Paul Appeals to Jews in Rome

“After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them ‘Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans…When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers.  From morning till evening he expounded to them testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and from the prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved…Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”  -Acts 28:17-18, 23-24, 28 (ESV.  Read Acts 28: 17-28).

As was Paul’s custom, into each town where he went he first called together the Jews to speak to them about Jesus and the Way.  Upon his arrival in Rome, three days after settling in, he called a meeting of the Jews, inviting them to his own quarters since he was not free to go to the synagogue as he normally did.  The local leaders were probably the elders of all the synagogues in Rome, of which there were a goodly number.  He first stated his own case:  He was in Rome because of accusations from the Jews in Jerusalem.  Although the Roman authorities in Palestine had declared him innocent of any crime, the Jews were not willing to free him.  He told them of his appeal to Caesar and of why he was now in Rome in chains.  The Jews in Rome had not been notified about Paul the prisoner.  They asked to hear further from him about his beliefs and “the sect…everywhere spoken against.”

So another date was set for them to meet with Paul, and then a great crowd of Jews gathered (more than just the elders from each synagogue). He spent all day testifying to them of Jesus the Messiah, giving appropriate prophecies from the Law and the Prophets.  Some believed; some did not.  The hostility and the wall of partition remained.  Why was it so hard for the Jews to believe in Jesus?  They had their idea of the Messiah ridding them of the Roman overlords and setting up an earthly kingdom with the Jews back in their glory, much as in the time of David and Solomon.  The lowly man from Galilee who was crucified because He claimed to be the Messiah had no kingdom to show, no freedom for the Jews—earth-wise, that is.  His kingdom was a spiritual kingdom made up of genuine believers who were willing to accept the grace of God for the forgiveness of sins.  This was far removed from their preconceived notion of the restored kingdom of David.  Paul quoted Isaiah 6:9-10 to the Jews gathered at his house to hear him.  The passage is quoted by Luke in his account.  They had ears that would not hear, eyes that would not see, hearts dull and void of understanding.  And because of their stubbornness, they would not come to the Lord.  “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” (John 1:11).  Paul then made the declaration that the good news would be taken to the Gentiles; they would hear and respond.   Dr. William Barclay comments on Paul’s meeting with the Jews in Rome:  “The door which the Jews shut was the door that opened to the Gentiles; and even that is not the end, because some time, at the end of the day (age), there will be one flock and one shepherd.” (The Daily Study Bible. Acts.  New York: Westminster, 1955, p. 211).  For further insight into this view, please read Revelation 7:1-8 and 14:1-4.  It is sad that many of the Jews in Rome and even thoughout the world rejected the message of the Way.  But we rejoice that Paul continued his ministry, even as a prisoner, for from his inspired pen came his epistles that give us depth of theology and doctrine that we follow in our churches today.  To God be the glory.