18. The Romans asked me many questions. But they could find no reason why I should be killed. They wanted to let me go free,
19. but the Jews there did not want that. So I had to ask to come to Rome to have my trial before Caesar. But I have no charge to bring against my own people.
20. That is why I wanted to see you and talk with you. I am bound with this chain because I believe in the hope of Israel.”
21. The Jews answered Paul, “We have received no letters from Judea about you. None of our Jewish brothers who have come from there brought news about you or told us anything bad about you.
22. We want to hear your ideas. We know that people everywhere are speaking against this religious group.”
23. Paul and the Jews chose a day for a meeting. On that day many more of the Jews met with Paul at the place he was staying. Paul spoke to them all day long, explaining the kingdom of God to them. He tried to persuade them to believe these things about Jesus. He used the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets to do this.
24. Some of the Jews believed what Paul said, but others did not.
25. So they argued, and the Jews were ready to leave. But Paul said one more thing to them: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet. He said,
26. ‘Go to this people and say:You will listen and listen, but you will not understand.You will look and look, but you will not learn.
27. For these people have become stubborn.They don’t hear with their ears.And they have closed their eyes.Otherwise, they might really understandwhat they see with their eyesand hear with their ears.They might really understand in their minds.If they did this, they would come back to me and be forgiven.’ Isaiah 6:9-10
28. “I want you Jews to know that God has also sent his salvation to the non-Jewish people. They will listen!”
29. [After Paul said this, the Jews left. They were arguing very much with each other.]