Acts 28:31
in Acts 28Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him.
KJV
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
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This verse in Acts 28
Commentary
14 notes on this verseAnd Luke, who wrote the Acts of the Apostles, brought his history to a close at this point, after stating that Paul spent two whole years at Rome as a prisoner at large and preached the word of God without restraint. Thus after he had made his defense it is said that the apostle was sent again upon the ministry of preaching and that upon coming to the same city a second time he suffered martyrdom. In this imprisonment [Paul] wrote his second epistle to Timothy, in which he mentions his first defense and his impending death.
This site's exposition
two full years
on Acts 28:30-31
Paul stayed two full years in his rented house, and Luke leaves the outcome of his appeal unrecorded. The last verse is the sixth and final summary of the word's growth, as he proclaimed the kingdom of God boldly and freely.
This site's exposition
Boldly and freely
Eusebius reports the account that Paul made his defense after these two years, preached again, and suffered martyrdom on a second visit to Rome. Bede adds that Nero's rule was still new then, before the crimes the histories report. John Wesley judges that the book ends well.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Amen." It shows the freedom he had now: without hindrance in Rome, he who had been hindered in Judea; and he remained teaching there for two years.
"Discoursed," it says, "the things concerning the kingdom of God:" mark, nothing of the things of sense, nothing of the things present.
The Medieval Church3 voices
Paul did not act like that Diogenes who dressed in rags and lived in a barrel, who amazed many with things in which they had no need whatsoever, yet brought benefit to no one. Paul did nothing of the sort, because he did not turn …
And teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with boldness without hindrance. He was not only not prohibited from preaching in Rome, but also, with Nero's empire not yet firmly established, and with crimes not yet erupting as much as the histories tell about him, he …
However, he remained for two whole years in his own hired house, that is, in the lodgings he had rented for himself, preaching Christ to all, not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles, who he said were to be saved, those who …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
He remained in his lodging for a full two years and welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God. Jerome makes mention of this place in a letter to Lucinius: "Paul enters Rome in chains, to free those chained by errors of …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
No man forbidding him - Such was the victory of the word of God. While Paul was preaching at Rome, the Gospel shone with its highest lustre. Here therefore the Acts of the Apostles end; and end with great advantage.
Preaching the kingdom of God,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Preaching the kingdom of God - See the notes on Act 20:25. With all confidence - Openly and boldly, without anyone to hinder him. It is known also that Paul was not unsuccessful even when a prisoner at Rome. Several persons were converted by his preaching, even in the court of the emperor.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Thus closes this most precious monument of the beginnings of the Christian Church in its march from east to west, among the Jews first, whose center was Jerusalem; next among the Gentiles, with Antioch for its headquarters; finally, its banner is seen waving over imperial Rome, foretokening its universal triumphs.
Preaching the kingdom of God - Showing the spiritual nature of the true Church, under the reign of the Messiah. For an explanation of this phrase, see the note on Mat 3:2. Those things which concern the Lord - The Redeemer of the world was to be represented as the Lord; as Jesus; and as the Christ. As the Lord, ὁ Κυριος, the sole potentate, upholding all things by the word of his power; governing the world and the Church; having all things under his control, and all his enemies under his feet; in short, the maker and upholder of all things, and the judge of all men. As Jesus - the Savior; he who saves, delivers, and preserves; and especially he who saves his people from their sins. For the explanation of the word Jesus, see the note on Joh 1:17. As Christ - the same as Messiah; both signifying the Anointed: he who was appointed by the Lord to this great and glorious work; who had the Spirit without measure, and who anoints, communicates the gifts and graces of that Spirit to all true believers. St. Paul taught the things which concerned or belonged to the Lord Jesus Christ. He proved him to be the Messiah foretold by the prophets, and expected by the Jews; he spoke of what he does as the Lord, what he does as Jesus, and what he does as Christ. These contain the sum and substance of all that is called the Gospel of Christ. Yet, the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, necessarily include the whole account of his incarnation, preaching in Judea, miracles, persecutions, passion, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, intercession, and his sending down the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. These were the subjects on which the apostle preached for two whole years, during his imprisonment at Rome. With all confidence - Παρῥησιας, Liberty of speech; perfect freedom to say all he pleased, and when he pleased. […]
The words behind it
17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| κηρύσσων | kerusson | proclaiming | G2784 → | 59 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βασιλείαν | basileian | kingdom | G932 → | 162 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| διδάσκων | didaskon | teaching | G1321 → | 96 times |
| τὰ | ta | the [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κυρίου | kuriou | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| Ἰησοῦ | iesou | Jesus | G2424 → | 908 times |
| Χριστοῦ | christou | Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| μετὰ | meta | with | G3326 → | 461 times |
| πάσης | pases | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| παρρησίας | parresias | boldness | G3954 → | 31 times |
| ἀκωλύτως.¶ | akolutos | unhinderedly. | G209 → |
κηρύσσωνproclaiming
kerussonG2784 →59 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
βασιλείανkingdom
basileianG932 →162 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
διδάσκωνteaching
didaskonG1321 →96 times
τὰthe [things]
taG3588 →19766 times
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →332 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
κυρίουLord
kuriouG2962 →711 times
ἸησοῦJesus
iesouG2424 →908 times
ΧριστοῦChrist
christouG5547 →523 times
μετὰwith
metaG3326 →461 times
πάσηςall
pasesG3956 →1235 times
παρρησίαςboldness
parresiasG3954 →31 times
ἀκωλύτως.¶unhinderedly.
akolutosG209 →
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
Matthew 4:23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
it leads to
- Matthew 9:35
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness.
- Mark 1:39
So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
- Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.
- Luke 7:22
So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and…
- Matthew 11:5
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
- Matthew 9:35
Through
Philippians 1:14And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:19–20
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
- Ephesians 6:19–20
Through
Acts 4:29And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,
it leads to
- Acts 4:13
When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.
- Acts 14:3
So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.
- Acts 4:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
This page draws on 12 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); Bede, Commentary on Acts; Bede, Retractions on Acts; Eusebius of Caesarea, ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 2.22.1-8; 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); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.