The second meeting with the Jews

“When they had set a day for Paul, people came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. Some were being persuaded by the things said by Paul, but others would not believe.” (1) On a later day, a larger number of Jews came to Paul’s house. This was the second meeting between Paul and the Jewish leaders. Paul spoke from morning until evening. (2) The central theme of Paul’s message was the Kingdom of God. He testified about the Kingdom of God, referring specifically to the Messianic Kingdom. Using the Hebrew Scriptures, Paul sought to convince the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. (3) The Jewish response was not what Paul had hoped for. (a) Some believed. (b) Some refused to believe. As the Jews were about to leave, disagreeing among themselves, Paul said to them: “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say, “You will keep on hearing, and will not understand; And you will keep on seeing, and will not perceive; For the hearts of this people have become insensitive, And with their ears they hardly hear, And they have closed their eyes…”’” At their departure, Paul quoted Isaiah 6:9-10. (1) In Isaiah’s time, the Jews did not believe. (2) In Paul’s time, the Jews still did not believe. (3) Even now, in the 21st century, the majority of Jews refuse to believe in Jesus. “Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.” This passage marks the climax of the Acts of the Apostles. (1) The Jews rejected the gospel. (2) As a result, the gospel was sent to the Gentiles. At this moment, let us once again recall the writing plan of Acts (Acts 1:8). “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.” The spread of the gospel, which began in Jerusalem, reached the ends of the earth through Paul’s ministry. We are placed along that same continuum. God is still at work today, fulfilling His plan. Blessed are those who have a biblical view of history.