“And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.”
My Notes
What Does Acts 28:23 Mean?
Luke describes Paul's final recorded ministry in Rome: and when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
There came many to him — Paul is under house arrest (v.16), yet people come to him. Confinement does not stop ministry. The gospel does not require a pulpit. It requires a person willing to speak — even from a rented room in chains.
He expounded and testified the kingdom of God — two activities: expounding (ektithemi — setting forth in detail, explaining systematically) and testifying (diamarturomai — solemnly witnessing, bearing personal testimony). Paul both explains and witnesses. The teaching has intellectual rigor and personal conviction. He is not merely lecturing. He is testifying from experience.
Persuading them concerning Jesus — the goal is persuasion (peitho — to convince, to seek to bring someone to a decision). Paul does not merely present information. He argues, reasons, and appeals. The content is specific: concerning Jesus. All the expounding of the kingdom and all the persuading converge on a person.
Both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets — the sources are the Hebrew Scriptures. Paul demonstrates that Jesus fulfills what Moses wrote and what the prophets foretold. The argument is biblical — Jesus is not a new idea. He is the fulfillment of everything the Old Testament anticipated.
From morning till evening — the duration reveals the depth and seriousness of the engagement. This is not a brief sermon. It is an all-day exposition — hours of Scripture opened, explained, and applied to Jesus. The stamina reflects the urgency: there is that much to say about how the Scriptures point to Christ.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does Paul's ministry from house arrest reveal about the relationship between circumstances and gospel advancement?
- 2.How do expounding, testifying, and persuading work together as a model for sharing the faith?
- 3.What does Paul's use of 'the law of Moses and the prophets' to argue for Jesus reveal about how the Old Testament should be read?
- 4.What does 'from morning till evening' say about the urgency and depth of the gospel message?
Devotional
There came many to him into his lodging. Paul is under arrest. Chained to a soldier. Living in a rented room. And people are coming to him. The gospel does not require freedom to advance. It does not require a building, a platform, or favorable circumstances. It requires someone willing to speak — and Paul speaks from wherever he is.
He expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus. Three words describe Paul's method: expounded (explained with depth), testified (spoke from personal conviction), and persuaded (argued toward a decision). He did not just inform. He did not just share his story. He made a case — systematic, passionate, aimed at convincing people that Jesus is who the Scriptures said he would be.
Both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets. The entire Old Testament — law and prophets — and Paul showed how all of it points to Jesus. Every sacrifice, every prophecy, every promise, every type and shadow — Paul opened it and said: this is about him. The Bible is one story, and the story is about Christ.
From morning till evening. All day. From sunrise to sunset, Paul taught, testified, and persuaded. The urgency was that great. The material was that deep. The stakes were that high. An all-day session because there is that much to say about Jesus in the Scriptures — and because eternity hung in the balance for every person in that room.
This is Paul's last recorded ministry. Chained. In a rented room. Teaching all day. Persuading from the Scriptures. And the gospel advancing — not despite the chains but through them.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And when they had appointed him a day,.... When they should meet together, and when both sides might be better prepared…
Appointed him a day - A day when they would hear him. Into his lodging - To the house where he resided, Act 28:30. He…
To whom he expounded - the kingdom of God - To whom he showed that the reign of the Messiah was to be a spiritual reign;…
We have here a short account of a long conference which Paul had with the Jews at Rome about the Christian religion.…
many The original is the comparative degree, and implies that the first visitors had been only a small deputation, but…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture