It was one of the earliest cares of Paul to summon the leading members of the Jewish community, that he might explain to them his position. He made clear that he had not opposed or injured his own people, and that he was suffering because of his devotion to the "Hope of Israel," by which he obviously referred to Christ. The Jews replied cautiously, declaring that they had not as yet received the formal charge against him. But as they professed a wish for further information, he begged them to fix their own day and come. This they did in considerable numbers. All day long he set before them arguments from Scripture and the story of his own experience. A few were convinced; the rest disagreed. Probably the debate toward its close became somewhat stormy, and the Apostle felt at liberty to quote Isaiah 6:9-10.
He, thereafter, turned to the Roman Christians, who had already been addressed in his memorable Epistle, in the last chapter of which is a list of names of those whom he loved in Christ. They were constantly coming in to cheer his loneliness and to hear his words, while Tychicus, Epaphras, Epaphroditus, and others brought news, greetings, and gifts from the churches he had founded.
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 28
1Paul, after his shipwreck, is kindly entertained on Malta 5The snake on his hand hurts him not 8He heals many diseases in the island 11They depart toward Rome 17He declares to the Jews the cause of his coming 24After his preaching some were persuaded, and some believed not 30Yet he preaches there two years
Greek Commentary for Acts 28:24
Some believed [οι μεν επειτοντο] Imperfect passive indicative of πειτω peithō More exactly, “some began to be persuaded” (οι δε ηπιστουν inchoative). [source]
Some disbelieved [απιστεω] Imperfect active of apisteō to disbelieve, continued to disbelieve. It is usually so. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 28:24
Acts 14:2That were disobedient [οι απειτησαντες] First aorist active articular participle, not the present απειτουντες apeithountes as the Textus Receptus has it. But the meaning is probably the Jews that disbelieved, rather than that disobeyed. Strictly απειτεω apeitheō does mean to disobey and απιστεω apisteō to disbelieve, but that distinction is not observed in John 3:36 nor in Acts 19:9; Acts 28:24. The word απειτεω apeitheō means to be απειτης apeithēs to be unwilling to be persuaded or to withhold belief and then also to withhold obedience. The two meanings run into one another. To disbelieve the word of God is to disobey God. [source]
Romans 3:3Did not believe [ἠπίστησαν] Rev., were without faith. Not, as some, were unfaithful, which is contrary to New Testament usage. See Mark 16:11,Mark 16:16; Luke 24:11,Luke 24:41; Acts 28:24; Romans 4:20, etc. The Rev. rendering is preferable, as bringing out the paronomasia between the Greek words: were without faith; their want of faith; the faithfulness of God. [source]
Romans 3:3Some were without faith [ηπιστησαν] First aorist active indicative of απιστεω apisteō old verb, to disbelieve. This is the common N.T. meaning (Luke 24:11,Luke 24:41; Acts 28:24; Romans 4:20). Some of them “disbelieved,” these “depositaries and guardians of revelation” (Denney). But the word also means to be unfaithful to one‘s trust and Lightfoot argues for that idea here and in 2 Timothy 2:13. The Revised Version renders it “faithless” there. Either makes sense here and both ideas are true of some of the Jews, especially concerning the Messianic promises and Jesus. The faithfulness of God (την πιστιν του τεου tēn pistin tou theou). Undoubtedly πιστις pistis has this sense here and not “faith.” God has been faithful (2 Timothy 2:13) whether the Jews (some of them) were simply disbelievers or untrue to their trust. Paul can use the words in two senses in Romans 3:3, but there is no real objection to taking ηπιστησαν απιστιαν πιστιν ēpistēsanapistianpistin all to refer to faithfulness rather than just faith. [source]
What do the individual words in Acts 28:24 mean?
Andsomeindeedwere persuaded ofthe thingshe is speakinghoweverrefused to believe
Greek Commentary for Acts 28:24
Imperfect passive indicative of πειτω peithō More exactly, “some began to be persuaded” (οι δε ηπιστουν inchoative). [source]
Imperfect active of apisteō to disbelieve, continued to disbelieve. It is usually so. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 28:24
First aorist active articular participle, not the present απειτουντες apeithountes as the Textus Receptus has it. But the meaning is probably the Jews that disbelieved, rather than that disobeyed. Strictly απειτεω apeitheō does mean to disobey and απιστεω apisteō to disbelieve, but that distinction is not observed in John 3:36 nor in Acts 19:9; Acts 28:24. The word απειτεω apeitheō means to be απειτης apeithēs to be unwilling to be persuaded or to withhold belief and then also to withhold obedience. The two meanings run into one another. To disbelieve the word of God is to disobey God. [source]
Rev., were without faith. Not, as some, were unfaithful, which is contrary to New Testament usage. See Mark 16:11, Mark 16:16; Luke 24:11, Luke 24:41; Acts 28:24; Romans 4:20, etc. The Rev. rendering is preferable, as bringing out the paronomasia between the Greek words: were without faith; their want of faith; the faithfulness of God. [source]
First aorist active indicative of απιστεω apisteō old verb, to disbelieve. This is the common N.T. meaning (Luke 24:11, Luke 24:41; Acts 28:24; Romans 4:20). Some of them “disbelieved,” these “depositaries and guardians of revelation” (Denney). But the word also means to be unfaithful to one‘s trust and Lightfoot argues for that idea here and in 2 Timothy 2:13. The Revised Version renders it “faithless” there. Either makes sense here and both ideas are true of some of the Jews, especially concerning the Messianic promises and Jesus. The faithfulness of God (την πιστιν του τεου tēn pistin tou theou). Undoubtedly πιστις pistis has this sense here and not “faith.” God has been faithful (2 Timothy 2:13) whether the Jews (some of them) were simply disbelievers or untrue to their trust. Paul can use the words in two senses in Romans 3:3, but there is no real objection to taking ηπιστησαν απιστιαν πιστιν ēpistēsanapistianpistin all to refer to faithfulness rather than just faith. [source]