Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 28:17

"And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans:" — Acts 28:17 (ASV)

Three days after arriving at Rome, Paul invited the leaders of the Jewish community to meet with him in his own quarters. He wanted to learn what they had heard from Jerusalem about him and to find out their attitude toward him. Through their contacts in the imperial court and with their money, they could, if they desired, support the charges against him. Since they undoubtedly knew something about his case, he wanted to defend himself before them. Also, he hoped the occasion would be an opportunity for proclaiming the message about Jesus the Messiah and that some would respond to it.

Paul began with the typical salutation used at Jewish formal gatherings (cf. comment on 23:1). The first word of his address, “I,” clearly shows that Paul was about to deliver a personal defense. He had done nothing, he insisted, against the Jewish people or against the customs of the fathers (v.17). The Roman authorities had in fact judged that he had not committed any capital crime and were willing to release him (vv.17b–18). But objections from Jerusalem forced him to appeal to Caesar—not to accuse his own people but to save his life (v.19). The point of contention between him and his accusers at Jerusalem had to do with the messianic hope of Israel, which Paul believed was fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth and they did not. Therefore he concluded: “It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain” (v.20; cf. 23:6; 24:21; 26:6–8).