Acts 28:22

We desire to hear. Perhaps this profession of open-mindedness was altogether sincere. The Jews of Rome had no doubt heard a little about Paul and his message, and were anxious to hear more.

This sect. See on chs. 5:17; 24:5, 14.

We know. There were already a few Christians in Rome (see on v. 15), through whom a limited knowledge no doubt reached the Jewish leaders there. There were doubtless also reports, or at least rumors, from Judea, brought by returning pilgrims.

Spoken against. Among the Jews there must have been many uncomplimentary reports about Christians. Tacitus wrote most disparagingly of the new sect (Annals xv. 44), and Suetonius (Nero xvi. 2) is equally condemnatory. Justin Martyr (died c. A.D. 165) speaks of calumnies against Christians, evidently from Jewish sources (Dialogue With Trypho f7). Perhaps these Roman Jews had heard not only of various situations in which Christians had become involved, and rumors of their evil character, but also of their astonishing increase in numbers. But as yet nothing these Roman Jews had heard prejudiced them completely against Christians as such, and they were willing to hear more.