Acts 28:25 (KJV)

What does Acts 28:25 mean?

Acts 28:25 describes how, after a disagreement among the Jewish leaders listening to Paul in Rome, they left following Paul’s final statement. Paul points out that the Holy Spirit had spoken rightly through the prophet Isaiah to their ancestors, setting up a quotation from Isaiah about spiritual blindness.

Paul is speaking to a group of Jewish leaders who have come to hear his message while he is under house arrest in Rome. The group cannot reach agreement about Paul’s teaching about Jesus, so they begin to leave. Before they go, Paul reminds them that their reaction fulfills what the Holy Spirit said long ago through Isaiah, showing that their unwillingness to accept his message is not new.

The Greek behind Acts 28:25

• "Well" (καλῶς, kalōs): This word means "rightly" or "well," emphasizing that what Isaiah said was completely accurate. Paul is stressing that the ancient prophecy fits their current response.
• "Holy Ghost" (τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, to pneuma to hagion): This phrase means "the Holy Spirit." Paul attributes Isaiah’s words not just to the prophet, but to God’s Spirit speaking through him, giving the prophecy divine authority.
• "Esaias" (Ἠσαΐας, Ēsaias): This is the Greek form of "Isaiah." Paul specifically names the prophet to connect his listeners to their own Scriptures and heritage.

Why Acts 28:25 matters

• Acts 28:25 clarifies that the division among the listeners is not just about Paul’s arguments, but about a deeper spiritual issue that has been present throughout Israel’s history.
• The verse highlights Paul’s view that the Holy Spirit was actively speaking through the prophets, which gives weight and authority to the message he is about to quote.
• This moment marks a turning point in Acts, showing that Paul’s message to the Jewish leaders in Rome is being met with the same resistance as elsewhere, setting the stage for the gospel’s spread to the Gentiles.