“And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said 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.”
My Notes
What Does Acts 28:17 Mean?
Paul's first act in Rome — three days after arriving — is to call together the Jewish leaders and explain his situation. He clarifies: he has done nothing against the Jewish people or their customs. He was delivered to the Romans by the Jerusalem Jews as a prisoner, despite having committed no crime worthy of death.
The phrase "I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers" is Paul's final defense of his Jewish identity. Even in Rome, even after years of Gentile mission work, even after being rejected by Jewish communities across the Mediterranean — Paul identifies himself as a faithful Jew who has never violated his people's traditions.
The initiative to meet with Jewish leaders shows Paul's persistent priority: the gospel goes to the Jew first (Romans 1:16). Even in the capital of the Gentile world, Paul's first conversation is with his own people. The man who was beaten by Jewish mobs still seeks out Jewish leaders first.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Why does Paul go to the Jews first even in Rome — after everything they've done to him?
- 2.What does 'nothing against the people or customs of our fathers' reveal about Paul's self-identity?
- 3.How does Paul's persistence with his own people model faithfulness to those who reject you?
- 4.Who are your 'people' — the ones you keep going back to despite rejection — and why?
Devotional
Three days in Rome. And Paul's first meeting is with the Jews. Not the Roman intellectuals, not the imperial court, not the Gentile churches — the Jews. After everything they've done to him, his own people are still his first priority.
The persistence is staggering. Paul has been beaten by Jewish mobs, rejected by Jewish synagogues, accused by Jewish leaders, imprisoned by Jewish plots. And his first act in the world's greatest city is to gather the Jewish leaders and say: let me tell you what happened. I haven't done anything wrong. I'm one of you.
The clarification — nothing against the people or the customs — matters because the charges followed Paul to Rome. His reputation preceded him. The Jewish community in Rome would have heard accounts of Paul's ministry to Gentiles, his teaching about the law, his controversial claims about Jesus. Paul wants them to hear his version before the prosecution's version arrives.
"Customs of our fathers" is Paul's bridge. He doesn't say "your customs" — he says "our." The traditions belong to both of them. Paul hasn't abandoned the heritage; he's fulfilled it. The man Rome considers a prisoner and Jerusalem considers a heretic identifies himself as a faithful son of the patriarchs.
The pattern of going to the Jews first, even after repeated rejection, reflects a love that's deeper than strategic calculation. Paul's priority isn't about effective ministry sequencing — it's about unbreakable kinship. These are his people. They've tried to kill him. And he still goes to them first.
Who are you still going back to, despite rejection, because they're your people?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And it came to pass, that after three days,.... From his first coming to Rome, when he had hired himself a house, or…
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Paul called the chief of the Jews together - We have already seen, in Act 18:2, that Claudius had commanded all Jews to…
Paul, with a great deal of expense and hazard, is brought a prisoner to Rome, and when he has come nobody appears to…
St Paul's interview with the Jews in Rome
17. after three days At first the Apostle would naturally desire to learn all…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture