Acts 28:27 (KJV)

What does Acts 28:27 mean?

Acts 28:27 describes how the people’s hearts have become hardened, their ears unresponsive, and their eyes closed, so they cannot perceive, understand, or turn back to God to be healed. The verse explains a spiritual stubbornness that prevents people from accepting and responding to God’s message.

In this verse, Paul is speaking to Jewish listeners in Rome, quoting from the prophet Isaiah to explain why many have not accepted the message about Jesus. Paul points out that the problem is not with the message itself, but with the unwillingness of the people to truly listen and understand. This verse highlights a pattern seen throughout the Bible, where people’s resistance to God’s word leads to missed opportunities for healing and restoration.

The Greek behind Acts 28:27

• The word for "heart" is καρδία (kardia), which often refers to the center of a person’s inner life—thoughts, emotions, and will—not just feelings. Here, it suggests a deep, inward resistance.
• The phrase "waxed gross" comes from ἐπαχύνθη (epachynthē), which means to become thick or calloused. This paints a picture of a heart that has grown insensitive or tough, unable to respond.
• "Dull" for their ears uses βαρύτερος (bareteros), meaning heavy or sluggish. This suggests not just physical deafness, but a willful inattention or refusal to listen.
• "Converted" is from ἐπιστρέφω (epistrephō), meaning to turn or return. It implies a change of direction or repentance, which leads to healing.

Why Acts 28:27 matters

• This verse clarifies that spiritual blindness and deafness are not just accidental but can be the result of a long-standing unwillingness to listen or change.
• It connects Paul’s message to the Old Testament, showing continuity between Israel’s history and the response to Jesus.
• Acts 28:27 helps explain why, despite clear teaching, some people do not respond to the gospel—pointing to the condition of the heart rather than a lack of evidence or opportunity.