Acts 28:23

Acts 28:23

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to 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 till evening.

a. NLT: So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening.

b. NIV: 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.

c. YLT: and having appointed him a day, they came, more of them unto him, to the lodging, to whom he was expounding, testifying fully the reign of God, persuading them also of the things concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses, and the prophets, from morning till evening,

d. Amplified Bible: So when they had set a day with him, they came in large numbers to his lodging. And he fully set forth and explained the matter to them from morning until night, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

e. Worrell Translation: And, having arranged for him a day, there came to him to his lodging a greater number, to whom he was expounding, fully testifying as to the Kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening.

1. “And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging…”

a. And [1161 * de] [Strong:  a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. when they had appointed [5021 * tasso] [Strong:   a prolonged form of a primary verb (which latter appears only in certain tenses); to arrange in an orderly manner, i.e. assign or dispose (to a certain position or lot):--addict, appoint, determine, ordain, set.]

c. him [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

d. a day [2250 * hemera] [Strong: feminine (with 5610 implied) of a derivative of hemai (to sit; akin to the base of 1476) meaning tame, i.e. gentle; day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context):--age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.]

e. there came [2240 * heko] [Strong: a primary verb; to arrive, i.e. be present (literally or figuratively):--come.]

f. many [4119 * pleion] [Strong: more in quantity, number, or quality; also (in plural) the major portion:--X above, + exceed, more excellent, further, (very) great(-er), long(-er), (very) many, greater (more) part, + yet but.]

g. to [4314 * pros] [Strong: a strengthened form of 4253; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.]

h. him [846 * autos] See “him” above.

i. into [1519 * eis] [Strong:  a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

j. his lodging [3578 * xenia] [Strong:   from 3581; hospitality, i.e. (by implication) a place of entertainment:--lodging.]

1). These were the Jewish leaders that Paul had already met with three days after he had arrived in Rome, but only to set up this appointment with is the subject of the verse. The initial visit was to introduce himself to them, as is shown in Acts 28:17-22 below.

a). Acts 28:17-22  And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

28:18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

28:19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

28:20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

28:21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.

28:22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

2). In the text it is referring to an appointed day where they could come to meet with him and hear his case, which it shows many did come.

2. “…to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God…”

a. to whom [3739 * hos] [Strong: including feminine he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

b. he expounded [1620 * ektithemi; ek-out; tithemi-to put][Thayer: to place or set out, put outside, expose, to set up, exhibit, metaphorically to set forth, declare, expound.][Strong: to expose; figuratively, to declare:--cast out, expound.]

c. and testified [1263 * diamartyromai; dia-an intensive; marturomai- to witness.][Thayer: to testify, earnestly, religiously to charge, to attest, testify to, solemnly affirm, to give solemn testimony to one, to confirm a thing by testimony, to testify, cause it to be believed.]

d. the kingdom [932 * basiliea] [Strong: from 935; properly, royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively):--kingdom, + reign.]

e. of? [5037 * te] [Strong: a primary particle (enclitic) of connection or addition; both or also (properly, as correlation of 2532):--also, and, both, even, then, whether. Often used in composition, usually as the latter participle.]

f. God [2316 * theos] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

1). Paul expounded and testified to them of the kingdom of God. In his testifying he no doubt gave his own example of Jesus gloriously appearing to him on the road to Damascus: Acts 9:1-18; Acts 26:13-18. He no doubt gave examples of God moving in the supernatural among the Gentiles, such as the healing of the man at Lystra, Acts 14:8-10; the casting out of the demon out of the slave girl in Philippi and the supernatural earthquake that followed their imprisonment, Acts 16:16-40; the supernatural manifestations that occurred on the island of Melita after their shipwreck, Acts 28:1-10.

2). The kingdom of God is the arena where the Holy Ghost empowers believers to operate in the supernatural in this world, following the example of Christ Jesus. Jesus clearly set the Pharisees straight in his rebuke of them.

a). Matthew 12:25-28 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

3. “…persuading them concerning Jesus…”

a. persuading [3982 * peitho] [Strong: a primary verb; to convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively, to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty):--agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) conflent, make friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield.]

b. them [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

c. concerning [4012 * peri] [Strong: from the base of 4008; properly, through (all over), i.e. around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period):--(there-)about, above, against, at, on behalf of, X and his company, which concern, (as) concerning, for, X how it will go with, ((there-, where-)) of, on, over, pertaining (to), for sake, X (e-)state, (as) touching, (where-)by (in), with. In comparative, it retains substantially the same meaning of circuit (around), excess (beyond), or completeness (through).]

d. Jesus [2424 * Iesous] [Strong: of Hebrew origin (3091); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus.]

4. “…both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets…”

a. both [5037 * te] [Strong: a primary particle (enclitic) of connection or addition; both or also (properly, as correlation of 2532):--also, and, both, even, then, whether. Often used in composition, usually as the latter participle.]

b. out of [575 * apo] [Strong: a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):--(X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.]

c. the law [3551 * nomos] [Strong: from a primary nemo (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):--law.]

d. of Moses [3475 *  Moseus or Moses or Mouses] [Strong: of Hebrew origin; (4872); Moseus, Moses, or Mouses (i.e. Mosheh), the Hebrew lawgiver:--Moses.]

e. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

f. the prophets [4396 * prophetes] [Strong: from a compound of 4253 and 5346; a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet:--prophet.]

1). The examples no doubt were similar to what Jesus himself gave the two disciples on the road to Emmaus immediately after his resurrection. David H. Stearn’s Jewish New Testament lists over 50 Old Testament promises fulfilled in Christ Jesus, that Jesus surely listed. (I posted them in my notes in Luke 24:27). These were promises out of the Scripture that Paul surely shared with the Jewish leaders. Here is only a few of Stearn’s list.

a). Be the “seed of the woman” that would “bruise” or “crush” the serpent’s “head”. Source: Genesis 3:15. Fulfillment Galatians 4:4; 1 John 3:8.

b). Have eternal existence. Source: Micah 5:1, 2. Fulfillment: John 1:1, 14; John 8:58; Ephesians 1:3-14; Colossians 1:15-19; Revelation 1:18.

c). Have God’s own name, Y-H-V-H (Adonai), applied to Him. Source: Isaiah 9:5-7; Jeremiah 23:5, 6. Fulfillment: Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:9-11.

d). Come at a specific time, 69 x 7 years (483 years) after the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. Source: Daniel 9:24-26. Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1; Matthew 2:16, 19; Luke 3:1, 23.

e). Born in Bethlehem in Judah. Source: Micah 5:1, 2. Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7.

f). Born of a virgin. Source: Isaiah 7:14. Fulfillment: Matthew 1:18; Matthew 2:1; Luke 1:26-35.

g). Be a prophet like Moses. Source: Deuteronomy 18:15, 18. Fulfillment: Acts 3:20-22.

h). Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Source: Zachariah 9:9. Fulfillment: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11.

i). Enter the Temple with authority. Source: Haggai 2:7-9; Malachi 3:1. Fulfillment: Matthew21:12; Matthew 24:1; Luke 2:27-38, 45-50; John 2:13-22.

j). Be rejected by Jewish leadership. Source: Psalm 118:22. Fulfillment: Matthew 21:42; John 7:48.

k). Betrayd by a friend. Source: Psalm 41:9; Psalm 55:12-15. Fulfillment: Matthew 26:21-25, 47-50; John 13:18-21; Acts 1:16-18.

l). Sold for 30 pieces of silver. Source: Zechariah 11:12. Fulfillment: Matthew 26:15.

m). Executed by crucifixion. Source: Psalm 22:16, 17; Zechariah 12:10. Fulfillment: Matthew 27:35; Luke 24:39: John 19:18, 34-37; John 20:20-28; Revelation 1:7.

(1) The Septuagint has: “They pierced my hands and my feet,” implying the Hebrew word karu in its source text. The Mesoretic Hebrew Text, accepted as standard in traditional Judaism, has k’ari, and the line reads, “Like a lion, my hands and my feet.”

n). Executed without having a broken bone. Source: Exodus 12:46; Psalm 34:20, 21. Fulfillment: John 19:33-36.

o). Raised from the dead. Source: Isaiah 53:9, 10; Psalm 2:7; Psalm 16:10.

Fulfillment: Matthew 28:1-20; Acts 2:23-36; 13:33-37; 1 Corinthians 11:4-6.

p). Sought after by Jews and Gentiles. Source: Isaiah 11:10; 42:1. Fulfillment: Acts 10:45

q). Accepted by Gentiles. Source: Isaiah 11:10; 42:1-4; 49:1-12. Fulfillment: Matthew 12:21; Romans 15:10.

2). Because Paul was a Jewish rabbi and taught out of some Midrash material, I have to list a few that I am aware of from the Scriptures. All of the instances are teachings out of Jewish tradition, but are included in the inspired word of the New Testament, therefore they are true. Three are mentioned by Paul and one by James.

a). The Rock that followed Israel in the desert which was their water source, 1 Corinthians 10:4.

b). The Law given to Israel at Sinai by angels, Hebrews 2:2; Acts 7:53.

c). The names of the magicians in Pharaoh’s court, 2 Timothy 3:8.

d). Elijah’s prayer before the beginning and end of the famine, James 5:17, 18

4. “…from morning till evening.”

a. from [575 * apo] [Strong: a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):--(X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.]

b. morning [4404 * proi] [Strong: adverb from 4253; at dawn; by implication, the day-break watch:--early (in the morning), (in the) morning.]

c. till [2193 * heos] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place):--even (until, unto), (as) far (as), how long, (un-)til(-l), (hither-, un-, up) to, while(-s).]

d. evening [2073 * hespera] [Strong: feminine of an adjective hesperos (evening); the eve (5610 being implied):--evening(-tide).]

1). This intensive Bible Study lasted from morning till evening. I would love to have had a recording of that study. This is not the only time Paul spent long hours over the word. Before his arrest when he was on his way toward Jerusalem Paul’s group stopped at Troas and stayed 5 days. On Sunday, the day before they were to continue on their journey, the disciples got together to break bread and Paul preached until midnight, when his message was interrupted by one of the group who fell asleep and fell out of the window. After the emergency was over, Paul still talked with the group of disciples until the breaking of day, no doubt the conversation was about the Scriptures.

a). Acts 20:6-12  And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

20:8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

20:9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.

20:10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.

20:11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

20:12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.