ACTS 28:20 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”
'For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.' - Paul's 'reason for asking to see' the Jewish leaders is dialogue ('talk with you,' homileō, homileō-'converse with'). His statement 'It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain' (heneken tēs elpidos tou Israelēl, heneken tēs elpidos tou Israelēl) reframes captivity as testimony: his chains are not shame but the visible cost of his faithfulness to Israel's hope. He does not disown his suffering but claims it as meaningful, rooted in eschatological hope.
Church Fathers on Acts 28:20
He wished to exculpate both himself and others; himself, that they might not accuse him, and by so doing hurt themselves; and those (others), that it might not seem that the whole thing was of their doing. For it was likely that a report was prevalent, that he had been delivered up by the Jews; and this was enough to alarm them. He therefore addresses himself to this, and defends himself as to his own conduct. How then is it reasonable, it might be said, that they should…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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