18. They looked into the charges against me and wanted to release me. They found that I had not done anything deserving death.
19. The Jewish leaders disagreed, so I asked to be tried by the Emperor.But I don't have anything to say against my own nation.
20. I am bound by these chains because of what we people of Israel hope for. That's why I have called you here to talk about this hope of ours.
21. The leaders replied, “No one from Judea has written us a letter about you. And not one of them has come here to report on you or to say anything against you.
22. But we would like to hear what you have to say. We understand that people everywhere are against this new group.”
23. They agreed on a time to meet with Paul, and many of them came to his house. From early morning until late in the afternoon, Paul talked to them about God's kingdom. He used the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets to try to win them over to Jesus.
24. Some of the leaders agreed with what Paul said, but others did not.
25. Since they could not agree among themselves, they started leaving. But Paul said, “The Holy Spirit said the right thing when he sent Isaiah the prophet
26. to tell our ancestors,‘Go to these peopleand tell them:You will listen and listen,but never understand.You will look and look,but never see.