Acts 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:

Saying {G3004}, Go {G4198} unto {G4314} this {G5126} people {G2992}, and {G2532} say {G2036}, Hearing {G189} ye shall hear {G191}, and {G2532} shall {G4920} not {G3364} understand {G4920}; and {G2532} seeing {G991} ye shall see {G991}, and {G2532} not {G3364} perceive {G1492}:

‘Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing but never understand,
and you will keep on seeing but never perceive,

‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

saying, Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:

Acts 28:26 presents a powerful and somber declaration by the Apostle Paul to the Jewish leaders in Rome, quoting directly from the prophet Isaiah. This verse encapsulates the tragic spiritual condition of those who, despite hearing and seeing the truth, remain unable to comprehend or accept it.

Context

This verse is part of Paul's final recorded discourse in the book of Acts. Having arrived in Rome under house arrest, Paul called together the leading Jews to explain his situation and the reason for his imprisonment – "the hope of Israel." (Acts 28:20). After they expressed their desire to hear his teachings, Paul spent a whole day expounding the kingdom of God and persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets (Acts 28:23). However, not all were convinced. Faced with their persistent unbelief, Paul quotes this ancient prophecy, signifying a pivotal moment in the narrative of the early church's outreach.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Blindness and Hardness of Heart: The core message is the inability to grasp spiritual truth despite physical exposure. "Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive" describes a state where knowledge is presented, but comprehension is withheld due to a hardened heart and willful rejection. This is a recurring theme throughout biblical history.
  • Prophetic Fulfillment: Paul's use of Isaiah 6:9-10 highlights that the Jewish people's rejection of the Messiah was not unforeseen but prophesied centuries earlier. This demonstrates God's sovereign plan unfolding, even in human unbelief. Jesus Himself also quoted this passage to explain why He spoke in parables (Matthew 13:14-15).
  • The Turning to the Gentiles: This declaration serves as a solemn pivot point in Acts. Paul's immediate follow-up in Acts 28:28 explicitly states that because the Jews would not hear, the salvation of God would now be sent to the Gentiles, and they would listen. This marked a significant shift in the focus of the gospel's propagation.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive" is a literal translation of the Hebrew idiom found in Isaiah. It emphasizes the paradox of sensory input without spiritual comprehension. The repetition of "hear... hear" and "see... see" intensifies the idea of a deliberate, almost divinely ordained, lack of spiritual insight, often as a consequence of prior rejection. It's not a physical inability, but a spiritual one, resulting from a hardened heart.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a profound warning against spiritual apathy and persistent unbelief. It reminds us that merely being exposed to God's Word or the truth of the gospel does not guarantee understanding or acceptance. True spiritual comprehension requires an open heart and a willingness to respond to God's call. It challenges believers to pray for spiritual enlightenment, not just intellectual knowledge, and to share the gospel with all people, recognizing that God's grace extends to everyone who will receive it.

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.

  • Isaiah 6:9

    ¶ And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

  • Isaiah 6:10

    Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

  • Ezekiel 12:2

    Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they [are] a rebellious house.

  • Isaiah 42:19

    Who [is] blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger [that] I sent? who [is] blind as [he that is] perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant?

  • Isaiah 42:20

    Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

  • Matthew 13:14

    And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

  • Matthew 13:15

    For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

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