Acts 28:17-20

Acts 28:17-20

[17] And  it came to pass,  that after  three  days  the chief  of the Jews  together:  and  when they  were come together,  unto  them,  Men  and brethren,  though I  have committed  nothing  against  the people,  or  customs  of our fathers,  yet was I delivered  prisoner  from  Jerusalem  into  the hands  of the Romans.  [18] Who,  when they had examined  would  have let me go,  because  there was  no  cause  of death  in  [19] But  when the Jews  spake against  it, I was constrained  to appeal  unto Caesar;  not  that  I had  ought  nation  of.  [20] For  cause  therefore  have I called  you, and  to speak with  you: because that  for  the hope  of Israel  I am bound with  chain. 

What does Acts 28:17-20 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Paul began immediately to prepare to witness. He wanted to see the leaders of the Jewish community soon for two reasons. He wanted to preach the gospel to them as Jews first. He also wanted to take the initiative in reaching out to them with an explanation of why he was in Rome. He wanted to do so before they arrived at false conclusions concerning his reasons for being there. Estimates of the Jewish population in Rome in the first century vary between10 ,000,60 ,000. [1] Undoubtedly before sending for these Jews Paul satisfied himself that they were not antagonistic to him already. He would hardly have invited to his house men who just might have been as hostile as the Jerusalem assassins. Paul may have been unable to go to the synagogues because of his prisoner status. On the other hand he may have chosen to explain his situation to a small group of Jewish leaders on his own turf. He could have done this to preclude another riot that would have complicated his formal acquittal. Song of Solomon , only three days after his arrival in Rome, Paul sent for these men.
"Paul"s statement in Acts 28:17-20 is a summary of the preceding trial narrative and imprisonment speeches in Acts 22-26. It presents what the narrator most wants readers to retain from that long narrative." [2]
Paul emphasized these points in his explanation. He had done nothing against the Jews or their customs ( Acts 28:17). The Roman authorities in Judea had already declared him innocent ( Acts 28:18). He had appealed to Caesar because the Jews in Judea challenged the Romans" verdict, not because Paul had any grievance against the Jews ( Acts 28:19). His present condition grew out of the promises God had given Israel (i.e, concerning her Deliverer and deliverance, Acts 28:20; cf. Acts 23:6; Acts 24:21; Acts 26:6-8).