What is the meaning of Acts 28:26? Go to this people and say Paul, under house arrest in Rome, quotes Isaiah 6:9–10 to the Jewish leaders sitting before him (Acts 28:25-28). • The phrase shows God still reaching out first to Israel (cf. Romans 1:16; Matthew 10:6). • It reminds us that prophets are sent even when rejection is likely (Ezekiel 2:3-7). • God initiates the conversation; the messenger simply delivers His exact words (Jeremiah 1:7). • The summons underscores responsibility: once the message is spoken, hearers are accountable (John 15:22). You will be ever hearing • Israel had centuries of exposure to God’s voice—through Law, prophets, and now the gospel (Romans 3:1-2). • “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17), yet hearing alone is not faith. • Jesus repeatedly cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:9), inviting more than physical listening. but never understanding • Understanding requires a humble, repentant heart (Psalm 119:34). • The crowds heard Jesus’ parables but missed the kingdom secrets (Matthew 13:13-15). • “The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God… he cannot understand them” (1 Corinthians 2:14). • Persistent unbelief hardens the mind so truth becomes increasingly opaque (Hebrews 3:12-13). you will be ever seeing • The nation witnessed miracles—from the Exodus to Christ’s healings—yet still demanded more signs (John 12:37). • Paul’s ministry echoed this, accompanied by “signs and wonders” (Acts 19:11-12). • Sight alone never guarantees spiritual insight; it can even provoke deeper resistance (Luke 11:29-32). but never perceiving • Spiritual perception depends on light received in the heart, not just on eyes in the head (Ephesians 1:18). • “Though seeing, they do not see” fulfilled again when many watched Jesus raise Lazarus yet plotted His death (John 11:45-53). • Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers so they “cannot see the light of the gospel” (2 Corinthians 4:4). • Unperceived truth still judges; refusing the light eventually brings greater darkness (John 9:39-41). summary Acts 28:26 exposes a tragic pattern: repeated opportunities to hear and see God’s revelation can coexist with stubborn refusal to grasp its meaning. The verse warns against passive listening and casual observing, calling every reader to responsive faith. God still sends messengers; the responsibility remains ours to hear, understand, see, and perceive—embracing the gospel while the light is available. |
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