Acts 28:22
in Acts 28But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.
KJV
But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
⋯
This verse in Acts 28
Commentary
12 notes on this verseFor as concerning this sect - See the note on Act 24:14. A saying of Justin Martyr casts some light on this saying of the Jews: he asserts that the Jews not only cursed them in their synagogues, but they sent out chosen men from Jerusalem, to acquaint the world, and particularly the Jews everywhere, that the Christians were an atheistical and wicked sect, which should be detested and abhorred by all mankind. Justin Martyr, Dial. p. 234.
This site's exposition
We have not received any letters
on Acts 28:21-22
The Jewish leaders in Rome have received no letters about Paul from Judea. Their interest is doctrinal, because people everywhere are speaking against this sect. The word is hairesis, the term the book uses of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
This site's exposition
speaking against this sect
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown connect the leaders' caution with the disturbances Suetonius records, when Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome, as Acts 18:2 mentions. Adam Clarke cites Justin Martyr, who says Jerusalem sent chosen men to warn Jews everywhere against the Christians. The leaders had heard the rumors.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Before he arrived. Paul was in Rome, the Jews had been commanded not to receive the preaching concerning Christ, and not only they alone, but also Jews everywhere in the world. How is this clear? We find in the books of the ancients that the …
A commentator
Ammonius of AlexandriaCATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 28.21-22 · Written before 300.
proposed
The Jews call the faith in Christ a heresy, because "everywhere it is spoken against." You see, the Jews themselves testify that Christ is preached everywhere, even though not all receive this preaching, as the text says, but some of the Jews or the Gentiles …
Neither through letters, nor through men, have they made known any harm of thee. Nevertheless, we wish to hear from thyself: "But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest": and then forestalled him by showing their own sentiments. "For as concerning this sect, it is known to us, that everywhere it is spoken against."
"As for this sect, it is known to us," say they, "that it is everywhere spoken against." True, but people are also everywhere persuaded, as "some were persuaded, and some believed not."
The Medieval Church1 voice
Even before Paul's arrival in Rome, the Jews had been persuaded not to accept the preaching about Christ — not only the Jews in Rome, but all Jews throughout the entire world. But how is this known? In the writings of ancient authors we find …
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
They put it into an ill name, and then ran it down. (1.) They looked upon it to be a sect, and this was false. True Christianity establishes that which is of common concern to all mankind, and is not built upon such narrow opinions and private interests as sects commonly owe their original to.
But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
we desire--"deem it proper" to hear of thee what thou thinkest--what are thy sentiments, views, &c. The apparent freedom from prejudice here expressed may have arisen from a prudent desire to avoid endangering a repetition of those dissensions about Christianity to which, probably, SUETONIUS alludes, and which had led to the expulsion of the Jews under Claudius [HUMPHRY].
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
What thou thinkest - What your belief is; or what are the doctrines of Christians respecting the Messiah. This sect - The sect of Christians. Spoken against - Particularly by Jews. This was the case then, and, to a great extent, is the case still. It has been the common lot of the followers of Christ to be spoken “against.” Compare Act 24:5.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀξιοῦμεν | axioumen | We deem it worthy | G515 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| παρὰ | para | from | G3844 → | 192 times |
| σοῦ | sou | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἀκοῦσαι | akousai | to hear | G191 → | 425 times |
| ἃ | ha | what | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| φρονεῖς· | phroneis | you think; | G5426 → | |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| μὲν | men | truly | G3303 → | 176 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| αἱρέσεως | haireseos | sect | G139 → | 9 times |
| ταύτης | tautes | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| γνωστὸν | gnoston | known | G1110 → | 15 times |
| ἡμῖν | hemin | to us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | it is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| πανταχοῦ | pantachou | everywhere | G3837 → | 6 times |
| ἀντιλέγεται.¶ | antilegetai | it is spoken against. | G483 → | 9 times |
ἀξιοῦμενWe deem it worthy
axioumenG515 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
παρὰfrom
paraG3844 →192 times
σοῦyou
souG4771 →2973 times
ἀκοῦσαιto hear
akousaiG191 →425 times
ἃwhat
haG3739 →1405 times
φρονεῖς·you think;
phroneisG5426 →
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →332 times
μὲνtruly
menG3303 →176 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
αἱρέσεωςsect
haireseosG139 →9 times
ταύτηςthis
tautesG3778 →1381 times
γνωστὸνknown
gnostonG1110 →15 times
ἡμῖνto us
heminG3165 →1936 times
ἐστινit is
estinG1510 →2333 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
πανταχοῦeverywhere
pantachouG3837 →6 times
ἀντιλέγεται.¶it is spoken against.
antilegetaiG483 →9 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 2:12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:16
keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
- Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
- Titus 2:7–8
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- Philippians 2:15–16
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
- 2 Corinthians 8:21
For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
- 1 Peter 3:16
Through
1 Peter 3:16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:12
Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
- 1 Peter 2:15
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
- Hebrews 13:18
Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
- 1 Peter 2:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts

This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ammonius of Alexandria, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 28.21-22; J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 55; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.
