Acts 28 23

Acts 28:23 kjv

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.

Acts 28:23 nkjv

So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.

Acts 28:23 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.

Acts 28:23 esv

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.

Acts 28:23 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.

Acts 28 verses

Acts 28 23 Meaning

Acts 28:23 describes the significant gathering Paul held upon his arrival in Rome. After arranging a specific day, a considerable number of Jewish leaders and others came to his lodging. During this lengthy meeting, which lasted from morning until evening, Paul diligently "expounded" (explained thoroughly) and "testified" (solemnly affirmed with conviction) about the "kingdom of God." His core objective was "persuading them concerning Jesus," demonstrating how the identity and mission of Jesus of Nazareth were fully substantiated "both out of the Law of Moses and out of the Prophets," meaning the entire Jewish Old Testament Scriptures. This verse captures Paul's unwavering commitment to evangelism and apologetics, employing Scripture as his primary tool even while under house arrest.

Acts 28 23 Context

Acts 28:23 takes place early in Paul's two-year imprisonment in Rome, which is detailed at the end of the Book of Acts. Paul had arrived in Rome as a prisoner, fulfilling his long-cherished desire (Rom 1:10-11, 15:23). Although a prisoner, he was granted relatively liberal house arrest (Acts 28:16), allowing him to receive visitors. This particular verse describes Paul's immediate initiative upon settling in Rome: his primary concern was to preach the Gospel. Before engaging with Gentiles, consistent with his established pattern and the "to the Jew first" principle (Rom 1:16), he sent for the leading Jews of the city (Acts 28:17) to explain his situation and present his case for Christ. Verse 23 details the extensive and formal meeting that resulted from this invitation, highlighting Paul's passionate and diligent communication of the Gospel through the lens of their shared sacred texts.

Acts 28 23 Word analysis

• And when they had appointed him a day,
  • appointed (ταξαμένων, taxamenōn): This is a middle participle, meaning "having arranged for themselves" or "having fixed/set." It suggests the Jews, after their initial discussion with Paul (Acts 28:17-22), collectively agreed upon a specific time to hear more from him, implying a structured and anticipated meeting.
  • a day (ἡμέραν, hēmeran): Not just a casual drop-in, but a designated day set aside for a deliberate session of teaching and discussion.
• there came many to him into his lodging;
  • many (πλείονες, pleiones): Literally "more" or "a greater number." It indicates a considerable group gathered, not just a few curious individuals, suggesting initial interest and possibly an authoritative representation of the Jewish community in Rome.
  • his lodging (ξενίαν, xenian): Refers to Paul's rented house where he was kept under guard (Acts 28:16). It means a "guest house" or "place of lodging," highlighting his continued imprisonment yet the relative freedom he had to receive visitors in his dwelling.
• to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God,
  • expounded (ἐξετίθετο, exetitheto): An imperfect tense, suggesting continuous or repeated action, meaning he was "setting forth, explaining in detail, presenting comprehensively." It speaks to a systematic and reasoned unpacking of the topic.
  • testified (διαμαρτυρόμενος, diamartyromenos): A present participle, indicating ongoing action, meaning "solemnly testifying, bearing full witness, earnestly affirming." This implies a forceful and persuasive declaration born of conviction, not merely an academic explanation. It's a legal and spiritual attestation.
  • the kingdom of God (τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ, tēn basileian tou theou): The central theme of Jesus' own preaching. It refers to God's sovereign rule, which has broken into history through Christ, manifesting spiritually in His reign over believers now, and to be fully realized in His future coming. It is a present spiritual reality and a future eschatological hope, signifying God's authoritative reign and salvation plan.
• persuading them concerning Jesus,
  • persuading (πείθων, peithōn): Present participle, indicating active, ongoing effort to "convince, bring over, prevail upon." Paul wasn't just informing; he was aiming for a change of mind and heart leading to belief.
  • concerning Jesus (περὶ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, peri tou Iēsou): Jesus Himself is the central figure and focus of Paul's persuasion. It highlights that the "kingdom of God" is inherently linked to and realized through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Paul showed how Jesus fits into God's sovereign plan.
• both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets,
  • Law of Moses (τοῦ νόμου Μωϋσέως, tou nomou Mōyseōs): Refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, foundational to Jewish faith, containing the Law, covenant, and early history.
  • prophets (τῶν προφητῶν, tōn prophētōn): Refers to the Nevi'im, the section of the Hebrew Bible containing historical narratives from the prophets and major/minor prophetic books. This phrase together with "Law of Moses" encompasses the entire Jewish Old Testament, signifying Paul's appeal to their authoritative scriptures. This demonstrates Paul's conviction that the Gospel is not new but is the culmination and fulfillment of ancient Jewish prophecies and promises.
• from morning till evening.
  • from morning till evening (ἀπὸ πρωῒ ἕως ἑσπέρας, apo proi heōs hesperas): Literally "from early morning until evening." This denotes the remarkable duration and intensity of the session. It signifies Paul's tireless dedication, the visitors' sustained interest, and the depth of the exposition required to cover such a profound topic from the entirety of the Hebrew Scriptures. It was an exhaustive, uninterrupted day of teaching and discourse.

Acts 28 23 Bonus section

• Paul's consistent ministry: This verse beautifully encapsulates Paul's life mission (Acts 20:25) to preach the Kingdom of God and persuade about Jesus from the Scriptures, even as the book of Acts concludes. His captivity did not hinder the Word of God (2 Tim 2:9).
• The "Kingdom of God" as a unifying theme: Throughout Jesus' ministry and the Apostles' preaching, the "Kingdom of God" served as the overarching theological framework. It encompasses salvation, God's sovereign reign, and the establishment of His righteous rule through Christ, demonstrating continuity from the Old Testament prophets to the New Testament fulfillment.
• The significance of "from morning till evening": This lengthy session speaks volumes about Paul's dedication, stamina, and intellectual prowess, as well as the sincere interest of at least some of his Jewish visitors. It was a rigorous, interactive process of teaching and discussion, emphasizing the seriousness with which the Gospel message was presented and considered.

Acts 28 23 Commentary

Acts 28:23 portrays Paul's consistent apostolic strategy and zeal. Even under house arrest in Rome, his first priority was proclaiming the Gospel. His method was deliberate and systematic: he "expounded" God's kingdom, presenting a thorough, reasoned argument from Scripture, and he "testified," passionately bearing witness to its truth. His goal was not simply intellectual understanding but genuine "persuasion" regarding Jesus, whom he meticulously showed to be the Christ, based on the very "Law of Moses and the Prophets" that his Jewish audience revered. This highlights the foundational role of Old Testament prophecy in early Christian apologetics. The full day's duration underscores Paul's commitment, indicating that presenting the vast biblical narrative concerning God's kingdom and the Messiah required extensive engagement. This episode exemplifies Paul's unwavering focus on preaching Christ as the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan to Jew and Gentile alike, establishing a pattern for evangelism anchored in Scriptural truth and patient exposition.