28:17 After three days ²  Paul ³  called the local Jewish leaders ⁴  together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, ⁵  although I had done ⁶  nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, ⁷  from Jerusalem ⁸  I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. ⁹  28:18 When ¹⁰  they had heard my case, ¹¹  they wanted to release me, ¹²  because there was no basis for a death sentence ¹³  against me. 28:19 But when the Jews objected, ¹⁴  I was forced to appeal to Caesar ¹⁵  – not that I had some charge to bring ¹⁶  against my own people. ¹⁷  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.” ¹⁸  28:21 They replied, ¹⁹  “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there ²⁰  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 ²¹  that people ²²  everywhere speak against ²³  it.”

28:23 They set ²⁴  a day to meet with him, ²⁵  and they came to him where he was staying ²⁶  in even greater numbers. ²⁷  From morning until evening he explained things ²⁸  to them, ²⁹  testifying ³⁰  about the kingdom of God ³¹  and trying to convince ³²  them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 28:24 Some were convinced ³³  by what he said, ³⁴  but others refused ³⁵  to believe. 28:25 So they began to leave, ³⁶  unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors ³⁷  through the prophet Isaiah 28:26 when he said,

‘Go to this people and say,

“You will keep on hearing, ³⁸  but will never understand,

and you will keep on looking, ³⁹  but will never perceive.

28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull, ⁴⁰ 

and their ears are hard of hearing, ⁴¹ 

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, ⁴²  and I would heal them.”’ ⁴³ 

28:28 “Therefore be advised ⁴⁴  that this salvation from God ⁴⁵  has been sent to the Gentiles; ⁴⁶  they ⁴⁷  will listen!”

28:30 Paul ⁴⁹  lived ⁵⁰  there two whole years in his own rented quarters ⁵¹  and welcomed ⁵²  all who came to him, 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ ⁵³  with complete boldness ⁵⁴  and without restriction. ⁵⁵