28:17 After three days 1 Paul 2 called the local Jewish leaders 3 together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, 4 although I had done 5 nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, 6 from Jerusalem 7 I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. 8 28:18 When 9 they had heard my case, 10 they wanted to release me, 11 because there was no basis for a death sentence 12 against me. 28:19 But when the Jews objected, 13 I was forced to appeal to Caesar 14 – not that I had some charge to bring 15 against my own people. 16 28:20 So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.” 17 28:21 They replied, 18 “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there 19 and reported or said anything bad about you. 28:22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know 20 that people 21 everywhere speak against 22 it.”
28:23 They set 23 a day to meet with him, 24 and they came to him where he was staying 25 in even greater numbers. 26 From morning until evening he explained things 27 to them, 28 testifying 29 about the kingdom of God 30 and trying to convince 31 them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 28:24 Some were convinced 32 by what he said, 33 but others refused 34 to believe. 28:25 So they began to leave, 35 unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors 36 through the prophet Isaiah 28:26 when he said,
‘Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing, 37 but will never understand,
and you will keep on looking, 38 but will never perceive.
28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull, 39
and their ears are hard of hearing, 40
and they have closed their eyes,
so that they would not see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, 41 and I would heal them.”’ 42
28:28 “Therefore be advised 43 that this salvation from God 44 has been sent to the Gentiles; 45 they 46 will listen!”
28:29 [[EMPTY]] 47