26. Hearing, ye shall hear, c.—(See on :- and :-). With what pain would this stern saying be wrung from him whose "heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel was that they might be saved," and who "had great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart" on their account (Romans 10:1 Romans 9:2)! read more
25-29. when they—the Jews. agreed not among themselves—the discussion having passed into one between the two parties into which the visitors were now divided, respecting the arguments and conclusions of the apostle. they departed—the material of discussion being felt by both parties to be exhausted. after Paul had spoken one word—one solemn parting testimony, from those Scriptures regarded by both alike as "the Holy Ghost speaking" to Israel. read more
28. the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear—(See on :-). "This departure to the Gentiles" he had intimated to the perverse Jews at Antioch ( :-), and at Corinth ( :-); now at Rome: thus in Asia, Greece, and Italy" [BENGEL]. read more
29. the Jews departed, and had great—"much" reasoning among themselves—"This verse is wanting in many manuscripts [and omitted by several recent editors], but certainly without reason. Probably the words were regarded as superfluous, as they seem to tell us what we were told before, that Paul "departed" (see :-). But in Acts 28:25 it is the breaking off of the discourse that is meant, here the final departure from the house" [OLSHAUSEN]. read more
30. in his own hired house—(See on Acts 28:2), yet still in custody, for he only "received all that came to him"; and it is not said that he went to the synagogue or anywhere else. read more
31. with all confidence, no man forbidding him—enjoying, in the uninterrupted exercise of his ministry, all the liberty of a guarded man. Thus closes this most precious monument of the beginnings of the Christian Church in its march from east to west, among the Jews first, whose center was Jerusalem; next among the Gentiles, with Antioch for its headquarters; finally, its banner is seen waving over imperial Rome, foretokening its universal triumphs. That distinguished apostle whose conversion,... read more
5. Ministry in Rome 28:16-31Luke’s purpose in recording Paul’s ministry in Rome included vindicating God’s promises to Paul that he would bear witness there (Acts 23:11; Acts 27:24). Even though a church already existed there, Paul’s ministry in Rome was significant in Luke’s purpose because he was the apostle to the Gentiles. The apostle to the Gentiles was now able to minister in the heart of the Gentile world."Gentiles saw Rome as the center of the earth." [Note: Ibid., p. 726.] read more
D. The extension of the church to Rome 19:21-28:31"The panel is introduced by the programmatic statement of Acts 19:21-22 and concludes with the summary statement of Acts 28:31. Three features immediately strike the reader in this sixth panel: (1) the disproportionate length of the panel, including one-third of the total material of Acts; (2) the prominence given the speeches of Paul in his defense; and (3) the dominance of the ’we’ sections in the narrative portions (cf. Acts 20:5-15; Acts... read more
Paul’s second conference with the Jewish leaders 28:23-29 read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 28:31
Acts 28:31. Preaching the kingdom of God,— In consequence of St. Paul's sermons and instructions, many converts were doubtless made under divine grace; and this confinement, which seemed to have so discouraging an aspect, was on the whole a means of promoting the gospel. Many of his retired hours were also employed in corresponding with the Christian churches, and writing several of those excellent epistles, which have proved so great a blessing to the most distant ages. The Epistle to the... read more