King James Version

What Does Acts 28:17 Mean?

Acts 28:17 in the King James Version says “And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together,... — study this verse from Acts chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

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.

Acts 28:17 · KJV


Context

15

And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

16

And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

17

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.

18

Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

19

But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Paul's immediate action—after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together—demonstrates his 'to the Jew first' priority (Romans 1:16). His self-defense—I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers—refutes charges of apostasy from Judaism. Paul maintained that faith in Messiah Jesus represented true Judaism's fulfillment, not abandonment. The phrase 'customs of our fathers' (τὰ ἔθη τὰ πατρῴα) refers to ancestral traditions, which Paul honored where they didn't contradict Christ. His appeal to Rome resulted from Jewish opposition, not anti-Jewish sentiment.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Rome's Jewish community (40,000-50,000 people) had been expelled under Claudius (AD 49) but returned after his death (AD 54). Paul approached them diplomatically, explaining his situation before opponents could poison opinion against him.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Paul model engaging critics with grace while maintaining doctrinal clarity?
  2. What does Paul's insistence that Christianity fulfills Judaism teach about continuity between Old and New Testaments?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 41 words
Ἐγένετο1 of 41

it came to pass

G1096

to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)

δὲ2 of 41

And

G1161

but, and, etc

μετὰ3 of 41

that after

G3326

properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)

ἡμέρας4 of 41

days

G2250

day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of

τρεῖς5 of 41

three

G5140

"three"

συγκαλέσασθαι6 of 41

called

G4779

to convoke

τὸν7 of 41
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Παῦλον8 of 41

Paul

G3972

(little; but remotely from a derivative of g3973, meaning the same); paulus, the name of a roman and of an apostle

τοὺς9 of 41
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ὄντας10 of 41
G5607

being

τῶν11 of 41
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ἰουδαίων12 of 41

of the Jews

G2453

judaean, i.e., belonging to jehudah

πρώτους·13 of 41

the chief

G4413

foremost (in time, place, order or importance)

συνελθόντων14 of 41

were come together

G4905

to convene, depart in company with, associate with, or (specially), cohabit (conjugally)

δὲ15 of 41

And

G1161

but, and, etc

αὐτούς16 of 41

them

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

ἔλεγεν17 of 41

he said

G3004

properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an

πρὸς18 of 41

unto

G4314

a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,

αὐτούς19 of 41

them

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

ἄνδρες20 of 41

Men

G435

a man (properly as an individual male)

ἀδελφοί21 of 41

and brethren

G80

a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like g0001)

Ἐγώ22 of 41

though I

G1473

i, me

οὐδὲν23 of 41

nothing

G3762

not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e., none, nobody, nothing

ἐναντίον24 of 41

against

G1727

opposite; figuratively, antagonistic

ποιήσας25 of 41

have committed

G4160

to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)

τῷ26 of 41
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

λαῷ27 of 41

the people

G2992

a people (in general; thus differing from g1218, which denotes one's own populace)

28 of 41

or

G2228

disjunctive, or; comparative, than

τοῖς29 of 41
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἔθεσιν30 of 41

customs

G1485

a usage (prescribed by habit or law)

τοῖς31 of 41
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πατρῴοις32 of 41

of our fathers

G3971

paternal, i.e., hereditary

δέσμιος33 of 41

prisoner

G1198

a captive (as bound)

ἐξ34 of 41

from

G1537

a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct

Ἱεροσολύμων35 of 41

Jerusalem

G2414

hierosolyma (i.e., jerushalaim), the capitol of palestine

παρεδόθην36 of 41

yet was I delivered

G3860

to surrender, i.e yield up, entrust, transmit

εἰς37 of 41

into

G1519

to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases

τὰς38 of 41
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

χεῖρας39 of 41

the hands

G5495

the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by hebraism) a means or instrument)

τῶν40 of 41
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ῥωμαίων41 of 41

of the Romans

G4514

romaean, i.e., roman (as noun)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Acts. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Acts 28:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Acts 28:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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