SEV Biblia, Chapter 28:22
Mas querríamos oír de ti lo que sientes; porque de esta secta notorio nos es que en todos lugares es contradicha.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 28:22
Verse 22. For as concerning this sect] See the note on chap. xxiv. 14. A saying of Justin Martyr casts some light on this saying of the Jews: he asserts that the Jews not only cursed them in their synagogues, but they sent out chosen men from Jerusalem, to acquaint the world, and particularly the Jews everywhere, that the Christians were an atheistical and wicked sect, which should be, detested and abhorred by all mankind. Justin Martyr, Dial. p. 234.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 22. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest , etc.] What was his opinion and judgment, concerning the Messiah, whether he was come or not, and whether Jesus of Nazareth was he; and concerning other principles relating to him, embraced by the Christians; and what he had to say for the clearing up, proving, and confirming his sentiments about these things: for as concerning this sect ; or heresy, meaning the Christian religion: in saying so, they reproached it; for the Gospel, or Christian religion, is not an human device, the choice and option of mans free will, and what he pleases himself with, as an opinion and invention of his own, or of other men, as heresy signifies; but it is of God, and by revelation of Jesus Christ, and is a doctrine of the highest wisdom: nor does it deny or take away any fundamental article of true religion; either natural, as known by the Gentiles, or as revealed, with which the Jews were made acquainted, under the former dispensation; but establishes every such article, as the unity of the divine Being; the worship of the one only and true God of Israel, in a spiritual manner; the doctrine of the Messiah, his person, office, and grace; the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment; and therefore could not be chargeable with heresy: nor was it set up for any worldly gain, or popular applause, which are the things that authors and abettors of heresy have in view; nor was it designed to divide and separate persons from the true church of God, but to bring them to it, and unite them together in it; (see Acts 24:14). We know that everywhere it is spoken against ; this they knew, both by letters they received, and by persons who came from different parts of the world; and which was fact, and was no other than what was foretold concerning Christ, that he should be a sign that should be spoken against, ( Luke 2:34); and which the apostle found true of the Gospel preached by him, both among Jews and Greeks; it being to the one a stumblingblock, and to the other foolishness, ( 1 Corinthians 1:23), and especially it was contradicted and blasphemed everywhere by the Jews; these in all places opposed themselves to it, and spoke evil of it, and of its preachers and professors: Christ, the author, sum, and subject of the Christian religion, was spoken against in his person; his deity and divine sonship were denied, as they still are; and his offices, as prophet, priest, and King; yea, his actions, even his works of mercy to the bodies of men, by healing their diseases, his conversing with sinners for the good of their souls, the several miracles he wrought, and the whole series of his life and conversation, were blasphemed and evil spoken of: the doctrines of the Gospel in general were contradicted, as they now are by many, as absurd and irrational, and as tending to licentiousness; and in particular those which respect the Father of Christ, as being the Father of Christ, his everlasting love to the elect in him, and his distinguishing grace in the choice of them; and those which relate to Christ, as that he is truly God, and the Son of God, and to his sacrifice, satisfaction, and imputed righteousness; and also which concern the Spirit of God, as his deity and personality, and his operations on the souls of men; and such as relate to a future state, the resurrection of all the dead, and judgment to come: likewise the ordinances of the Christian religion, baptism and the Lords supper, were despised and spoken against, and the professors of it treated as fools and wicked men; the reasons of all this are, because the Christian religion, and the doctrines of it, are not of men, are contrary to the lusts of men, and particularly to the pride of men; they subject them to reproach and persecution, and gather men out from among them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 23-31 - Paul persuaded the Jews concerning Jesus. Some were wrought upon by the word, and others hardened; some received the light, and others shu their eyes against it. And the same has always been the effect of the gospel. Paul parted with them, observing that the Holy Ghost had wel described their state. Let all that hear the gospel, and do not hee it, tremble at their doom; for who shall heal them, if God does not The Jews had afterwards much reasoning among themselves. Many have great reasoning, who do not reason aright. They find fault with on another's opinions, yet will not yield to truth. Nor will men' reasoning among themselves convince them, without the grace of God to open their understandings. While we mourn on account of such despisers we should rejoice that the salvation of God is sent to others, who wil receive it; and if we are of that number, we should be thankful to Hi who hath made us to differ. The apostle kept to his principle, to know and preach nothing but Christ and him crucified. Christians, when tempted from their main business, should bring themselves back with this question, What does this concern the Lord Jesus? What tendency ha it to bring us to him, and to keep us walking in him? The apostl preached not himself, but Christ, and he was not ashamed of the gospe of Christ. Though Paul was placed in a very narrow opportunity for being useful, he was not disturbed in it. Though it was not a wide doo that was opened to him, yet no man was suffered to shut it; and to man it was an effectual door, so that there were saints even in Nero' household, Php 4:22. We learn also from Php 1:13, how God overrule Paul's imprisonment for the furtherance of the gospel. And not the residents at Rome only, but all the church of Christ, to the presen day, and in the most remote corner of the globe, have abundant reaso to bless God, that during the most mature period of his Christian lif and experience, he was detained a prisoner. It was from his prison probably chained hand to hand to the soldier who kept him, that the apostle wrote the epistles to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Hebrews; epistles showing, perhaps more than any others, the Christian love with which his heart overflowed, and the Christia experience with which his soul was filled. The believer of the presen time may have less of triumph, and less of heavenly joy, than the apostle, but every follower of the same Saviour, is equally sure of safety and peace at the last. Let us seek to live more and more in the love of the Saviour; to labour to glorify Him by every action of ou lives; and we shall assuredly, by his strength, be among the number of those who now overcome our enemies; and by his free grace and mercy, be hereafter among the blessed company who shall sit with Him upon his throne, even as He also has overcome, and is sitting on his Father' throne, at God's right hand for evermore __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
αξιουμεν 515 5719 V-PAI-1P δε 1161 CONJ παρα 3844 PREP σου 4675 P-2GS ακουσαι 191 5658 V-AAN α 3739 R-APN φρονεις 5426 5719 V-PAI-2S περι 4012 PREP μεν 3303 PRT γαρ 1063 CONJ της 3588 T-GSF αιρεσεως 139 N-GSF ταυτης 3778 D-GSF γνωστον 1110 A-NSN εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S ημιν 2254 P-1DP οτι 3754 CONJ πανταχου 3837 ADV αντιλεγεται 483 5743 V-PPI-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
22. We desire (axioumen). Rather, we think it fitting. Compare ch. xv. 38. Sect. See on heresies, 2 Pet. ii. 1.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
28:22 {But we desire} (axioumen de). Old verb axiow, to deem worthy, to think right or proper as in #15:38 which see. They think it only fair to hear Paul's side of his case. {Concerning this sect} (peri tes hairesews tautes). Paul had identified Christianity with Judaism (verse #20) in its Messianic hope. The language seems to imply that the number of Christians in Rome was comparatively small and mainly Gentile. If the edict of Claudius for the expulsion of the Jews from Rome (#Ac 18:2) was due to disturbance over Christ (crestus), qen even in Rome the Jews had special reason for hostility towards Christians. {Everywhere spoken against} (pantacou antilegetai). Cf. verse #19. The line of cleavage between Jew and Christian was now sharply drawn everywhere.
