Acts 28:17
And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
Original Language Analysis
Ἐγένετο
it came to pass
G1096
Ἐγένετο
it came to pass
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
1 of 41
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
μετὰ
that after
G3326
μετὰ
that after
Strong's:
G3326
Word #:
3 of 41
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)
ἡμέρας
days
G2250
ἡμέρας
days
Strong's:
G2250
Word #:
4 of 41
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 41
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Παῦλον
Paul
G3972
Παῦλον
Paul
Strong's:
G3972
Word #:
8 of 41
(little; but remotely from a derivative of g3973, meaning the same); paulus, the name of a roman and of an apostle
τοὺς
G3588
τοὺς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 41
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 41
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
συνελθόντων
were come together
G4905
συνελθόντων
were come together
Strong's:
G4905
Word #:
14 of 41
to convene, depart in company with, associate with, or (specially), cohabit (conjugally)
αὐτούς
them
G846
αὐτούς
them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
16 of 41
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἔλεγεν
he said
G3004
ἔλεγεν
he said
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
17 of 41
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
πρὸς
unto
G4314
πρὸς
unto
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
18 of 41
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
αὐτούς
them
G846
αὐτούς
them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
19 of 41
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἀδελφοί
and brethren
G80
ἀδελφοί
and brethren
Strong's:
G80
Word #:
21 of 41
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like g0001)
οὐδὲν
nothing
G3762
οὐδὲν
nothing
Strong's:
G3762
Word #:
23 of 41
not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e., none, nobody, nothing
ποιήσας
have committed
G4160
ποιήσας
have committed
Strong's:
G4160
Word #:
25 of 41
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
26 of 41
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
λαῷ
the people
G2992
λαῷ
the people
Strong's:
G2992
Word #:
27 of 41
a people (in general; thus differing from g1218, which denotes one's own populace)
τοῖς
G3588
τοῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
29 of 41
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοῖς
G3588
τοῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
31 of 41
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐξ
from
G1537
ἐξ
from
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
34 of 41
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
Ἱεροσολύμων
Jerusalem
G2414
Ἱεροσολύμων
Jerusalem
Strong's:
G2414
Word #:
35 of 41
hierosolyma (i.e., jerushalaim), the capitol of palestine
παρεδόθην
yet was I delivered
G3860
παρεδόθην
yet was I delivered
Strong's:
G3860
Word #:
36 of 41
to surrender, i.e yield up, entrust, transmit
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
37 of 41
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὰς
G3588
τὰς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
38 of 41
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
χεῖρας
the hands
G5495
χεῖρας
the hands
Strong's:
G5495
Word #:
39 of 41
the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by hebraism) a means or instrument)
Cross References
Acts 25:8While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.Acts 6:14For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.Acts 25:10Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
Historical Context
Rome's Jewish community (40,000-50,000 people) had been expelled under Claudius (AD 49) but returned after his death (AD 54). Paul approached them diplomatically, explaining his situation before opponents could poison opinion against him.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Paul model engaging critics with grace while maintaining doctrinal clarity?
- What does Paul's insistence that Christianity fulfills Judaism teach about continuity between Old and New Testaments?
Analysis & Commentary
Paul's immediate action—after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together—demonstrates his 'to the Jew first' priority (Romans 1:16). His self-defense—I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers—refutes charges of apostasy from Judaism. Paul maintained that faith in Messiah Jesus represented true Judaism's fulfillment, not abandonment. The phrase 'customs of our fathers' (τὰ ἔθη τὰ πατρῴα) refers to ancestral traditions, which Paul honored where they didn't contradict Christ. His appeal to Rome resulted from Jewish opposition, not anti-Jewish sentiment.