Acts 28:17

After three days. Doubtless Paul first renewed old acquaintance with Christians he had met elsewhere and made new friends in the community of believers at Rome. Next, he desired to meet the non-Christian Roman Jews.

Chief of the Jews. Paul’s rule had always been, “to the Jew first” (Rom. 1:16; 2:9; cf. Acts 13:5, 14, 46; 17:1, 2, 10; 18:4; etc.). He now invites the elders of the Jews to listen to a direct account of how he happens to be in Rome. Apparently Claudius’ decree banishing all Jews from Rome (ch. 18:2) had been lifted or had otherwise become ineffective.

Men and brethren. See on ch. 1:16.

Committed nothing. Paul repeats the plea of innocence he had already made in Jerusalem and at Caesarea (see chs. 23:1; 24:12, 13; 25:8, 11; 26:4-7).

Against the people. The difficulties Paul encountered were usually brought about by the Jews themselves, as at Antioch in Pisidia (ch. 13:50), at Lystra (ch. 14:19), at Thessalonica (ch. 17:5-8), at Beroea (ch. 17:13, 14), and at Corinth (ch. 18:12-17).

Customs of our fathers. Paul sincerely believed what he was teaching as the gospel of Jesus Christ to be a correct interpretation of the truths of Judaism (see on chs. 23:1, 6; 24:14-16; 26:5-7). Compare the charge against Stephen (ch. 6:13, 14).

Delivered prisoner. Without giving the details of all that had happened since the riot in Jerusalem (ch. 21:27-36), Paul pointed out the humiliating and frustrating result. For the past two years and more he had been a prisoner of the Romans, and in bonds. The Jews had brought about his arrest and their continued accusations had kept him a prisoner.