Salvation of God

Salvation of God preached

ACTS 28 COMMENTARY ◄
Acts 28:17-23 Jewish Leaders

Acts 28:24-31 Salvation of God

ACTS 28:24 24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.

What happened after Paul preached the Gospel to Rome's Jewish leaders from "morning till evening" (Acts 28:23)?
"Some were persuaded ... and some disbelieved" (Acts 28:24).

How did the unbelief of some become known?
They began to argue against those who believed (see below).

ACTS 28:25-31 2 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; 27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.” ’ 28 "Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the gentiles, and they will hear it!" 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves. 30 Then Paul lived two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

When did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet as Paul mentions in Acts 28:26-27?
Paul paraphrased God's word to Isaiah recorded in Isaiah 6:9-10 as having come true for the unbelieving Jewish leaders.

What did the unbelieving Jews do after leaving Paul?
They continued to argue against the believing Jews: "the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves" (Acts 28:29).

Why didn't Paul hang onto them a little longer and plead with them to receive Jesus?
Paul had shared the Gospel with them and explained that Jesus is their long-awaited Messiah "from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets" (Acts 28:23), so his job was done. In fact, it was his words that kicked them out of his house when they continued in their unbelief.

Is that what Jesus would have done?
Jesus told us to "depart" from those who reject the Gospel: “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet” (Matthew 10:14).

Then to whom are we supposed to turn?
To those who have yet to hear the Gospel, as Jesus turned: “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth” (Mark 1:38).

To whom did Paul turn after the incident above?
The "gentiles" (Acts 28:28) of Rome who had yet to hear the Gospel.

Today, where are most of the people who have yet to hear the Gospel?
Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, and other places.

Is that where most of those who feel called to preach and teach the Bible today "feel" called to go?