Acts 28:20
For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Paul isn't just stating he's imprisoned; he’s identifying with Israel's deepest longing by saying he's "bound with this chain" precisely for their hope. This highlights that the Messianic expectation he proclaims isn't a new, foreign idea, but the very core of Jewish faith that he believes has now been fulfilled in Jesus.
Paul has just finished explaining his situation to the Roman Jewish leaders, clarifying that he's a prisoner not because he's wronged their people or traditions, but due to accusations from fellow Jews that forced him to appeal to Caesar. He now calls them together to explain the real reason for his imprisonment: the hope of Israel, which centers on the Messiah.
Paul's imprisonment is directly linked to 'the hope of Israel.' What exactly was this hope, and why was it so central to his message and his suffering?
When Paul speaks of 'the hope of Israel,' he’s not talking about a vague wish for a better future. He's referring to the deeply ingrained, Messianic expectation held by the Jewish people. This hope centered on the coming of the Messiah, who would restore God's kingdom and bring about an era of righteousness and peace.
A Shared Expectation
Every Jewish person understood this hope, though interpretations varied. For Paul, the crucial difference was that he believed this long-awaited hope had been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He preached that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection were God’s definitive action to bring about the Messianic age.
The Core of the Conflict
Paul's preaching of Jesus as the Messiah, the fulfillment of Israel's hope, was precisely what put him at odds with many Jewish leaders. They saw his message not as a fulfillment, but as a perversion of their cherished hope. This fundamental disagreement over the identity and work of the Messiah fueled the opposition Paul faced, leading to his imprisonment and appeals.
Paul wears a 'chain' as a prisoner. This isn't just a physical burden; it's a powerful symbol of his commitment and the cost of his message.
Paul’s mention of his chain is strategic. He’s not just complaining about his circumstances; he's using his imprisonment as a testament to the truth he preaches.
The Price of Proclamation
In the Roman world, chains signified defeat or punishment. But for Paul, this chain symbolized something profound: he was bound because of the hope of Israel. His suffering wasn't a sign of failure, but evidence that he was actively living out and proclaiming the very hope that defined his people.
A Chain That Opens Doors
Understand the original words
elpis · Greek Noun
The confident expectation of the fulfillment of God’s promises, specifically regarding the Messiah, the resurrection of the dead, and the restoration of the Kingdom of God to Israel.
halysis · Greek Noun
A literal metal binding used to restrain a prisoner. Symbolically, it often represents the physical trials, suffering, and persecution endured by believers for the sake of the message of Christ.
Paul's imprisonment and appeal to Caesar placed him in a unique position to share the Gospel with both Jewish leaders and Roman authorities, using his legal predicament as a bridge to explain the core of his faith.
c. AD 58
Paul's Arrest in Jerusalem
Paul is arrested in Jerusalem after being accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple. This sparks a series of legal proceedings.
c. AD 58 - c. AD 60
Paul's Imprisonment and Appeals
Paul is imprisoned in Caesarea and, feeling unjustly treated by Jewish leaders and Roman governors, appeals his case to Caesar, the highest court.
c. AD 60
Voyage to Rome
Paul journeys to Rome as a prisoner, enduring a shipwreck on the island of Malta. This journey is perilous and long.
c. AD 60 - c. AD 62— this verse
Paul's House Arrest in Rome
Upon arrival in Rome, Paul is placed under house arrest, chained to a soldier but allowed to receive visitors. This is the setting for Acts 28.
This passage directly connects Paul's current imprisonment to the 'hope of Israel,' specifically the resurrection of the dead and the coming of the Messiah, which he was proclaiming.
Philippians 1:12-13Paul explicitly states that his chains have actually advanced the gospel, mirroring the sentiment in Acts 28:20 that his suffering is directly linked to his message about Israel's hope.
Romans 1:3-4This verse highlights the core of 'the hope of Israel' that Paul preached: Jesus as the Messiah, proven by His resurrection, which is the very reason he finds himself in chains.
Jeremiah 31:31-34This Old Testament prophecy speaks of a new covenant God would make with Israel, a promise that formed a foundational part of the 'hope of Israel' Paul was sharing, even as he was imprisoned for it.
ellicottActs 28:20: "For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain."
(20) For the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. —The mention of “chain” in the singular agrees with the fact stated in Acts 28:30 , that he was entrusted to the keeping of a single soldier. There is a certain touch of pathos in this appeal to his sufferings as a prisoner. (Comp. Ephesians 3:1 ; Ephesians 4:1 ; Ephesians 6:20 . )…
henryActs 28:17-22: "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."
28:17-22 It was for the honour of Paul that those who examined his case, acquitted him. In his appeal he sought not to accuse his nation, but only to clear himself. True C…
Paul isn't just stating he's imprisoned; he’s identifying with Israel's deepest longing by saying he's "bound with this chain" precisely for their hope. This highlights that the Messianic expectation he proclaims isn't a new, foreign idea, but the very core of Jewish faith that he believes has now been fulfilled in Jesus.
Paul has just finished explaining his situation to the Roman Jewish leaders, clarifying that he's a prisoner not because he's wronged their people or traditions, but due to accusations from fellow Jews that forced him to appeal to Caesar. He now calls them together to explain the real reason for his imprisonment: the hope of Israel, which centers on the Messiah.
Paul has just finished explaining his situation to the Roman Jewish leaders, clarifying that he's a prisoner not because he's wronged their people or traditions, but due to accusations from fellow Jews that forced him to appeal to Caesar. He now calls them together to explain the reason for his imprisonment: the hope of Israel, which centers on the Messiah.
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While a prisoner, Paul experienced a unique liberty. He lived alone with a soldier guarding him, allowing him freer access to visitors, including Jewish leaders. His imprisonment, paradoxically, became an opportunity for him to explain his faith and witness to Christ directly to those who most needed to hear it. His chain, therefore, becomes a sign of his dedication and an instrument in God’s hand for further ministry.
c. AD 62
Meeting with Roman Jews
Paul summons the Jewish leaders in Rome to explain his situation. He emphasizes his innocence and his belief in the 'hope of Israel' - the Messiah.
"For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”" — Paul isn't just stating he's imprisoned; he’s identifying with Israel's deepest longing by saying he's "bound with this chain" precisely for their hope. This highlights that the Messianic expectati…
