20. For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.’
21. They replied, ‘We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you.
22. But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.’
23. They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus.
24. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.
25. They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: ‘The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
26. ‘ “Go to this people and say,‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.’
27. For this people’s heart has become calloused;they hardly hear with their ears,and they have closed their eyes.Otherwise they might see with their eyes,hear with their ears,understand with their heartsand turn, and I would heal them.”
28. ‘Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!’ [29]
30. For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.
31. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ – with all boldness and without hindrance!Footnotes for the Book of Actsa 4 Or languages; also in verse 11b 9 That is, the Roman province by that namec 21 Joel 2:28-32d 23 Or of those not having the law (that is, Gentiles)e 28 Psalm 16:8-11 (see Septuagint)f 35 Psalm 110:1a 11 Psalm 118:22b 26 That is, Messiah or Christc 26 Psalm 2:1,2a 3 Gen. 12:1b 7 Gen. 15:13,14c 18 Exodus 1:8d 20 Or was fair in the sight of Gode 28 Exodus 2:14f 32 Exodus 3:6g 34 Exodus 3:5,7,8,10h 37 Deut. 18:15i 40 Exodus 32:1j 43 Amos 5:25-27 (see Septuagint)k 46 Some early manuscripts the house of Jacobl 50 Isaiah 66:1,2a 29 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culturea 16 Or ina 18 Some manuscripts he cared for themb 33 Psalm 2:7c 34 Isaiah 55:3d 35 Psalm 16:10 (see Septuagint)e 41 Hab. 1:5f 47 The Greek is singular.g 47 Isaiah 49:6a 14 Greek Simeon, a variant of Simon; that is, Peterb 17 Amos 9:11,12 (see Septuagint)c 17,18 Some manuscripts things’ – / 18the Lord’s work is known to him from long agod 34 Some manuscripts include here But Silas decided to remain there.a 5 Or the assembly of the peopleb 28 From the Cretan philosopher Epimenidesc 28 From the Cilician Stoic philosopher Aratusa 2 Or afterb 6 Or other languagesc 19 A drachma was a silver coin worth about a day’s wages.d 21 Or decided in the Spirita 40 Or possibly Hebrew; also in 22:2a 5 Exodus 22:28b 23 The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.a 14 Or Hebrewa 27 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)b 29 Some manuscripts include here After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.