Deaf, Blind, and Ignorant
Acts 28:17-30
Acts 28:17–30 (NKJV): 17 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”
21 Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”
23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying,
‘Go to this people and say:
“Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.” ’
28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.*
30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him,
*Later addition found in Greek and Latin manuscripts (Codex LP) around the 8th Century AD. Not found in earlier manuscripts.
Isaiah 6:1–13 (NRSV): 6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”
6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” 9 And he said, “Go and say to this people:
‘Keep listening, but do not comprehend;
keep looking, but do not understand.’
10Make the mind of this people dull,
and stop their ears,
and shut their eyes,
so that they may not look with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and comprehend with their minds,
and turn and be healed.”
11Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said:
“Until cities lie waste
without inhabitant,
and houses without people,
and the land is utterly desolate;
12until the LORD sends everyone far away,
and vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land.
13Even if a tenth part remain in it,
it will be burned again,
like a terebinth or an oak
whose stump remains standing
when it is felled.”
The holy seed is its stump.
Deaf, Blind, and
IgnorantActs 28:17-30 Acts 28:17–30 (NKJV): 17 And it came to pass
after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when
they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done
nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered
as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when
they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for
putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was
compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my
nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and
speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”21 Then they said to him, “We neither received letters
from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or
spoken any evil of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think;
for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to
him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom
of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the
Prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some were persuaded by the
things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 So when they did not
agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy
Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying, ‘Go to
this people and say: “Hearing
you will hear, and shall not understand; And
seeing you will see, and not perceive; 27For the
hearts of this people have grown dull. Their
ears are hard of hearing, And their
eyes they have closed, Lest they
should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they
should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I
should heal them.” ’ 28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation
of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” 29 And
when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among
themselves.*30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented
house, and received all who came to him, *Later addition found in Greek and Latin manuscripts (Codex
LP) around the 8th Century AD.
Not found in earlier manuscripts. Isaiah 6:1–13 (NRSV): 6 In the year that King Uzziah
died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his
robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had
six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their
feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy
is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is
full of his glory.” 4 The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of
those who called, and the house filled with smoke. 5 And I said:
“Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a
people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding
a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 The
seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips,
your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” 8 Then I heard the
voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I
said, “Here am I; send me!” 9 And he said, “Go and say to this
people: ‘Keep listening,
but do not comprehend; keep looking, but
do not understand.’ 10Make the mind of
this people dull, and stop their
ears, and shut their
eyes, so that they may
not look with their eyes, and listen with
their ears, and comprehend
with their minds, and turn and be
healed.” 11Then I
said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said: “Until
cities lie waste without
inhabitant, and
houses without people, and the
land is utterly desolate; 12until
the LORD sends everyone far away, and vast
is the emptiness in the midst of the land. 13Even if a tenth
part remain in it, it will be burned
again, like a terebinth
or an oak whose stump
remains standing when it is
felled.” The holy seed is
its stump.