And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While it seems straightforward, the original Greek suggests a deeper nuance: "some were being persuaded," implying an ongoing process rather than a final decision. This highlights that belief and disbelief aren't always instant, but can be a journey where individuals grapple with the message.
And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul has been imprisoned in Rome, yet he has called together the local Jewish leaders to explain his faith. He spent an entire day passionately sharing about the Kingdom of God and testifying about Jesus, using the Law of Moses and the Prophets to persuade them. This verse reveals the immediate, divided reaction to his powerful presentation: some were convinced by his words, while others remained unconvinced.
Paul spent all day sharing the Good News, but the outcome wasn't a simple 'yes' or 'no' for everyone. What does it mean to truly be 'persuaded' by the gospel?
The text highlights that Paul was "persuading" them about the kingdom of God, drawing from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
Beyond Information
This wasn't just a lecture filled with facts. "Persuading" here implies a deep engagement, aiming to win over their understanding and will. It’s about presenting truth in such a way that it seeks to move the heart and mind.
The Active Word
The passive voice used in some translations ("some were being persuaded") suggests that the message itself was actively at work. It’s not merely that Paul spoke, but that the content of his message had an inherent power to impact those who heard it, even if not all accepted it.
The same message, the same day, the same speaker – yet vastly different results. Why does the gospel so consistently create division?
The verse presents a stark reality: not everyone who heard Paul's message believed. This division isn't an accident; it's a predictable outcome of encountering divine truth.
A Matter of the Heart
Some were 'convinced,' while others 'disbelieved.' This contrast points to the internal response. Belief isn't automatic, and disbelief isn't always a lack of evidence. Often, it stems from deeply held prejudices or a hardened heart.
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Judicial Blindness
When people willfully reject the truth, even after clear evidence, a spiritual consequence can occur. The passage alludes to Isaiah's prophecy, suggesting that sometimes hearing leads to not understanding, a form of divine judgment on stubborn resistance.
Understand the original words
peitho · Greek Verb
To be persuaded or brought to a state of belief/faith; in the New Testament context, it denotes the acceptance of the Gospel message as true.
apisteo · Greek Verb
A state of willful unbelief or refusal to accept divine truth, implying a failure to trust or surrender to God’s revelation.
This verse captures the predictable, yet profound, human reaction to the gospel message, even when delivered by an apostle like Paul in the heart of the Roman Empire. The division between belief and disbelief, described here, was a consistent pattern throughout Paul's ministry, underscoring the challenging nature of accepting Christ.
c. AD 59
Paul's Journey to Rome
Paul, as a prisoner, travels to Rome under guard to face trial before Caesar. This journey is fraught with peril, including a shipwreck.
c. AD 60
Arrival in Rome
Paul arrives in Rome and is initially allowed to live in his own hired house under guard, with freedom to receive visitors and preach openly.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul's Ministry in Rome
For two years, Paul lives in Rome, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about Jesus to both Jews and Gentiles who come to hear him.
c. AD 62
Paul's Epistles Written
During his imprisonment in Rome, Paul writes several significant letters, including Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, which profoundly shape Christian theology.
This passage describes Jesus explaining to his disciples why he speaks in parables, noting that many, like those in Acts 28, 'see indeed, but do not perceive' the truth, highlighting the consistent human response to God's message throughout history.
John 3:19-21This passage directly addresses the divide in response to divine revelation: light has come into the world, but some prefer darkness because their deeds are evil, while others embrace the light. This mirrors the division seen in Acts 28.
Hebrews 4:2The author of Hebrews connects the message preached to those who heard it, stating that 'the word preached did not profit them, because it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it.' This directly explains why some, despite hearing Paul, did not believe.
Isaiah 6:9-10Paul quotes this passage in Acts 28:26-27, showing that the very hardened hearts and inability to understand were foretold. It emphasizes that the response of disbelief was not unexpected but part of a divine plan foretold by the prophets.
2 Corinthians 2:15-16This passage speaks of the gospel being 'a fragrance from life to life' for those who are saved and 'a fragrance from death to death' for those who perish. It illustrates the dual, polarizing effect the proclamation of God's message has on people.
henryActs 28:23-31: "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."
28:23-31 Paul persuaded the Jews concerning Jesus. Some were wrought upon by the word, and others hardened; some received the light, and others shut their eyes against it. And the same has always been the effect of the gospel. Paul…
bensonActs 28:24: "And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not."
Acts 28:24-26 . And some believed the things which were spoken — Were happily persuaded of the truth of Paul’s doctrine, and were induced to embrace Christianity; and some — On the other hand, were so much under the influence of strong prejudice and hardened, that they believed not — But rejected the gospel, amidst all the evidence which Paul advanced to support it. And when they agreed not among themselves — B…
While it seems straightforward, the original Greek suggests a deeper nuance: "some were being persuaded," implying an ongoing process rather than a final decision. This highlights that belief and disbelief aren't always instant, but can be a journey where individuals grapple with the message.
Paul has been imprisoned in Rome, yet he has called together the local Jewish leaders to explain his faith. He spent an entire day passionately sharing about the Kingdom of God and testifying about Jesus, using the Law of Moses and the Prophets to persuade them. This verse reveals the immediate, divided reaction to his powerful presentation: some were convinced by his words, while others remained unconvinced.
Paul has been imprisoned in Rome, yet he has called together the local Jewish leaders to explain his faith. He spent an entire day passionately sharing about the Kingdom of God and testifying about Jesus, using the Law of Moses and the Prophets to persuade them. This verse reveals the immediate, divided reaction to his powerful presentation: some were convinced by his words, while others remained unconvinced.
"And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved." — While it seems straightforward, the original Greek suggests a deeper nuance: "some were being persuaded," implying an ongoing process rather than a final decision. This highlights that belief and dis…
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Last reviewed October 2026