Acts 28:23-31: a reflection

23When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening. 24Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25When they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one message: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26saying, ‘Go to this people and say, in hearing, you will hear, but will in no way understand. In seeing, you will see, but will in no way perceive. 27For this people’s heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, then I would heal them.’ 28“Be it known therefore to you that the salvation of God is sent to the nations, and they will listen.” 29When he had said these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves. 30Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house and received all who were coming to him, 31preaching God’s Kingdom and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.

In Rome, Paul spends a whole day explaining the gospel to those who come to him, testifying about God's kingdom and persuading them about Jesus from the Scriptures. And the response is divided: some are convinced, and some disbelieve. To those who would not believe, Paul applies the words of Isaiah, which trace unbelief to a heart grown dull: this people's heart has grown callous; their ears are dull; their eyes they have closed, lest they should see and hear and understand and turn, and be healed.

Notice the diagnosis of unbelief here: not merely a lack of evidence, but a heart grown dull, eyes deliberately closed. The same message that convinced some was refused by others, and the difference lay not in the message but in the hearers. Some had let their hearts grow callous and closed their eyes, lest they should see and have to turn. Unbelief, in this case, was not innocent ignorance, but a heart that had grown dull and would not see, lest it be moved to change.

That is a searching warning about our own hearts. It is possible to let our hearts grow dull to God's word, to close our eyes to what we do not wish to see, precisely because seeing would require us to turn and change. We can hear and hear, and not really hear; see, and not perceive, because we have, in some measure, chosen not to. Guard against a heart grown dull to God. Do not close your eyes to what God is showing you because seeing would call you to change. Keep a soft, open, responsive heart to God's word, willing to see and hear and turn, rather than letting your heart grow callous lest you be moved. The danger is not always too little evidence, but a heart that will not see; keep yours open and responsive to God.

Lord, when Paul preached in Rome, some believed and some did not, and to the unbelieving he applied Isaiah's words, tracing unbelief to a heart grown callous, eyes deliberately closed, lest they should see and turn and be healed. Give me a searching awareness of my own heart. It is possible for me to let my heart grow dull to your word, to close my eyes to what I do not wish to see, precisely because seeing would require me to turn and change. I can hear and hear, and not really hear, because I have, in some measure, chosen not to. Guard me against a heart grown dull to you. Keep me from closing my eyes to what you are showing me because seeing would call me to change. Give me a soft, open, responsive heart to your word, willing to see and hear and turn, rather than letting my heart grow callous lest I be moved. Keep my heart open and responsive to you, ready to see and to turn.