Act 28:17-20 | Clarke | STEP | Verse 17 Paul called the chief of the Jews together - We have already seen, in , that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome; see the note there: but it seems they were permitted to return very soon; and, from this verse, it appears that there were then chiefs, probably of synagogues, dwelling at Rome. I have committed nothing - Lest they should have heard and received malicious reports against him, he thought it best to state his own case.

Acts 28:17-20

Verse 17

Paul called the chief of the Jews together - We have already seen, in Act 18:2, that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome; see the note there: but it seems they were permitted to return very soon; and, from this verse, it appears that there were then chiefs, probably of synagogues, dwelling at Rome.

I have committed nothing - Lest they should have heard and received malicious reports against him, he thought it best to state his own case. Verse 20

For the hope of Israel I am bound, etc. - As if he had said: This, and this alone, is the cause of my being delivered into the hands of the Romans; I have proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah; have maintained that though he was crucified by the Jews, yet he rose again from the dead; and, through him, I have preached the general resurrection of mankind: this all Israel professes to hope for; and yet it is on this account that the Jews persecute me. Both the Messiah and the resurrection might be said to be the hope of Israel; and it is hard to tell which of them is here meant: see Act 13:6; Act 24:15, Act 24:21; Act 26:6. It is certain that, although the Jews believed in the general resurrection, yet they did not credit it in the manner in which Paul preached it; for he laid the foundation of the general resurrection on the resurrection of Christ.