9). Others stayed in Rome. In AD 49, the emperor drove the Jews out, which is how Paul met Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:2). Later, the Jews were allowed to return; Priscilla and Aquila were already home and hosting a church by the time Paul wrote his letter about three years before (Romans 16:3).
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