Acts 28:22

My Notes

What Does Acts 28:22 Mean?

The Roman Jewish leaders respond to Paul with cautious interest: "we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest." They haven't received official charges from Jerusalem, but they know about the movement: "as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against." Christianity's reputation has preceded Paul's arrival.

The phrase "every where it is spoken against" (pantachou antilegomenon) describes a universal negative reputation. The early church wasn't persecuted in one city — it was spoken against everywhere. The opposition was comprehensive, geographically widespread, and the first thing these Jewish leaders know about the movement.

Despite the negative reports, they want to hear Paul's perspective. The curiosity is genuine — "we desire to hear" (axiomen akousai) — suggesting that the negative publicity hasn't entirely closed their minds. They're willing to listen before judging, which puts them ahead of many audiences Paul has faced.

Reflection Questions

• 1.How does knowing early Christianity was 'spoken against everywhere' challenge the expectation that faith should be popular?
• 2.What truth have you almost missed because its reputation preceded it negatively?
• 3.What does the leaders' willingness to listen despite bad reports model for your own approach to controversial ideas?
• 4.Where is something being 'spoken against everywhere' that might deserve a personal hearing?

Devotional

We've heard about your sect. It's spoken against everywhere. But we want to hear what you think.

The honesty of the Roman Jewish leaders is refreshing. They don't pretend ignorance of Christianity. They know what people are saying — and what people are saying is negative. Everywhere. But they haven't made up their minds yet. They want to hear Paul's version before deciding.

"Everywhere it is spoken against" is the earliest universal review of Christianity — and it's one star. The movement that will eventually reshape civilization is, at this point, universally disparaged. Spoken against in Jerusalem, in Antioch, in Corinth, in Ephesus, in Rome. The gospel's first reviews are uniformly bad.

This should comfort anyone whose faith is unpopular. The early church wasn't admired, respected, or celebrated by the surrounding culture. It was spoken against. Everywhere. The idea that Christianity should be culturally popular is a modern fantasy. The original version was universally controversial.

The leaders' willingness to hear Paul despite the bad reviews is the crack in the door that the gospel needs. They could have refused the meeting. They could have dismissed Paul based on the reports. Instead: we desire to hear. The willingness to listen — even when everything you've heard so far is negative — is the minimum requirement for encountering truth.

Are you willing to hear something that everything you've heard so far says is wrong? The Roman Jewish leaders were. And what they heard from Paul (verse 23-24) changed some of them forever.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture