Acts 28:25

And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

And {G1161} when they agreed not {G800}{G5607} among {G4314} themselves {G240}, they departed {G630}, after that Paul {G3972} had spoken {G2036} one {G1520} word {G4487},{G3754} Well {G2573} spake {G2980} the Holy {G40} Ghost {G4151} by {G1223} Esaias {G2268} the prophet {G4396} unto {G4314} our {G2257} fathers {G3962},

while others refused to believe.

So they left, disagreeing among themselves, after Sha’ul had made one final statement: “The Ruach HaKodesh spoke well in saying to your fathers through Yesha‘yahu the prophet,

They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers,

Context

Acts 28:25 marks a significant moment in Paul's ministry, occurring during his house arrest in Rome. Having arrived as a prisoner, Paul immediately summoned the leading Jews to explain his situation and to preach the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ. For an entire day, he reasoned with them from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. This verse captures the conclusion of that intense discussion: some were persuaded by Paul's message, but others remained unconvinced, leading to a division among them as they prepared to depart. Paul's final words to them serve as a solemn pronouncement, reflecting on their hardened hearts.

Key Themes

  • Divine Inspiration of Scripture: Paul's declaration, "Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet," emphatically affirms that the words of the Old Testament prophets were not merely human utterances but directly inspired by the Holy Spirit Himself. This underscores the profound divine authority and truthfulness of the prophetic writings.
  • Persistent Unbelief and Spiritual Blindness: The disagreement among the Jewish leaders, and Paul's subsequent quote from Isaiah, highlights a recurring theme throughout biblical history: the tendency of some to resist God's clear message, leading to spiritual insensitivity and an inability to perceive divine truth. This resistance results in a hardening of the heart.
  • Paul's Apostolic Conviction and Shift in Focus: Despite the mixed reception and outright rejection by some, Paul remains unwavering in his proclamation of the Gospel. His quoting of Isaiah is not just a lament but also a theological explanation for the unbelief, which then sets the stage for his pivotal declaration in Acts 28:28, where he states that salvation will now be sent to the Gentiles.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Esaias" is the Greek form of the Hebrew prophet Isaiah. Paul's strong affirmation, "Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias," emphasizes the direct agency of the Holy Spirit in the prophetic utterance. This phrase validates the prophecy as divinely authored, making it God's infallible word rather than a human opinion. The KJV's "agreed not among themselves" signifies their internal disagreement and lack of consensus regarding Paul's message.

Related Scriptures

The prophecy Paul quotes is directly from Isaiah 6:9-10. This passage describes a people whose hearts are made dull, their ears heavy, and their eyes shut, lest they see, hear, understand, and be converted. Jesus also quoted this passage in Matthew 13:14-15 to explain why He spoke in parables to those who rejected His message. This pattern of spiritual blindness and rejection, prophesied centuries earlier, finds its fulfillment in the varying responses to Paul's preaching.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a sober reminder that even when God's truth is clearly presented, it is not always received. It challenges believers to consider their own responsiveness to God's Word: do we truly hear and understand, or do we allow our hearts to become hardened? For those who share the Gospel, it offers both comfort and instruction: comfort in knowing that rejection of the message has historical and prophetic precedent, and instruction to persevere, recognizing that God's sovereign plan will advance regardless of human unbelief. It also highlights the crucial role of the Holy Spirit in both inspiring Scripture and enabling understanding.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 15:7

    [Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

  • 2 Peter 1:21

    For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.

  • Mark 7:6

    He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from me.

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