Acts 28:27

For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses Jewish leaders in Rome who have gathered to hear his teaching about Jesus. He speaks these words while under house arrest, explaining their spiritual condition in light of his ministry to them.

The words — The Greek term ἐπαχύνθη (epachunthē) literally means "has grown callous," describing the hardened state of the καρδία (kardia), or heart. This lexical choice emphasizes an active process of spiritual insensitivity rather than a static condition.

The thread — This description directly quotes Isaiah 6:10, where God commands the prophet to make the hearts of his people calloused and their eyes closed. The immediate context of Acts 28:26 cites the preceding verses of that same passage, which warn of hearing without understanding and seeing without perceiving.

Why it lands — The text states that spiritual unresponsiveness prevents people from perceiving truth, understanding, and turning to God for healing. It asks the reader to recognize that genuine receptivity is a prerequisite for repentance, not merely a result of exposure to the message.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ἐπαχύνθηepachunthēHas grown dull γὰρgarfor ἡhēthe καρδίαkardiaheart τοῦtouof the λαοῦlaoupeople τούτου,toutouthis,καὶkaiand τοῖςtoiswith the ὠσὶνōsinears βαρέωςbareōsbarely ἤκουσανēkousanthey hear καὶkaiand τοὺςtousthe ὀφθαλμοὺςophthalmouseyes αὐτῶνautōnof them ἐκάμμυσαν·ekammusanthey have closed;μήποτεmēpoteotherwise ἴδωσινidōsinthey may see τοῖςtoiswith the ὀφθαλμοῖςophthalmoiseyes καὶkaiand τοῖςtoiswith the ὠσὶνōsinears ἀκούσωσινakousōsinthey may hear καὶkaiand τῇtēawith the καρδίᾳkardiaheart συνῶσινsunōsinthey may understand καὶkaiand ἐπιστρέψωσινepistrepsōsinmay turn καὶkaiand ἰάσομαιiasomaiI will heal αὐτούς.¶autousthem.’

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Isaiah 6:10 Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”