Acts 28:23 When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening. 24 Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 When they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one word, “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying,
‘Go to this people and say,
in hearing, you will hear,
but will in no way understand.
In seeing, you will see,
but will in no way perceive.
27 For this people’s heart has grown callous.
Their ears are dull of hearing.
Their eyes they have closed.
Lest they should see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their heart,
and would turn again,
then I would heal them.’ Isaiah 6:9-10
28 “Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the nations, and they will listen.”
29 When he had said these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.
On the appointed day many curious Jews showed up. Paul spent the whole day, from morning until evening explaining to them how all of the Scriptures from Genesis to Malachi pointed to Christ. He explained how Christ was the fulfillment of the Promise first made to Adam, that one born of woman would enter into mortal combat with and defeat the ancient dragon Satan. He explained how Christ was the perfect Lamb of God sacrificed for the sins of the world. He explained how Christ was the perfect prophet, priest, and King through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed. In short Paul most likely explained all of the things that had been written in the book of Hebrews.
Some of the Jews had their eyes opened to the true meaning of the grand sweep of the Scriptures and came to faith. They came to see the things that the prophets longed to see but did not, and they heard the things that the prophets longed to hear but did not. Matthew 13:17
However, some of the Jews refused to believe,
As the disbelieving Jews prepared to leave, Paul left them with one final admonition; one final parting shot. He stated that the Holy Spirit sure got it right when He spoke through the prophet Isaiah.
‘Go to this people and say,
in hearing, you will hear,
but will in no way understand.
In seeing, you will see,
but will in no way perceive.
27 For this people’s heart has grown callous.
Their ears are dull of hearing.
Their eyes they have closed.
Lest they should see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their heart,
and would turn again,
then I would heal them.’ Isaiah 6:9-10
Do you understand what Paul did here?
In a warning that would most assuredly be judged by many of today’s Church leaders as harsh, intolerant, and unloving, Paul, through the Holy Spirit, quoting the very words of God, said, if you refuse to believe the truth that the Scriptures teach from beginning to end, if you refuse to believe in the Covenants of the Promise, Ephesians 2:12, Hebrews 6:13, if you reject Jesus Christ the Messiah, you are callous toward the God you claim to serve. You are dull. Your eyes are closed and you are going through life being willfully blind. You lack understanding. Deaf, dumb, and blind is no way to go through life. You are rejecting the Messiah who alone can bring you the forgiveness of sins, the healing that you require, and grant you everlasting life.
As we have seen Paul was compassionate, healing the sick, reasoning with people day and night, so that they would come to accept Christ as the Messiah, pleading with people to repent, arguing for the truth from the Scriptures, pouring his life into the work of opening everyone’s eyes to the truth, but when, after months of work or hours of conversation, people refused to believe, Paul sternly warned them of the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1:10
Why did Paul often warn and call to repentance?
Because: Satan’s greatest success is in making people think they have plenty of time before they die to consider their eternal welfare. (John Owen, “Meditations on the Glory of Christ”, Banner of Truth, 2021)
To counter Satan: The preacher’s work is to throw sinners down in utter helplessness that they might be compelled to look up to Him who alone can help them. (Charles Spurgeon, “The Soul Winner”, Aneko Press, 2016)
To do this requires courage: This is certainly no time for weak men, weak messages, and weak ministries. What is needed is moral strength, and courage, and uncompromising proclamation of the truth that can set people free. (John MacArthur, “Fundamental Christian Attitudes: Strength”, gty.org, 11-17-1997)
Acts 28:30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house and received all who were coming to him, 31 preaching God’s Kingdom, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. Luke ends his history of the early Church with Paul under house arrest teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.
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