Acts 28:23

Acts 28:23 says, And when they had appointed him a day, there came many unto him into his lodging, to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from morning until evening.  Paul based his beliefs on the Scriptures, and so must we.  In order to do that, we must have a deep knowledge of what the Scriptures say.  Had Paul been speaking from a superficial understanding of the Scriptures, he would have soon run out of things to proclaim, or he wouldn't have been able to relate it all to Christ.  Our witness should always be consistent with the teaching of the Bible, and we should be able to declare that truth all day long if necessary.  Verse twenty-four adds, And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. As always, some of the people believed and some didn't.  The gospel divides people into those who believe God and those who refuse to believe, and always will.  No matter how in depth we get in our witnessing to people, some are never going to believe. Some people today are going to view Christianity as a cult or just another of many religions, and are going to treat Christians as though they are ignorant to believe such myths, and some will do all they can to stop the spread of the gospel.  We need more people like Paul today, who know what the Scriptures teach, live under the authority and power of the gospel, and will never back away, no matter the cost. Verse twenty-five continues, And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,  Paul is still under arrest and still witnessing. First, the Jewish leaders decided to leave, some believing and some not. Paul had one last thing to share with them before they left.  He said well spoke the Holy Ghost by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet to our fathers.  He wasn't telling them some new thing.  As a Jew, they shared a common ancestry.  As Christians today, we share an ancestry not by physical birth, but by rebirth into the family of God.  In our spiritual family, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.  Verse twenty-six states, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:  Paul said the Holy Ghost through Isaiah said of their fathers, hearing they would not understand and seeing they would not perceive.  Verse twenty-seven adds, For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Paul said the Jewish peoples hearts were waxed gross, their ears grown dull of hearing and their eyes were shut, lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart and be converted, and God would heal them. Today, so many people refuse to listen to the gospel and see the reality of God because they have closed their heart and mind to anything related to God, so they remain unhealed in their relationship to God. Verse twenty-eight continues, Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. Since the Jews, God's chosen people, refused to listen to the gospel, it was going to be presented to the Gentiles, and they would hear it.  The Gentiles would be us, but like the Jews in Paul's day and most since, many have closed their heart to God.  Paul is still under arrest and still witnessing. First, the Jewish leaders decided to leave, some believing and some not. Paul had one last thing to share with them before they left.  He said well spoke the Holy Ghost by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet to our fathers.  He wasn't telling them some new thing.  As a Jew, they shared a common ancestry.  As Christians today, we share an ancestry not by physical birth, but by rebirth into the family of God.  In our spiritual family, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. Verse twenty-nine says, And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.  The Jews left Paul with great reasoning among themselves.  This does not mean they had accepted Christ through reasoning, but they were still arguing about what Paul had said.  We cannot reason our way to salvation but must simply act in faith.  Verse thirty adds, And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him. Paul remained there for two whole years, in his own hired house, though still not free.  Verse thirty-one concludes, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Paul received all who came to him and continued to preach the gospel with all confidence, and no one forbade him from preaching and teaching.  Wherever we are, our task is to preach and teach about Jesus.  May we be as faithful as Paul was.