From morning till evening {Paul] explained and declared to [the leaders of the Jews in Rome] the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.” (Acts 28:23–24, NIV 1984).
My Musings – After several months, and a near disastrous voyage, Paul arrived in Rome. A bad report from the religious leaders in Jerusalem had not preceded him, and Jewish leaders in Rome were eager to hear what Paul had to say, because they “[knew] that people everywhere [were] talking against this sect.” (Acts 28:22, NIV 1984).
Curiosity, but no unanimous acceptance or rejection. They all heard the same report from Paul. They all heard how Jesus fulfilled the Messianic requirements “from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.” Not all “were convinced” and so they “would not believe.”
The same is true today. “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1, NIV 1984). So, we are left to believe that either those who are convinced are gullible, or those who refuse to believe have been deceived. “Ever hearing but never understanding…ever seeing but never perceiving.” (Acts 28:26, NIV 1984).
There really is no other way to see it. For “the arm of the Lord has been revealed” to all. Or as this same Paul states, “since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20, NIV 1984).
My Advice – No one will be able to stand before God on judgment day a claim that there was not enough to convince them. Let’s stand with the “gullible” and not with the deceived.
The Brew Is A Musing 