What does Acts 28:24 teach about the varied responses to Paul's preaching? Setting the Scene in Rome • Paul, under house arrest, invites the Jewish leaders and “testified about the kingdom of God” from morning until evening (Acts 28:23). • Luke’s record is factual history; the Spirit preserves it so we may know exactly what happened. The Text Under the Microscope Acts 28:24: “Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.” • One sentence—yet it captures the spectrum of human response whenever God’s word is proclaimed. • “Convinced” signals genuine faith; “refused to believe” shows deliberate resistance, not mere indecision. Two Distinct Responses 1. Those who believed: – Hearts opened to the gospel (cf. Acts 16:14). – Accepted Paul’s exposition of Moses and the Prophets pointing to Jesus. 2. Those who refused: – Willful unbelief despite identical evidence (cf. John 12:37–40). – The same Scriptures that persuaded some were rejected by others. Why Such Different Outcomes? • Condition of the heart: Matthew 13:19-23 illustrates four soils; only one bears fruit. • Work of the Spirit: Acts 13:48—“all who were appointed to eternal life believed.” • Human responsibility: Isaiah’s warning (quoted in Acts 28:26-27) shows culpability for hardened hearts. Echoes Throughout Acts • Pisidian Antioch—Acts 13:45-52: joy and hostility side by side. • Iconium—Acts 14:1-4: city split; some with apostles, some with the Jews. • Athens—Acts 17:32-34: mockery, curiosity, conversion. • Jerusalem—Acts 2:41 vs. 4:3: thousands saved, yet leaders imprison apostles. Rooted in Jesus’ Own Ministry • John 7:43; 10:19—division over His words. • John 6:66—many disciples turned back, while Peter confessed, “You have the words of eternal life.” • Luke 2:34—Simeon foretold Jesus would cause “the rise and fall of many.” Theological Threads • Gospel proclamation is a fragrance: “to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). • Success in ministry = faithfulness, not universal acceptance (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). • God’s sovereignty and human choice run together without contradiction. Implications for Our Witness Today • Expect mixed reactions; Scripture says so. • Don’t water down the message to chase uniform approval—truth divides. • Rely on the Spirit to open hearts; we sow, He gives growth. • Keep speaking boldly and patiently, just as Paul “welcomed all who came to see him” (Acts 28:30). |
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