Acts 28:29Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In presenting the teaching, he found it necessary to touch upon his own circumstances. He supposed that they were at least somewhat known to them, and therefore needed to remove suspicion. But he learned that the Roman Jews had not heard about him. When Paul declared that he was bound for the hope of Israel, they asked him to unfold his thoughts on this matter. "We have heard," they said, "that there is much dispute about this teaching." Paul appointed a day and set forth to them the teaching concerning the Kingdom of God. He proved from Moses and the Prophets that Jesus is the true Messiah. But his preaching found faith in few, and he had to repeat Isaiah's rebuke to his contemporaries (Acts 28:26-28).

When it thus became clear that the preaching about Christ found little acceptance in the hearts of the Roman Jews, Paul spoke to them as they were leaving him. He said that they had once more proved in themselves the justice of the words of the Prophet Isaiah (Is 6:9 and following). By inspiration from the Spirit of God, Isaiah portrayed the hearts of the people of his nation as grown coarse, even to the point of being unable to hear the word of truth. Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it. At the beginning of his conversation with the Jews the Apostle did not state this truth openly. He did not touch upon it, condescending to their spiritual weakness. But when he saw their hardness, he testified to it directly and solemnly. When he had said this, the Jews departed, disputing among themselves still more intensely.

From that time onward the Apostle Paul went his own way, making no further dealings with his obstinate kinsmen.

"Disputing much," as in verse 25, only still more strongly.

The Apostle's declaration that all saving blessings had been granted to the Gentiles finally turned the Jews away from further attention to Paul. They left him, and as they went they disputed much. This showed that the Apostle's preaching had touched them very deeply, though it had not affected all in the same way. According to St. John Chrysostom's explanation, when the Apostle points to the Gentiles, he "again stirs them to emulation (see Rom 9). Salvation was justly handed over to the Gentiles. He was justly sent far away, to speak there to the Gentiles. But observe: here also he first calls the Jews and explains the matter to them. Only afterward does he turn to the Gentiles, so that the Jews' malice might be revealed.