What Old Testament prophecies connect to the message in Acts 28:28? Acts 28:28—A Pivotal Declaration “Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” Prophecies Foretelling Israel’s Hardness of Heart • Isaiah 6:9-10—quoted by Paul in Acts 28:26-27: “Go to this people and say, ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding…’” • Deuteronomy 32:21—“I will provoke their jealousy with those who are not a people; I will anger them with a foolish nation.” • Psalm 118:22—“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” (Anticipates Messiah’s rejection by many in Israel.) The Abrahamic Covenant—Blessing for All Nations • Genesis 12:3—“All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” • Genesis 22:18; 26:4; 28:14—repeated promises that Abraham’s seed will bring blessing to “all nations of the earth.” Servant Songs and the Light to the Nations • Isaiah 42:6—“I… appoint You to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations.” • Isaiah 49:6—“I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.” • Isaiah 52:10—“All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.” • Isaiah 60:3—“Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” Praise Psalms Anticipating Global Worship • Psalm 22:27-28—“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD… He rules over the nations.” • Psalm 67—“May Your way be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.” • Psalm 98:2-3—“The LORD has made His salvation known… all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” Prophets Announcing Inclusion of the Gentiles • Amos 9:11-12—“All the nations that bear My name.” (Quoted in Acts 15.) • Hosea 2:23—“I will say to those called ‘Lo-ammi,’ ‘You are My people.’” • Micah 4:2—“Many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD.’” • Zechariah 2:11—“Many nations will join themselves to the LORD on that day and become My people.” • Malachi 1:11—“My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets.” How Paul Connects the Dots 1. Cites Isaiah 6 to explain Jewish unbelief (Acts 28:26-27). 2. Declares Isaiah 49:6 is now in motion—salvation to the Gentiles (Acts 28:28). 3. Echoes earlier moments in Acts (13:46; 18:6) where he turned to the Gentiles in fulfillment of OT prophecy. Unified Thread Through Scripture • Promise: Nations blessed through Abraham’s Seed. • Preparation: Israel called to be a light but largely rejects Messiah. • Pivot: Messiah commissions His followers to “the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6; Matthew 28:19). • Performance: Paul announces in Acts 28:28 that the prophetic pivot has arrived—the Gentiles will listen. Living in the Fulfillment Believers today stand in the stream of these prophecies fulfilled. The door to the nations is open, the gospel is still “God’s salvation,” and the call remains to make that salvation known “to the ends of the earth.” |
    |