Acts 28:27
What does Acts 28:27 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 28:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 28:27 means
Isaiah’s words continue: the people’s heart has grown fat, ears dull, eyes closed—lest they should see, hear, understand, turn, and be healed. The imagery portrays willful and cumulative hardening. Yet the purpose clause reveals God’s desire: understanding would lead to turning and healing. The tragedy lies not in lack of light but in refusal to receive it. Paul applies this to his audience: their resistance to Jesus fits the prophetic pattern. Still, the promise of healing stands for any who repent. The verse explains both the seriousness of unbelief and the open door of mercy, even as the mission now moves decisively toward those who will hear.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For this people’s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For this people’s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For the heart of this people has become fat and their ears are slow in hearing and their eyes are shut; for fear that they might see with their eyes and give hearing with their ears and become wise in their hearts and be turned again to me, so that I might make them well.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for made gross was the heart of this people, and with the ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they did close, lest they may see with the eyes, and with the heart may understand, and be turned back, and I may heal them.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For the heart of this people is grown gross, and with their ears have they heard heavily and their eyes they have shut, lest perhaps they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and should be converted: and I should heal them.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For the heart of this people has become fat, and they hear heavily with their ears, and they have closed their eyes; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
Context
The Isaiah quotation that began in verse 26 reaches its full force here (v. 27), diagnosing hardened hearts and pointing to the remedy of repentance and healing. With this solemn warning delivered, Paul turns in verse 28 to announce that God’s salvation is sent to the Gentiles, who will hear. The narrative will then transition to Paul’s ongoing ministry in Rome (vv. 30–31), with verse 29 absent in many manuscripts.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 6:10
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.
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