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Acts 28:26

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 28:26 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “saying, Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

saying, Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:
Acts 28:26 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 28

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
23And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded [the matter,] testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening.
24And some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
25And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers,
26saying, Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:
27For this people`s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest, haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.
28Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles: they will also hear.
29[And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, having much disputing among themselves.]
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Saying, go unto this people, and say, etc.] A message sent in wrath and judgment to the people of Israel, rejected from being the people of God, a “lo ammi” being written upon them; and therefore God does not call them “his”, but “this” people: and this message was sent by an evangelical prophet, who foretold, in the clearest manner, the Messiah’s incarnation, and birth of a virgin, the work he was to do, the sufferings he should undergo, and the glory that should follow; and that after he had seen in a vision the glory of the King Messiah, the perfections of deity filling the temple of his human nature, him exalted on a throne, and attended and worshipped by angels; after he had had such a…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Hearing, ye shall hear, &c.--(See on Mat 13:13-15 and Joh 12:38-40). With what pain would this stern saying be wrung from him whose "heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel was that they might be saved," and who "had great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart" on their account (Rom 10:1; Rom 9:2)!”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Saying ... - See this passage explained in the Matthew 13:14 note, and John 12:39-40 notes. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Hearing ye shall hear - That is, ye shall most surely hear, and shall not understand - The words manifestly denote a judicial blindness, consequent upon a wilful and obstinate resistance of the truth. First they would not, afterward they could not, believe. Isa 6:9, &c; Mat 13:14; Joh 12:40. Acts 28:28”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Go: Isa 6:9, Isa 6:10; Eze 12:2; Mat 13:14, Mat 13:15; Mar 4:12; Luk 8:10; Joh 12:38-40; Rom 11:8-10 Hearing: Deu 29:4; Psa 81:11, Psa 81:12; Isa 29:10, Isa 29:14, Isa 42:19, Isa 42:20, Isa 66:4; Jer 5:21; Eze 3:6, Eze 3:7, Eze 12:2; Mar 8:17, Mar 8:18; Luk 24:25, Luk 24:45; Co2 4:4-6 Acts 28:28”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification