‘Go
to this people, and say,
in hearing, you will hear,
but will in no way understand.
In seeing, you will see,
but will in no way perceive.
For this people’s heart has grown callous.
Their ears are dull of hearing.
Their eyes they have closed.
Lest they should see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their heart,
and would turn again,
and I would heal them.’
Acts 28:26-27
Acts 28 [21.] They said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brothers come here and report or speak any evil of you. But we desire to hear from you what you think. For, as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”
Acts 28 [23.] When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening. Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. When they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one word, “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah, the prophet, to our fathers, saying,
‘Go to this people, and say,
in hearing, you will hear,
but will in no way understand.
In seeing, you will see,
but will in no way perceive.
For this people’s heart has grown callous.
Their ears are dull of hearing.
Their eyes they have closed.
Lest they should see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their heart,
and would turn again,
and I would heal them.’
Acts 28 [28.] “Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the nations. They will also listen.”
Meaning:
These are among the last recorded words of Paul in the book of Acts. He had arrived in Rome as a prisoner, awaiting trial before Caesar. He called together the Jewish leaders of the city and spent a whole day “persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets”. Some believed and some did not. As they left, still arguing, Paul quoted the words that God had spoken to Isaiah.
- “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah”
Paul introduces the quotation by saying that the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet. The words were not merely Isaiah’s opinion; they were God’s word. And they had been spoken “to our fathers”, yet were still true in Paul’s day. The same pattern of rejection that Isaiah faced, and that Jesus faced, was now happening again in Rome.
- “In hearing, you will hear, but will in no way understand”
The words come from Isaiah’s call (Isaiah 6:9-10). Isaiah was sent to a people who would listen without understanding. Jesus applied the same prophecy to the crowds who heard his parables but did not grasp them (Matthew 13:14-15). Now Paul applies it to those who had heard a full day of teaching about Jesus and still refused to believe. In all three settings the problem was not lack of evidence but a heart unwilling to receive it.
- “For this people’s heart has grown callous”
A callous heart is hardened and insensitive. Their ears were dull and they had closed their eyes. The prophecy describes a self-chosen blindness. They could have seen, heard and understood, and then they “would turn again, and I would heal them.” God’s desire was always to heal. Their refusal shut the door from their side.
- A turning to the nations
Immediately after this quotation, Paul declared that God’s salvation was being sent to the nations, who would listen. This was not new. Years before, in Pisidian Antioch, Paul and Barnabas had said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you… behold, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46-47). The Good News is “for the Jew first, and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Paul never stopped loving his own people, and in Romans he insists that their rejection is not final (Romans 11:15). Acts ends with Paul in Rome, welcoming all who came to him, still preaching God’s Kingdom with boldness.
The Significance of Acts 28:26-27
- The same warning in every age
From Isaiah to Jesus to Paul, people heard God’s message and turned away. The warning still applies: hearing the gospel is a privilege that calls for a response.
- Keep sharing the message
Paul did not give up because some rejected him. He kept preaching to all who would listen. Rejection by some opens the way for others.
Cross-References:
Isaiah 6:9: "Go, and tell this people, ‘You hear indeed, but don’t understand;" The original prophecy.
Matthew 13:14: "By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand;" Jesus applies the same words.
Romans 1:16: "for the Jew first, and also for the Greek." The gospel for all peoples.
Conclusion: In Rome, after many of the Jewish leaders refused his message about Jesus, Paul quoted Isaiah: they would hear without understanding and see without perceiving, because their hearts had grown callous, or else they would turn and God would heal them. The same words Jesus used about the crowds now explained Paul’s experience, and the message of salvation went out to the nations.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible