So they appointed a day for him and arrived in great numbers to see him at his lodging. He took the whole day, morning till evening, to expound his views, explaining the kingdom of God and convincing them the part played by Jesus from the law of Moses and also from the prophets. Some were convinced by what he said. Others disbelieved. So, when they left they were arguing amongst themselves, but only after Paul had made one statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: 'Go to this people and say, You shall hear but never understand, and you shall see but never perceive. For the heart of this people has grown dull, their ears are heavy with hearing, their eyes closed; lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn so I could heal them.' Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has indeed been sent here to the Gentiles; and they will listen." And he lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him. He preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and without hindrance.
In a Nutshell
Luke concludes by telling how Paul made his appeal to the Jews who visited him. God's promises are not short-circuited by unbelief. Paul asserts that the gentiles will believe. God has promised it so it will come to pass.
Questions
Why doesn't Luke give a formal ending? What is the end of the story?
Was Paul shouting as the Jewish crowd took their leave from him, arguing among themselves? I don't think so, although some ancient manuscripts suggest Paul's Jewish visitors left in disgust after Paul concluded: Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has indeed been sent here to the Gentiles; and they will listen! I read this as Paul pleading with them. He wanted them to reflect upon what the prophet had said and apply it to themselves. Paul is wanting them to stay awake when God's healing word is proclaimed. He knew we are prone to slumber at such times. I think this comment is Paul's confession, the raison d'être of his Roman stay. Luke and Aristarchus were Gentiles after all, living proof of what Isaiah had said. Paul was keen to help these Roman Jews face the fact that Gentiles were accepting the Jewish Messiah, they were confessing Jesus as Christ. This fact had massive implications for all Jews and Christians, also within the Roman Empire and Paul knew Jews had in recent times been expelled from Rome. How would Rome deal when Jews and Gentiles together believed in Jesus? What impact would this have upon the Roman legal recognition of Jewish religion?
Luke has told us
Paul's emphasis upon justice, self
control and future judgment. This man had extracted respect from
Roman Administrators and King Agrippa back in Caesarea. He was committed to
cordial relations with his fellow Jews and these Roman Jews had not (yet) been
led astray by the defamation that required Paul to appeal to Caesar. Paul saw
the Jewish community splitting up in a new way; formerly, one major internal
religious division had been between his Pharisaic sect and the Sadducees. But
now a split had opened between Jews accepting Jesus as the Resurrected Messiah
and those who decided to wait for another. Paul is concerned for these
disputing Jews; that is why he reminds them of Isaiah's call. They need to
factor that word into their considerations. Of course it is important whether
or not Jews believe but, says Paul, it is not, and has never been, the entire
story. Isaiah's call to be God's Oracle came as a command to preach to those
who could not help falling asleep when God's message was proclaimed. The ears of
God's people can become too heavy for God's kind of "tough love".
They had shut their eyes so tight they could not see His smiling mercy. Their
hearts refused to understand. God the Lord commanded Isaiah, Go ahead, preach my word, send them to sleep.
Paul knew the command of the Lord to proclaim His favour to Gentiles. That is
why Paul could confidently say They will listen!
Isaiah's message is that when those offered God's grace ignore His
mercy, God will make His promises come true by raising others to hear and
proclaim the Good News.
Luke concludes by telling us that Paul lived for two years in Rome doing what he had been sent there to do. And that, as they say, is the end of Luke's story.