Chapter
Verse

Acts 28:23

ESV When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
NIV They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus.
NASB When they had set a day for Paul, people came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.
CSB After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and testified about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
NLT 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 evening.
KJV And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

What does Acts 28:23 mean?

The Jewish leaders in Rome have agreed to visit Paul. They are open to hearing about the sect of Jesus-worshippers. They have very little knowledge other than "everywhere it is spoken against" (Acts 28:22). They've heard next to nothing about Paul, and he's already explained that he may be under house arrest, but he's innocent of all charges (Acts 28:17–21). At least they're willing to listen.

This is Paul's modus operandi in every new town he enters. Ideally, he'd go to the synagogue and speak there, but that's not possible in this case. Luke rarely dictates Paul's messages. In Athens, Paul identified their unknown god with Jesus (Acts 17:22–31). To the crowd in Jerusalem after he was arrested, he gave his testimony (Acts 22:3–21). In this case, we can assume Paul's message is very similar to the one he gave in Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:16–41).

Paul's explanation about the kingdom of God is important. To the Jews, it includes the fulfillment of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants when Jews will be blessed above all other nations. Paul needs to explain that a large factor is the part of the Abrahamic covenant where Jews bless the world (Genesis 22:18). This blessing is Jesus, a Jew, providing salvation to all who will believe (Galatians 3:16, 22, 25–29).

The Jews react the same as those in all cities Paul visits: some believe and accept Jesus as their Messiah and some don't. Paul knows that God interacts with the Jewish nation as a group, and this split frustrates him (Acts 28:24–31). It means individual Jews will join the church, but the nation will not be the driving force of bringing Gentiles to Christ. This is why Jesus chose Paul to reach the Gentiles (Acts 9:15).
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