Paul’s final recorded speech in Acts 28:17-31 marks a significant moment in biblical history and the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan. Having arrived in Rome under house arrest, Paul continued his mission, summoning the Jewish leaders and explaining the reasons for his imprisonment. More importantly, he presented the message of Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel’s hope, emphasizing that the Gospel was rooted in the very Scriptures they revered. Yet, just as had happened throughout his ministry, many of the Jewish leaders rejected his message, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of spiritual blindness.
This moment carries profound dispensational significance, as it represents the final recorded rejection of the Gospel by Israel in the book of Acts. Paul’s response to this rejection was decisive: “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” (Acts 28:28). While individual Jews could still be saved, Israel’s national unbelief had led to the full transition of the Gospel to the Gentiles as the primary recipients during the Church Age. This passage confirms a critical shift in God’s plan—one that did not nullify His promises to Israel but postponed their fulfillment until a future time.
Paul’s final speech in Acts reveals three key themes: the continued proclamation of Jesus and the Kingdom, Israel’s rejection and fulfillment of prophecy, and the Gospel’s full transition to the Gentiles. These themes not only conclude the narrative of Acts but also set the stage for the Church’s mission moving forward.
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Paul’s Final Plea to Israel: Proclaiming the Kingdom of God
Despite being a prisoner under Roman custody, Paul’s first priority in Rome was to reach out to the Jewish community. Three days after his arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders to explain his situation. He reassured them that he had committed no crime against Israel or the Jewish law (Acts 28:17) and had been unjustly imprisoned by the Romans, who found no reason to convict him (Acts 28:18). His appeal to Caesar was not an attack against his people but a matter of necessity, given the circumstances (Acts 28:19). Most importantly, he clarified that his imprisonment was not because he opposed Judaism but because of “the hope of Israel”—a reference to the Messiah and the resurrection (Acts 28:20).
The Jewish leaders in Rome responded with cautious neutrality, claiming they had received no official reports about Paul from Judea. However, they acknowledged that Christianity, which they referred to as “this sect,” was widely spoken against (Acts 28:22). Their curiosity provided an opportunity for Paul to present the Gospel.
On an appointed day, the Jewish leaders gathered at Paul’s house, where he “witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus” (Acts 28:23). This approach was consistent with his previous missionary efforts—beginning with the Jewish Scriptures to prove that Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promises. Paul sought to show that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah and that faith in Him was essential for participation in the coming Kingdom of God.
Israel’s Rejection and the Fulfillment of Prophecy
As had happened so often before, the response to Paul’s message was divided. Some were convinced, while others “would not believe” (Acts 28:24). It was not a matter of insufficient evidence but of hardened hearts. Seeing this resistance, Paul pronounced a solemn rebuke, quoting Isaiah 6:9-10:
“Go to this people and say, ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.’”
(Acts 28:26-27, referencing Isaiah 6:9-10)
This prophecy, originally spoken to Israel during a time of national rebellion, found its fulfillment in Paul’s day. The Jewish leaders’ rejection of Jesus was not merely an unfortunate misunderstanding—it was a spiritual blindness foretold centuries earlier. Their hearts had become hardened, and their refusal to believe confirmed their resistance to God’s redemptive work.
Paul had witnessed this same pattern throughout his ministry. From synagogue to synagogue, he had reasoned with his fellow Jews, urging them to see that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. While some accepted the message, the majority resisted, clinging to their traditions rather than embracing the truth. This rejection was not a failure of God’s promises but a fulfillment of them, demonstrating His sovereign plan.
The Gospel’s Full Transition to the Gentiles
At this turning point, Paul declared a momentous shift:
“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” (Acts 28:28)
This statement encapsulated a defining moment in redemptive history. The Gospel had always been intended for all nations, but up until this point, it had been preached “to the Jew first” (Romans 1:16). Now, with Israel’s national rejection confirmed, the focus turned decisively to the Gentiles.
The final verses of Acts portray Paul continuing his mission despite his imprisonment. For two years, he “welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!” (Acts 28:30-31). Though Paul remained under house arrest, his ministry was far from restricted. The Gospel was unstoppable, reaching both Jews and Gentiles alike, with Rome itself now serving as a hub for its expansion.
Dispensational Significance: The Church Age and Israel’s Future
From a dispensational perspective, Paul’s final speech in Acts marks a critical transition in God’s unfolding plan. It signifies:
- The formal turning point where the Gospel goes fully to the Gentiles. While individual Jews could still believe, Israel as a nation had decisively rejected Christ.
- The transition from a Jewish emphasis in Acts to the Gentile-focused Church Age. The book of Acts begins in Jerusalem with Peter preaching to Jews and ends in Rome with Paul proclaiming Christ to Gentiles.
- The fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy regarding Israel’s spiritual blindness. As stated in Romans 11:25, Israel’s hardening was partial and temporary, paving the way for Gentile inclusion in God’s redemptive plan.
- The confirmation that Israel’s national restoration remains future. Though set aside for now, Israel will one day recognize their Messiah and experience full restoration (Romans 11:26).
Paul’s words in Acts 28 do not suggest that God has permanently abandoned Israel. Rather, they affirm the temporary nature of their rejection. Romans 11:11 explains that “because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.” This period—the Church Age—is characterized by the inclusion of the Gentiles, but it will eventually give way to Israel’s redemption when Christ returns.
Conclusion: A Final Witness to Israel, A New Chapter for the Church
Paul’s final defense in Rome was more than just a legal argument—it was a final plea for Israel’s leaders to recognize Jesus as their Messiah. Sadly, many remained blind to the truth, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy and solidifying the shift of the Gospel to the Gentile world. However, this rejection was not the end of Israel’s story. Though they stumbled, they did not fall beyond recovery. God’s promises remain intact, and one day, Israel will acknowledge the One they have long rejected.
As Acts concludes, Paul’s unwavering commitment to the Gospel stands as a model for all believers. Despite opposition, rejection, and imprisonment, he continued to preach “with all boldness and without hindrance.” His final recorded words in Acts remind us that the Gospel cannot be contained, and God’s plan will be fulfilled in His perfect timing. The Church Age continues, and the mission remains—proclaiming Christ to all who will listen until the day He returns.
“I ask then: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.” (Romans 11:11)
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