Acts 28 25

Acts 28:25 kjv

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,

Acts 28:25 nkjv

So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,

Acts 28:25 niv

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:

Acts 28:25 esv

And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

Acts 28:25 nlt

And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: "The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,

Acts 28 verses

Acts 28 25 Meaning

After the Jewish leaders in Rome showed a divided and largely unbelieving response to Paul's teaching, Paul issued a final, definitive statement. This statement condemned their spiritual stubbornness by appealing to a powerful prophecy from the prophet Isaiah, stating that it was the Holy Spirit Himself who spoke this word through Isaiah to their ancestors, and it perfectly describes their present inability to truly hear and understand God's message.

Acts 28 25 Context

Acts chapter 28 recounts the final documented stages of Paul's journey to Rome. Having endured shipwreck and Viper Island, Paul finally arrives in the imperial capital, initially under house arrest. As was his custom throughout his ministry, his first action was to summon the local Jewish leaders (Acts 28:17) to explain his situation and present the Gospel. For a full day (Acts 28:23), Paul expounded on the Kingdom of God, reasoning with them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. The outcome was mixed: "some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not" (Acts 28:24). It is this disagreement and partial rejection that directly precedes and prompts Paul's concluding and pivotal statement in verse 25, marking a significant transition in the apostolic mission from a primary focus on the Jews to an explicit turn towards the Gentiles. Historically, this encounter in Rome signifies the climactic moment of Paul's consistent pattern: offering the Gospel to the Jews first, and when met with widespread unbelief, shifting the mission decisively towards the Gentile world. This aligns with Paul's understanding of a long-standing pattern of resistance to God's word within Israel, a pattern already identified by their ancient prophets.

Acts 28 25 Word analysis

• And when they agreed not (ἀσυμφῶνους):

  • Meaning: Not in harmony, disagreeing, at variance.
  • Significance: This highlights a significant division among the Jewish leaders themselves, not a monolithic rejection. Even within the Jewish community, the Gospel created a decisive split, demonstrating its power to distinguish belief from unbelief.

• among themselves, they departed (ἀπελύοντο):

  • Meaning: They were released, dismissed, went their separate ways.
  • Significance: Implies a definitive end to the meeting. Their departure after failing to reach a unified conclusion underscores Paul's imminent, profound pronouncement.

• after that Paul had spoken one word (ῥῆμα ἕν):

  • Meaning: A single, distinct, or pivotal utterance. "Rhema" refers to a spoken word, a saying, or a declaration, emphasizing the specific and authoritative nature of what Paul said.
  • Significance: Paul's statement was not a lengthy discourse but a concise, cutting declaration, meant to punctuate the situation and serve as a final word on their divided response. It underscores its gravity and decisiveness.

• Well spake (Καλῶς ἐλάλησεν):

  • Meaning: Spoke rightly, aptly, excellently, or appropriately. "Kalōs" means beautifully, rightly, truly. "Elalēsen" is the aorist indicative, denoting a completed action.
  • Significance: This is a strong affirmation of divine inspiration and accuracy. Paul isn't just quoting; he is validating the enduring truth and application of the ancient prophecy, emphasizing that it precisely fits their current spiritual state.

• the Holy Ghost (τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον):

  • Meaning: The divine Spirit. "Pneuma" (Spirit) and "hagion" (holy) clearly designate the third person of the Trinity.
  • Significance: Paul attributes the words of Isaiah directly to the Holy Spirit. This highlights the divine inspiration of Scripture (specifically Isaiah's prophecy) and reinforces the authority behind his pronouncement. It elevates the prophecy from merely human words to God's own declaration. This is a common affirmation in the New Testament that Old Testament prophecies are Spirit-breathed.

• by Esaias the prophet (Ἠσαΐας ὁ προφήτης):

  • Meaning: The prophet Isaiah. Isaiah lived in the 8th century BC and prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem, particularly regarding impending judgment and future restoration through the Messiah.
  • Significance: This identifies the specific source of the prophecy. Isaiah is a key prophetic voice whose writings are replete with prophecies concerning Israel's spiritual condition, God's judgment, and ultimately, salvation for both Israel and the nations. Quoting Isaiah shows that their present rejection of the Gospel is not new but is part of a recurring pattern foreseen by God.

• unto our fathers (πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν):

  • Meaning: To their ancestors, referring to previous generations of Israelites. "Patēr" (father), "hēmon" (our).
  • Significance: This emphasizes the continuity of spiritual rebellion within Israel throughout history. Paul is asserting that the spiritual deafness and blindness of his contemporary Jewish audience are a continuation of a pattern that afflicted their ancestors, precisely as foretold by the Holy Spirit through Isaiah. It connects their current unbelief directly to a historical lineage of resistance to God's divine revelation.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "when they agreed not... they departed": This phrase marks a pivotal moment, showing the failure of persuasion and the ensuing division. It sets the stage for Paul's final, authoritative word.
  • "after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost": This pairing demonstrates the immediate, decisive nature of Paul's pronouncement. It reveals Paul's direct attribution of Isaiah's ancient prophecy to the immediate inspiration of the Holy Spirit, affirming the divine origin and timeless relevance of the scripture.
  • "by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers": This connects the current unbelief in Paul's day directly to a historical pattern within Israel. It shows that the spiritual blindness witnessed by Paul was not unforeseen, but accurately prophesied centuries ago by a prophet whom God specifically inspired to speak to the forefathers of those very Jews. This historical continuity provides a solemn justification for Paul's subsequent actions regarding the Gentiles.

Acts 28 25 Bonus section

• The Weight of Isaiah 6:9-10: This specific prophecy, originally a commission to Isaiah, is the most frequently cited Old Testament passage in the New Testament when explaining Jewish rejection of God's message (seen in all four Gospels, John and Romans, as well as Acts). Its repetition underscores a divinely foreseen and persistent pattern of spiritual deafness among certain segments of Israel throughout their history, acting as a crucial interpretative lens for their lack of embrace of the Messiah.
• Paul's Empathy vs. Sternness: While Paul makes a definitive statement, his previous actions in Acts 28:17-23 (explaining his situation, reasoning for a whole day) show his genuine desire for the Jewish leaders to understand. His "one word" is not one of anger, but of lament mixed with sober divine interpretation and a prophetic announcement of a shift in the mission's focus. It's a statement born of sadness and theological understanding rather than purely personal frustration.
• The Shifting Emphasis of Acts: This verse provides a thematic conclusion to the overarching narrative of Acts: the Gospel initially preached to the Jews first (Acts 1:8, beginning in Jerusalem and Judea), but upon their consistent and widespread rejection, moves definitively to the Gentiles (culminating with Paul's proclamation that salvation is sent to them). While not all Jews rejected Christ, this verse marks a significant final public turning point for the Apostolic mission documented in Acts.
• Foreknowledge and Human Responsibility: The fact that the Holy Spirit prophesied this through Isaiah "unto our fathers" (foreknowledge) does not negate the human responsibility of those who refuse to believe. They still had a choice. The prophecy describes a spiritual condition and pattern of response, but individuals are still accountable for their personal unbelief.

Acts 28 25 Commentary

Acts 28:25 stands as a critical juncture in the book of Acts and in the narrative of the early Church's mission. Faced with a divided yet ultimately largely unyielding response from the Jewish leaders in Rome, Paul invokes Isaiah 6:9-10. This is not a casual citation, but a profound theological declaration by which Paul interprets their present unbelief as the fulfillment of a long-standing prophecy concerning Israel's spiritual obduracy. By explicitly stating "Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet," Paul powerfully affirms the divine inspiration and contemporary relevance of Isaiah's ancient words. This highlights that their current state of hearing without understanding and seeing without perceiving is not random, but part of a prophetic plan and a pattern of historical resistance to God's voice within Israel. It explains why, despite fervent preaching and irrefutable signs, many remained closed to the Gospel. This declaration prepares the ground for Paul's subsequent turning to the Gentiles (Acts 28:28), asserting that God's plan of salvation will proceed, even if through a new conduit due to the continued unbelief of many from Israel. The "one word" of Paul here acts as a prophetic lament and a strategic declaration, paving the way for the Gospel's undeniable trajectory towards the nations.