Paul did not exercise his power to perform miracles to the Jews. Paul tried to witness among the Jews through the word of God, the Old Testament, the law of Moses, and the prophets. Whereas among the Gentiles, Paul witnessed for Jesus by performing one miracle after another. The reason for this difference being that the Jews did not believe in the word of God. If you do not believe in the word of God, there are no miracles. Whereas among the Gentiles, they had never heard the word of God. So in order to make them to pay attention, Paul performed numerous miracles among the Gentiles. This is the summary of Acts chapter 28; Dr. Luke, the one who wrote this book, used to be a physician, but he followed Paul for so many years, and eventually forsake his profession and went to become a preacher. He was so filled with the Holy Spirit, he saw how Paul witnessed for Jesus among different people using different ways. Using miracles among the Gentiles, and using the word of God among the Jews.
Acts chapter 28:17; “Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
17 Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. 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. 18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar-not that I have any charge to bring against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you. (leaders of the Jews) It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere (the Jewish people) are talking about this sect.”
In Isaiah chapter 43:26- 28 it is written; “Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence. 27 Your first father (Adam) sinned; your spokesmen rebelled against me. 28 So I will disgrace the dignitaries of your temple, and I will consign Jacob to destruction and Israel to scorn.
The leaders of the Jews rebelled against the Lord. That is why Jacob and Israel will be destroyed. If the leaders of the household rebelled against God, he and his entire family will be destroyed.
When the leaders of the Jews heard about what Paul said, they wanted to hear what his views were. For they knew that people everywhere were talking against this sect.
Acts 28:23-25; “They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening Paul explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:”
The final statement is recorded in verse 26 to 28. Whenever you read the Old Testament, and read what the prophet says, it is in fact the Holy Spirit whom is speaking to you. If you criticize the Old Testament, you are not criticizing the prophet, but the Holy Spirit. Anyone who rejects Paul’s teachings are not rejecting Paul but is rejecting God who gives the Holy Spirit. When you listen to what the prophet Isaiah is saying, that means you listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. What did Isaiah say? He said the truth because the Holy Spirit is telling us the truth.
The Holy Spirit sometimes speaks to you through other people, because sometimes the Holy Spirit cannot speak to you directly. Why can’t the Holy Spirit speak to you directly? Because you don’t listen. It is important to listen, or you will suffer consequences.
Verse 26: “ ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
Paul listens to this statement. Why would he go to Jerusalem? Because he knew that he would go to Rome. When he wrote the book of Romans, he knew that he would to go to Rome and speak to the Jewish people there. Paul is the who reads the book of Isaiah and understands his own duty. Paul is the one who go to this people on God’s behalf. Isaiah says, “Here I am, send me.” The statement Paul quoted is from Isaiah chapter 6. Paul went to these people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understand; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” Who is accusing “your forefathers”? Is it Isaiah or the Holy Spirit? The answer is the Holy Spirit. A lot of people think that it is the preacher who are accusing them.
Acts chapter 28:19: “But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar-not that I had any charge to bring against my own people.”
The preachers were not trying to bring anything against God’s people. If they were bringing anything against God’s people, then there was no point in preaching. It is not Paul who brings charges against his own people, nor the prophet Isaiah has anything against his own people, but they are messengers of God.
Isaiah chapter 6:1-13: In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined. For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here I am. Send me!” 9 He said, “Go and tell this people: “ ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” 11 Then I said, “For how long, O Lord?” And he answered: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, 12 until the Lord has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken. 13 And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”
They would only listen when more than 90% of them are struck dead. Less than 10% will be healed. Who makes this accusation? Paul says it is the Holy Spirit. If the accusation is from man and not from God, you can ignore it because man has no power to destroy you. But if the accusations are from the Holy Spirit that means it is from God you will be destroyed unless you turn around. Be sure that you are able to discern between the truth and falsehood when you listen to sermons.
John chapter 3:34: “For the one whom God has spent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.”
The one sent by God, filled with the Holy Spirit, will speak the very word of God, not the words of man. John Chapter 7:17; “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”
Between these two scriptures, one is God’s doing and his work, the other is what man is doing, is man’s work. There’s no way to know whether or not a preaching is from God or from man unless you read the Bible. These two Bible verses go hand in hand. God will send his servants. God has sent Isaiah the prophet in the Old Testament, and in Acts chapter 28, God has sent his servant apostle Paul to speak to his people. God filled the prophet Isaiah with the Holy Spirit. God also filled Paul with the Holy Spirit.
It is up to you to see whether you see and understand what God wants you to see. In order to understand God’s words, we have to be determined. When you learn God’s will and God’s word, follow and obey it. Then you will receive the wisdom to discern if someone is sent from God or not. If you don’t have this determination to do God’s will, you will not have wisdom. Woe to you. It is written in Isaiah 5:20; “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” and Isaiah chapter 8:20; “Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” If you cannot distinguish people who preach the word of God and those who preach falsehood, you will have trouble when the time of testing comes.
Acts 28:27: For this people’s heart has become calloused; and they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them (Or save them). “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
Because the Jews rejected God, God rejected them and God’s salvation was sent to the Gentiles. The Gentiles listened, whereas the Jewish people will not listen. When Paul talked about the kingdom of God, some believed what Paul had said. Others chose not to believe. But the conclusion of his sermon, starting in verse 25 to verse 28 was written for the nonbelievers. Paul was filled with the holy spirit and spoke in love and truth. He hoped that those who did not believe would remember his conclusion and think about it on their own. Paul knew that those who believed would come back to hear the truth. But those in disbelief will walk away. Those who believe have already been touched by the Holy Spirit, but those who do not believe will go to hell. To love your neighbor, it is imperative that you preach to them. Unfortunately, many of those Paul preached to thought that Paul was using the book of Isaiah to accuse them personally. In the book of Psalms it says that the enemy says things that are smooth as oil. In other words when you hear something that you like to hear, even a big chunk that you don’t understand, you can swallow it all, even if it’s poison. Whereas the things that are good for you are difficult to swallow. That is exactly what is written in Acts 28:17-31. If you hear the sermon many times but if you don’t understand it, then ask. In the last part of Joshua 24:15 it is written: “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Why would Joshua say this? Because Joshua challenged the rebellious leaders of the Jews. The leaders had made up their minds to follow and serve idols. But as for Joshua and his family, they had decided to serve the Lord. The conclusion in Acts 28 is also aimed at the rebellious people. Paul is a messenger through which the Holy Spirit can speak the truth. When one speaks the truth, you either become their enemy or their friend. Becoming their enemy is talked about in Galatians chapter 4:16: “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?”
When people hear the truth, they mistake the messenger for their enemy, even when they are trying to save you. If they tell you things that you like to hear than your life will never be changed, and you will never understand God’s word.
Acts 28:30-31; “For two whole years paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!”
All those people who came to see Paul are the ones who believed in verse 24. Some were convinced of what Paul said. Those who opposed Paul would not go to him unless they repented. Once you believe and start reading the Bible, if there is something you don’t understand, then you will turn back to God. You will ask Him for more wisdom. Paul welcomed all who came to see him. Paul preached the kingdom of God boldly and without hindrance. Why would Paul lock himself up in a rented house? He had to pay his own rent and preach the gospel. No matter what Paul said, the leader of the Jews dared not to persecute him. If Paul did not have his bodyguard, he may had been struck dead already. Before Paul came to them, no one knew about Jesus the Messiah, and there grew a division among the people. God was very wise in sending a guard to guard Paul’s life so that Paul could speak boldly.
There would have been no need to Paul to speak boldly if he had not preached about Jesus Christ. The entire Old Testament talks about Lord Christ, the Messiah. The Jews agreed and understood that. But they did not accept Jesus as Lord, Jesus as Christ, and would strike dead those who boldly proclaimed this. This was known as a sect. The Jews knew about the kingdom of God, but they didn’t know the King of the kingdom of God. Paul tried to convince to them that Jesus is the Lord and Messiah from the law of Moses, the prophet from the Old Testament. Paul taught the Jews from what they believed in. And yet they didn’t even believe in the Old Testament. If they truly believed in the Old Testament, they would believe in what Paul had to say.
In conclusion in Acts chapter 28:28: “Therefore I want you to know that god’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
However, it is written that they neglected to listen for a long time. 2 Timothy chapter 4:1: In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
This is the same as hearing and never understanding; seeing but never perceiving. This warning is to be heeded by both Jews and Gentiles.