“‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just a prophecy of future blindness; Paul is citing Isaiah to show that this stubborn refusal to understand, even when presented with clear truth, is a divine judgment that has already fallen on those who have repeatedly rejected God's messengers. It's not simply that they can't hear, but that God has allowed their willful deafness to become their final state.
“‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul has been in Rome for two years, preaching the kingdom of God and testifying about Jesus to the Jewish community. While some believed, many rejected his message and departed after a heated debate, leading Paul to declare that God’s salvation would now go to the Gentiles. This verse marks the turning point where Paul quotes Isaiah, signifying a hardening of hearts among those who refuse to truly hear and understand his message.
Paul lands in Rome, and guess what he does? He quotes the Old Testament. But he's not just dropping verses; he's using them like a diagnostic tool.
The Weight of Prophecy
When Paul quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 in Acts 28:26, he’s not just adding flair. This passage was famously used by Jesus himself (Matthew 13:14-15) to explain why He often spoke in parables. It describes a spiritual condition where people, despite having the physical ability to hear and see, are unable to truly understand or perceive God's truth.
A Pattern of Rejection
Paul applies this prophecy to the Jews he’s speaking with in Rome. He’s essentially saying, 'This isn't new. This is a pattern God predicted, a spiritual deafness that has taken hold of my people.' It's a bold move, pointing out that their resistance to the gospel isn't a surprise, but a fulfillment of ancient prophecy. This shows how the New Testament writers saw their work as a continuation and fulfillment of God's long-standing plan, even when it involved judgment on hardened hearts.
It's easy to hear words, but what does it mean to not understand? This isn't about a lack of intelligence; it's something deeper.
The Heart of the Matter
The prophecy Paul quotes highlights a crucial distinction: the difference between physical hearing and spiritual understanding. The Hebrew concept here points to the 'heart' – the center of one's will, intellect, and emotions. When the heart is unresponsive, even clear words and sights fail to penetrate.
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Wilful Blindness
The commentaries suggest this wasn't an involuntary condition, but often a wilful hardening. People chose not to perceive, their spiritual senses dulled by stubbornness or a prior aversion to God’s truth. This deliberate turning away from God's light is why the prophecy states they would 'see but never perceive.' It's a tragic consequence of resisting the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
Paul declares a prophecy about spiritual blindness. But who's ultimately responsible? This is where things get complex and profound.
A Divine Decree
The prophecy from Isaiah, as applied here and by Jesus, speaks of God ordaining a certain deafness. The text implies a divine judgment where understanding is withheld from those who have persistently rejected truth. It highlights God’s sovereign hand in human history and spiritual outcomes.
The Human Element
However, this doesn't negate human responsibility. The commentaries rightly point out that this blindness is often a consequence of wilful rejection. People 'wink' their eyes, choosing darkness over light. God’s decree doesn't force an unwilling heart; rather, it aligns with and confirms the hardened choices people make. It’s a delicate balance: God’s ultimate control and His allowing people to face the natural consequences of their opposition to Him.
Paul's citation of Isaiah's prophecy in Rome echoes Jesus' own use of it, highlighting a consistent pattern of spiritual hardness among some Jewish audiences across different times and places, even in the heart of the Roman Empire.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophecy of Judgment
Isaiah receives a prophecy from God declaring that the people will hear but not understand, and see but not perceive, a sign of their spiritual deafness and blindness.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus Quotes Isaiah
Jesus quotes Isaiah's prophecy to explain why He often taught in parables, indicating that many of His listeners were spiritually unreceptive.
c. AD 49
Claudius Expels Jews from Rome
Emperor Claudius orders the expulsion of Jews from Rome, likely due to unrest caused by 'Chrestus' (possibly referring to disputes over Jesus). This event would have dispersed Jewish communities and potentially impacted early Christian congregations.
c. AD 54-60
Paul's Ministry in Rome Begins
Paul arrives in Rome under house arrest and begins ministering to both Jews and Gentiles, sharing the message of the Kingdom of God.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul Preaches to Roman Jews
Paul calls together the Jewish leaders in Rome and explains his situation and the gospel message. Some are convinced, but many remain hardened and depart.
This is the original Old Testament passage that Paul quotes, directly linking the prophecy of spiritual blindness to the hardened hearts of the people.
Matthew 13:14-15Jesus himself quotes this same passage from Isaiah to explain why he spoke in parables, highlighting a similar theme of willful misunderstanding among the people.
John 12:40John also quotes Isaiah 6:9, applying it to the disbelief of the Jews in response to Jesus' ministry, showing this prophetic description of hardened hearts was a recurring theme.
Romans 11:8Paul directly references this same prophecy in Romans, explaining the spiritual hardening that has come upon Israel as a whole, which echoes the situation described in Acts.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4Paul speaks about the 'veiled' gospel for those who are perishing and how Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers, paralleling the idea of seeing and hearing without understanding.
ellicottActs 28:26: "Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:"
(26) Go unto this people, and say . . . —On the passage thus quoted see Notes on Matthew 13:14-15 . Here we are chiefly concerned with the fact that the words had been cited by our Lord as describing the spiritual state of the Jews of Palestine, and that the record of their citation is found in the first three Gospels ( Matthew 13:13 ; Mark 4:12 ; Luke…
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…
This isn't just a prophecy of future blindness; Paul is citing Isaiah to show that this stubborn refusal to understand, even when presented with clear truth, is a divine judgment that has already fallen on those who have repeatedly rejected God's messengers. It's not simply that they can't hear, but that God has allowed their willful deafness to become their final state.
Paul has been in Rome for two years, preaching the kingdom of God and testifying about Jesus to the Jewish community. While some believed, many rejected his message and departed after a heated debate, leading Paul to declare that God’s salvation would now go to the Gentiles. This verse marks the turning point where Paul quotes Isaiah, signifying a hardening of hearts among those who refuse to truly hear and understand his message.
Paul has been in Rome for two years, preaching the kingdom of God and testifying about Jesus to the Jewish community. While some believed, many rejected his message and departed after a heated debate, leading Paul to declare that God’s salvation would now go to the Gentiles. This verse marks the turning point where Paul quotes Isaiah, signifying a hardening of hearts among those who refuse to truly hear and understand his message.
"“‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”" — This isn't just a prophecy of future blindness; Paul is citing Isaiah to show that this stubborn refusal to understand, even when presented with clear truth, is a divine judgment that has already f…
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Last reviewed October 2026