And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. (24) And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. (25) And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, (26) Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: (27) For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (28) Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. (29) And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
What a delightful discourse must this have been? From morning till evening it continued. What a scope of Scripture the Apostle took in, for one end of the Old Testament to the other? But, what was the result? Namely, that which hath always been, and always must be, where the congregation is made up, as it was here, and as it is for the most part everywhere, of a mingled company; they who belong to Christ, and they who do not. And, it is worthy the Reader's closest observation, that in the application Paul made of that memorable scripture, taken from the Prophet, and which Paul here expressly saith, was not the words of, the Prophet, but of God the Holy Ghost; the Lord defines the character of those to whom it is said, Go unto this people! The Lord doth not say, Go tell my people. Oh! no. Here the line is drawn. But go tell this people. And this suits all people, of every age and nation, whether Jews or Gentiles, whose final rejection of the Word of Grace, fully proves, that they are here intended, and marked in their true character. And so infinitely important are those words, which God the Holy Ghost spake, in deciding this solemn truth, that the Lord the Spirit hath been pleased to have it recorded, (after he had spoken it by the Prophet), no less than six times in his holy word, Matthew 13:14; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; John 12:40. Here in this place (Acts 28:1) and Romans 11:8. Reader! ponder it well!