SEV Biblia, Chapter 28:21
Entonces ellos le dijeron: Nosotros ni hemos recibido cartas tocante a ti de Judea, ni viniendo alguno de los hermanos nos haya denunciado o hablado algn mal de ti.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 28:21
Verse 21. We neither received letters, &c.] This is very strange, and shows us that the Jews knew their cause to be hopeless, and therefore did not send it forward to Rome. They wished for an opportunity to kill Paul: and, when they were frustrated by his appeal to the emperor, they permitted the business to drop. Calmet supposes they had not time to send; but this supposition does not appear to be sufficiently solid: they might have sent long before Paul sailed; and they might have written officially by the vessel in which the centurion and the prisoners were embarked. But their case was hopeless; and they could not augur any good to themselves from making a formal complaint against the apostle at the emperor's throne.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 21. And they said unto him , etc.] That is, the chief men of the Jews at Rome, whom Paul had called together, replied; either in a lying and dissembling way, or as expressing matter of fact; which last may be allowed: we neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee : which was very much, that the high priest and sanhedrim had not wrote to the principal men of their religion at Rome; giving an account of the apostle, and his case unto them, in order to prejudice them against him, and to furnish them with charges and accusations; which if they could not prevail by them, so as to get him condemned by the emperor, yet might be a means of preventing any of their nation giving heed unto him, and embracing his sentiments and notions concerning Jesus of Nazareth: neither any of the brethren that came [from] Jerusalem ; or any part of Judea, to Rome; meaning not the Christian Jews, for these they would not call brethren; but those who were of the same religion as well as nation, whom it was usual with the Jews to call brethren: shewed or spake any harm of thee ; so that it looks as if they did make mention of him, but did not charge him with anything that was wicked and criminal: this they said, to show that they were not prejudiced against him by any person or means; and which carried in it a very considerable testimony of the apostles innocence.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-22 - It was for the honour of Paul that those who examined his case acquitted him. In his appeal he sought not to accuse his nation, but only to clear himself. True Christianity settles what is of commo concern to all mankind, and is not built upon narrow opinions an private interests. It aims at no worldly benefit or advantage, but all its gains are spiritual and eternal. It is, and always has been, the lot of Christ's holy religion, to be every where spoken against. Loo through every town and village where Christ is exalted as the onl Saviour of mankind, and where the people are called to follow him in newness of life, and we see those who give themselves up to Christ still called a sect, a party, and reproached. And this is the treatmen they are sure to receive, so long as there shall continue an ungodl man upon earth.
Greek Textus Receptus
οι 3588 T-NPM δε 1161 CONJ προς 4314 PREP αυτον 846 P-ASM ειπον 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3P ημεις 2249 P-1NP ουτε 3777 CONJ γραμματα 1121 N-APN περι 4012 PREP σου 4675 P-2GS εδεξαμεθα 1209 5662 V-ADI-1P απο 575 PREP της 3588 T-GSF ιουδαιας 2449 N-GSF ουτε 3777 CONJ παραγενομενος 3854 5637 V-2ADP-NSM τις 5100 X-NSM των 3588 T-GPM αδελφων 80 N-GPM απηγγειλεν 518 5656 V-AAI-3S η 2228 PRT ελαλησεν 2980 5656 V-AAI-3S τι 5100 X-ASN περι 4012 PREP σου 4675 P-2GS πονηρον 4190 A-ASN
Robertson's NT Word Studies
28:21 {Letters} (grammata). Official documents from the Sanhedrin about the charges against Paul. {Any harm of thee} (ti peri sou poneron). {Evil} (poneron). The three aorists (edexameqa, apeggeilen, elalesen) cover the past. These Jews do not mean to say that they had never heard of Paul. It is hardly likely that they had heard of his appeal to Caesar, "for how could the news have reached Rome before Paul?" (Page).
