Acts 28:24 Meaning: Why Some Believe and Others Refuse
Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
And some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
and, some, indeed, were believing the things spoken, and some were not believing.
And some were persuaded of the things which were said, but some disbelieved.
Meaning in one sentence
What does Acts 28:24 mean? Paul preached all day, and some believed while others refused. A honest look at the divided response to the gospel.
Context
Paul, under house arrest in Rome, does what he has always done: he gathers the local Jewish leaders and reasons with them from the Law and the Prophets. For an entire day, from morning till evening, he explains the kingdom of God and persuades them about Jesus. The chapter records the outcome with blunt honesty. His hearers split. The same words, the same careful arguments, the same Spirit-empowered apostle, yet the group divides. Luke does not explain why. He simply reports what happened, leaving us to sit with the uneven result.
Key Words
Two Greek verbs stand in contrast here. 'Some believed' (epeithonto) is from a word that means 'to be persuaded', it suggests trust that moves the whole person, not just mental agreement. Wesley notes this means believing 'with the heart, as well as understanding.' The other group 'disbelieved' (ēpistoun), from apisteō. This same word can also mean 'to be unfaithful', a refusal to trust that leans toward betrayal. Luke could have used a milder word for simply not understanding. He chose one that carries a sense of chosen resistance. Both groups heard the same message. The difference was in how they met it.
How Christians Read This Verse
Calvin observes that even Paul, 'endued with such grace of the Spirit,' could not persuade all. He sees this as comfort: the unbelief of many today should not surprise us. Gill points to divine ordination, those ordained to eternal life believe, while others are hardened. Wesley, in his notes, emphasizes the heart response: believing 'with the heart, as well as understanding.' These traditions frame the divide differently, but all agree: the gospel confronts every hearer with a choice, and the outcome is not uniform.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers take this verse to mean that Paul failed or that the gospel is weak. In fact, Jesus himself said the word of the kingdom would produce both good soil and hard ground (Matthew 13). Paul then quotes Isaiah, showing the mixed response fulfills prophecy. The gospel does not force belief; it invites it. When some refuse, the gospel has not failed, it has simply done what it always does.
Living This Out
What do you do when someone you love turns away from the faith you share with them? Paul kept speaking, to believers and unbelievers alike, without letting rejection define his calling. This week, you may face a divided response to your own witness. A coworker may listen; a friend may mock. You are not responsible for the outcome. You are only responsible to speak the truth plainly and trust God for the rest. Paul did that from a prison cell. You can do it from your kitchen table.
Main takeaway: The gospel always produces a mixed response, but that does not mean it has lost its power or that we have failed.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Paul told people about Jesus all day long. Some people said, “Yes, I believe!” and some said, “No, I don’t.” That still happens today when we talk about Jesus.
For ages 9, 12
Paul talked from morning to evening, using the Old Testament scrolls to show that Jesus is the Messiah. But even with all that evidence, not everyone agreed. Some people’s hearts were hard, and others were open. Paul kept going anyway. When you share your faith, some will believe and some won’t. That’s okay, your job is just to tell the truth with love.
Questions People Ask
Why did some Jews believe Paul and others not?
The text does not give a single reason. Luke simply records the divided response. Paul himself later quoted Isaiah, indicating that some hearts were hardened, while others received the message. Christians have understood this as a mystery involving both human choice and God's sovereignty.
Does Acts 28:24 mean the gospel failed among the Jews?
Not at all. Paul spent his whole ministry first going to the Jews, as Jesus commanded. The mixed response was expected. In fact, Paul then declared that the salvation of God would go to the Gentiles, and they would listen. The gospel did not fail; it expanded.
How should we respond when people reject our faith?
Paul's example is instructive. He kept reasoning and persuading, but he did not become bitter or stop. He trusted God with the results. We are called to faithful witness, not to control outcomes.
What does the Greek word for 'disbelieved' here tell us?
The verb apisteō can mean 'to disbelieve' but also 'to be unfaithful.' That suggests the refusal was not just intellectual doubt but a chosen turning away from trust. It is a strong word, showing that rejection of the gospel is a serious thing.
How long did Paul preach to them?
Verse 23 says from morning until evening. It was a full-day session, making the division even more striking. Despite hours of clear teaching from Scripture, some still refused.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study