Acts 28:17-31 Three days later, he invited the leading men of the Jews to come to see him, and when they came, he said to them, "Brothers, I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our forefathers; yet at Jerusalem I was turned over to the Romans as a prisoner.

Williams⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁷ Three days later, he invited the leading men of the Jews to come to see him, and when they came, he said to them, "Brothers, I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our forefathers; yet at Jerusalem I was turned over to the Romans as a prisoner. ¹⁸ After examining me the Romans wanted to set me free, because I was innocent of any crime that deserved the death penalty. ¹⁹ But the Jews objected, so I was forced to appeal to the Emperor; yet it was not because I had any charge to make against my own nation. ²⁰ Now it is for this reason that I invited you to come, namely, to see you and speak with you, for it is on account of Israel's hope that I am wearing this chain." ²¹ They answered him, "We have not received any letters from Judea about you, and not one of our Jewish brothers has come and reported or stated anything wicked about you. ²² But we think it fitting to let you tell us what your views are, for as to this sect it is known by all of us that it is everywhere denounced." ²³ So they set a day for him, and came in large numbers to see him at the place where he was lodging, and from morning till night he continued to explain to them the kingdom of God, at the same time giving them his own testimony and trying from the law of Moses and the prophets to convince them about Jesus. ²⁴ Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. ²⁵ Because they could not agree among themselves, they started to leave, when Paul had spoken one word more: "The Holy Spirit beautifully expressed it in speaking to your forefathers through the prophet Isaiah: ²⁶ 'Go to this people and say to them, "You will listen, and listen, and never understand, and you will look, and look, and never see! ²⁷ For this people's soul has grown dull, and they scarcely hear with their ears, and they have shut tight their eyes, so that they may never see with their eyes, and understand with their souls, and turn to me, that I may cure them."' ²⁸ "So you must understand that this message of God's salvation has been sent to the heathen; and they will listen to it!" ²⁹ Omitted Text. ³⁰ So Paul for two whole years lived in a rented house of his own; he continued to welcome everybody who came to see him; ³¹ yes, he continued to preach to them the kingdom of God, and to teach them about the Lord Jesus Christ, and that with perfect, unfettered freedom of speech.