182 John Kilgallen Roman Jews, does not lead to a movement to the Gentiles; that movement has already taken place, and without explanation. V. 28 means not to explain a Pauline decision of missionary tactic, but to offer a description of state of soul. And how would that knowledge of the past serve, if not as urging the Jews of Rome to repent? 4. Acts 28,28b — wording and emphasis Verse 28 ends with the assurance: aujtoiv (26) kaiv (27) ajkouvsontai. The position of the wording suggests emphasis somewhere in the verse. Accepting the suggestion of NJB and NAB, that Luke is here intending “also” (28), we see Paul implying a possible association of the Jews with the Gentiles in a future acceptance of “this salvation from God”: “they too will listen”. But what purpose would this union of Jew with Gentile serve in Paul’s address to his audience? Certainly it is not to underline contrast, but serves to encourage the Jews to receive the message of salvation. Paul here is not offering a spiteful condemnation of Roman Jews; that type of thinking might be part of Acts 13,46 and 18,6 (29), but Acts 28,28, as we have said, is not simply a third text in imitation of the two earlier texts of Acts 13 and 18 (30). Acts 28,28b, then, can serve as part of the motivation Paul uses for a possible future reception of the word of God among the Roman Jews. Indeed, this understanding makes the connection with Acts 28,30 smooth. Paul here is depicted as speaking to “all who came to him”; this notice is without distinction between Jew and Gentile, and offers (26) That the subject of the verb in 28,28b is presumed from 28,28a is argument that the two parts of v. 28 are tightly bound one to the other, and so should be treated together, despite editorial semi-colons, hyphens and periods. (27) This word has been variously understood and interpreted. A minimal understanding is as a simple connective of the two sentences that make up the verse; in this view, one either understands the word to mean: “and they will listen” ASV, NIV, or “they will listen” (with the kaiv untranslated) ESV, NRS, RSV, NJB, NAU. But the position of kaiv suggests that we have here a certain degree of emphasis, so as to mean: “they will also listen” NJB, NAB. (28) It is possible to understand kaiv as the second part of the terms of contrast, the first part of which is implicit: “(you have rejected)… but they will listen”. This seems a less likely interpretation. (29) For a discussion of these verses within their broader contexts, cf. R.F. O’TOOLE, “The Christian Mission and the Jews at the End of the Acts of the Apostles”, Biblical Exegesis in Progress (eds. J.-N. ALETTI – J.-L. SKA) (AnBib 176; Rome 2009) 387-388. (30) These texts are clearly meant to underline Paul’s departure from certain Jews and so to offer the faith to certain Gentiles.