Acts 28:17-31 After three days he invited the leading men among the Jews, and when they had assembled, he said to them, "Brethren, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was delivered up as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

Riverside⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁷ After three days he invited the leading men among the Jews, and when they had assembled, he said to them, "Brethren, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was delivered up as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. ¹⁸ They, after investigating my case, wished to set me free because I had done nothing deserving of death. ¹⁹ But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I have any charge to bring against my own nation. ²⁰ For this reason I have invited you to see me and talk with me; because it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I have this chain around me." ²¹ They said to him, "We on our part have received no letters about you from Judaea nor has any one of the brethren come and reported or spoken anything evil of you. ²² We think it well to hear from you what your views are; for as to this sect we know that it is everywhere spoken against." ²³ They appointed a day for him and many came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying to the kingdom of God, trying to persuade them concerning Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from early morning until evening. ²⁴ Some were persuaded by what he said and some did not believe. ²⁵ They dispersed, disagreeing with one another, after Paul had said one word, "Well said the Holy Spirit through Isaiah, the prophet, to your fathers, ²⁶ 'Go to this people and say, You will hear plainly but you will not understand, and you will see plainly but you will not perceive. ²⁷ For the heart of this people has grown fat and with their ears they are hard of hearing and their eyes they have shut, so that they may never see with their eyes nor hear with their ears nor understand with their heart and repent, so that I may heal them.' ²⁸ Therefore be it known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They will listen." ²⁹ TEXT OMITTED ³⁰ Paul remained two whole years in his own rented lodging and received all who came to him, ³¹ proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all freedom of speech, unhindered.