Paul in Rome

¹⁶Then we went to Rome. In Rome Paul was allowed to live alone. But a soldier stayed with Paul to guard him. ¹⁷Three days later Paul sent for some of the most important Jews. When they came together, Paul said, "My Jewish brothers, I have done nothing against our people (the Jews). I have done nothing against the customs of our fathers.* But I was arrested in Jerusalem and given to the Romans. ¹⁸The Romans asked me many questions. But they could not find any reason why I should be killed. So they wanted to let me go free. ¹⁹But the Jews there did not want that. So I had to ask [to come to Rome] to have my trial before Caesar.* But I am not saying that my people (the Jews) have done anything wrong. ²⁰That is why I wanted to see you and talk with you. I am bound with this chain because I believe in the hope of Israel.*" ²¹The Jews answered Paul, "We have received no letters from Judea about you. None of our Jewish brothers who have traveled from there (Judea) brought news about you or told us anything bad about you. ²²We want to hear your ideas. We know that people everywhere are speaking against this group (Christians)." ²³Paul and the Jews chose a day for a meeting. On that day many more of these Jews met with Paul at his house. Paul spoke to them all day long. Paul explained the kingdom of God to them. Paul tried to persuade them to believe the things about Jesus. He used the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets* to do this. ²⁴Some of the Jews believed the things Paul said, but others did not believe. ²⁵They had an argument. The Jews were ready to leave, but Paul said one more thing to them: "The Holy Spirit* spoke the truth to your fathers* through Isaiah the prophet.* He said, ²⁶'Go to this people (the Jews) and tell them: You will listen and you will hear, but you will not understand! You will look and you will see, but you will not understand what you see! ²⁷Yes, the minds of these people (the Jews) are now closed. These people have ears, but they don't listen. And these people refuse to see [the truth]. This has happened so that they will not see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their minds. This has happened so that they will not turn to me to heal them.' Isaiah 6:9-10

²⁸"I want you Jews to know that God has sent his salvation to the non-Jewish people. They will listen!" ^{29* 30}Paul stayed two full years in his own rented house. He welcomed all people that came and visited him. ³¹Paul told people about the kingdom of God. He taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. He was very bold (brave), and no one tried to stop him from speaking.

father(s) Important ancestors of the Jews; the leaders of the twelve Jewish family groups. Caesar The name given to the emperor (ruler) of Rome. Israel The Jewish nation (people). prophets People that spoke for God. Some of them wrote books that are part of the Old Testament. Spirit, Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world. Verse 29 Some late copies of Acts add verse 29: "After Paul said this, the Jews left. They were arguing very much with each other."